Dog pregnancy questions

[Chupacabras]

Last week we brought a male dog so our female Schnauzer would get pregnant and so they spent one day together. Today, our female dog was out for a few minutes with no supervision and we suspect that maybe a street dog could get lucky, so we were wondering (at the risk of sounding plain dumb, but I really don't know anything about this):

Can breeds be mixed? - If she got pregnant from the Schnauzer, will these puppies develop, so to say, "pure"? - My concern, FWIW, is that the owner of the male Schnauzer will have a puppy for himself, and I don't want to be dishonorable!

I wonder how long the "heat" will last. Mind you, this is NOT the first time for my dog, but as I said, I remain totally ignorant on the subject. She's been "prime" for about one week now.

One last question: Tomorrow begins the rabies vaccination campaign - I do know (this time by first-hand experience!) that there's no problem with humans being vaccinated against rabies during pregnancy, yet I don't know about dogs themselves. Does anybody know if there's a risk of any sort?

 

[Dogdoctor]

First of all did your dogs actually breed when you put them together? Did you see them breed at any time? Truth is that yes each pup could have a different father. There will not be a mixture of the fathers in one pup but each pup may have a separate different father. Dogs generally have about 9 days of heat where they are attractive to males but won't accept them then 9 days where they will accept them and then 2 days where they are attractive but won't accept the male. The female will not accept males except for the period when they are fertile (estrus). Breeding any time during that 9 days they may become pregnant. Sperm will usually survive at least 4 days and up to 9 days. Any sperm present in the dog for a couple of days after the eggs are ready to be fertilized will be fertilized so who ever the dog has bred with may become a father of one or more pups but there is only one father per pup. Concerning rabies vaccine, it is unlikely to cause a problem but it is possible to have one if the dog suffers an adverse reaction to the vaccine. I am not really familiar with rabies vaccine since I don't use them much (no rabies in Hawaii) but I usually try to avoid vaccines in general during the gestation.

 

[Chupacabras]

First of all did your dogs actually breed ...

Yes, at least once, but they spent the night together. I am somewhat confident that they spend it wisely! During the first day I found the male doing... Uh, "self maintenance", and so I think he had just done the right thing.

... but each pup may have a separate different father.

Good! Now I will have a hard time telling them appart!

... and then 2 days where they are attractive but won't accept the male.

Uh... My dog was rejecting the male at first, but I wondered if it was because it was unknown to her (she's quite friendly with stray dogs, but now I realize this may be just because of the timing).

... I usually try to avoid vaccines in general during the gestation.

I have almost made my mind. A few years ago a cat bit my pregnant wife and turned out he died of rabies. We had no choice but to vaccinate my wife, and the boy is, you know, like his father (whoever THAT is!). So, considering that there are a lot of stray cats around here, and that we are in the Sonoran Desert, and that rain and running water is in shortage more often since last year, I think vaccination is the way to go

I will explain to my wife and kids your interesting facts.

ETA: THANK YOU!

 

[Dogdoctor]

Usually a female dog in heat will breed any male dog during the second 9 days (day 10 to day 18), however sometimes the female dog will prefer certain males or more correctly they will refuse certain males. I don't know how many times I have heard of people trying to get their dog to breed with a specific dog then giving up thinking the dog is not in heat or something only to have it breed with the neighbors mutt.

 

[Jas]

...she's quite friendly with stray dogs, but now I realize this may be just because of the timing...

Or because she's a slut.