I have some more questions for my canine studies course.

This deals with owners who have more than one breeding female, who for some reason, go into season roughly the same time. Why does this happen?
The only explanation I could find has to do with wolf packs, and how the females in the pack ovulate along with the alpha female, but are not bred. They produce milk and serve as nursemaids for the cubs which ensures their survival should something happen to the mother.

So is it due to the domestic dog's ancestors that this happens? If not, what purpose does this serve?;
and if the females were mated, would it be their 'right time' even if they hadn't been due to come into season?

I have always thought that the smell of a dog in season brings in the others if its close to their time....

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(Justice was not served for Lyle)(Value of a Human life by the Canadian Justice system 835 days)

That is the reason. Normally only the highest ranking bitch will reproduce, but the lower ranking members will cycle at the same time. All bitches have false pregnancies after finishing a season, hormonally speaking. It is often halted when the body realises that milk production isn't needed, and in many cases, the false pregnancy is halted before an owner is aware.

Phantom pregnancies are different. Phantoms are referred to the false pregnancies that are failed to be stopped. Phantoms generally last way beyond the normal limits. Teddy collecting, excessive milk production, nesting, behavioural changes are all signs of phantoms.

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

So would a breeder who has several females, separate the bitch that has come into season from the others?

Or would the bitch in season be allowed to remain with the others (who then come into season) and the other females be used as nursemaids if necessary?

Scorcher and Alaska cycle together...sort of.
Alaska comes out of season usually 2-4 days later Scorcher's in season.

i've never known anyone seperate them unless one has been mated. or unless she's aggressive to the others Mine have never been in season together.

have known people send their bitches away if the bitch hasn't come in season when expected , to bring it in.

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love me love the dogs

Some people separate them purely because hormones can start flyong and causing scuffles, generally speaking though, most bitches aren't separated.

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SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

i can answer your last question i have 2 girls half sisters who both live with their dad, maddie had 8 month seasons we tryed mating her june last year and she missed at that time danika was 4 months old so we expected maddie to come back into season in feb, in december danika at 10 months old came into season and as she finished maddie came in which would of been 6 months from last season so i decided to try her again, she is now due anyday a litter of pups, so no i dont think if they come in earlier it effects the ability to fall pregnant.