12:02 a.m. - 2005-07-15
Sir Jake Hunter II: A sordid tale!
Greetings, all!
Today my sister L (otherwise known as Chef Julie) sent me an email. She was mad that I did not tell her very own critter story, which happened a few weeks ago.
In addition, L also called me to let me know that she received a phone call from a prestigious WI restaurant, to interview for a sous chef position! Let's all think of Chef Julie tomorrow at 3, the time of her interview!
So a few weeks ago, L was in her apartment folding laundry when she heard a thumping noise. Thinking something was wrong with the air conditioner in the kitchen, she went there and realized the noise was coming from the back room.
A picture from L...doesn't Jake look innocent? But no, L entered and froze in horror: Jake the black lab was humping the futon, and L got there just in time to see the doggy "money shot"!
"Bad dog!" L cried! This behavior was not forseen in Jake, as he is an AKC registered dog, with the full name Sir Jake Hunter II.
He kept making love to the couch!
Now I can't remember the story....L had to leave, but when she returned to the apartment the futon was soaked with spooge, fluids were splashed throughout the room, and Jake was standing there, exhausted! L's boyfriend JK then removed the futon cushion to the front yard, and they called the vet.
Obviously, there was a foxy lady dog somewhere nearby! Apparently male canines can sense a female in heat for up to a mile away. And considering L and JK live in the heart of my hometown, population 1,300...just think about how many female dogs there could be!
The veterinarian said that Jake, age 6, might be too old to be neutered, and the problem was solved once L and JK put Jake in his kennel while they were gone.
But this story reminded me about a previous curiosity about "heat" or estrus, in animals.
Female dogs go into heat in cycles that span from seven to ten months, but can be as close together as four months, or only occur once a year.
The period of estrus lasts from ten days to four weeks, and has three stages. In proestrus, the bitch will bleed a little, and her vulva will swell and get warm (hence the name "heat".) She might urinate more frequently, as well. Male dogs will be interested in her, but she won't let them get any action during this stage. When full estrus starts, nooky begins! This lasts four to 21 days. Diestrus is the final stage of heat, and the bitch becomes less interested in sex.
If the female dog becomes pregnant, she will give birth nine weeks later. Even if she does have a litter, the dog will go into heat regularly at the next interval.
Dogs differ from all other mammals in two factors: First, the egg is released at a more primitive stage than any other. The cells continue dividing for 48 hours, after which it is fertilizable. The window for conception lasts five days, unlike the few hours most mammals have. Secondly, all mammals produce progesterone after ovulation, while dogs release it before, causing the warm vulva.
Well, I think that's all the info I have on dog reproduction; all this dirty talk is making me feel sheepish! Ha ha, just kidding!
Do it doggy-style, Wendell
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