To begin breeding, your female German Shepherd will come into season when she is between eight and twelve months old.   Technically she is ready at this point, however, just like humans and our own teenage maturity, they are not developed enough mentally and physically.  It is best to wait until the second or third season.  This should be around six months after the first season if the training and her surroundings remain fairly steady.   In most cases, more females seem to come into heat in the months of February through May than any other time of the year.

 Just before your female goes into heat, have her stools checked for parasites.  Make sure she is healthy for the events that are about to happen.   If there are parasites found, de-worm her.  Make an extra effort to feed her a well balanced diet.  Some other signs that she is going into heat is that her appetite will increase and her vulva will also begin to swell.  She will become restless; she will urinate more often and will be friendlier with other dogs around her.  This is known as the first stage of the cycle.

 When her vulva shows the first sign of blood, this signifies the second stage in the cycle.  In some cases the blood doesn’t appear at all or just goes un-noticed by the owner.  This is normal and do not be too concerned.  In other cases, the female may bleed all the time.  This is not the only sign of the second stage, but the most common one.  Again, you need to look for her behavior changing especially towards the male dog.  This is generally between five to ten days long, but the only real sign of knowing when this stage of the cycle is over is when she will stand and let the male dog copulate.

 The third stage of the cycle is called the acceptance period.  She will start to move her body towards the male and basically invite him to mate.  Sometimes the male dog will have to tease her a bit, but her instincts will eventually give in and permit full intercourse.  If she yelps a few times and seems to be uncomfortable, it is best to wait until the sensitivity has left.  If she has never mated, it is best to use a male who is experienced.  It is also best to put the male and female in separate dog runs with just a fence between them.  This will enhance the courtship and make the mating go a bit smoother.  Trust me; the male dog will still be ready then too.  The best time to mate is approximately the thirteenth to the fifteen day of the mating cycle when during ovulation.  When the female abruptly signals to the male that she isn’t interested, the cycle is complete.  

 The best time to introduce the male to the female is just after the first stage.  It is vitally important that you recognize the stages.   Introducing the male too early or too late can lead to a failed pregnancy.   The best method is still keeping them in close quarters with just a chain link fence between them until the thirteenth day or so.  If your male dog experiences pain or difficulty in mating and the female is a virgin, you will need to put your finger around the flesh web, located at the opening of the vagina, and break it open if there is to be consummation.   

 Do not let your female hang around other male dogs after breeding.  Their sperm can still impregnate your female dog and you may have a mixed paternity litter.  This is caused by some puppies sired by the first male and others by the second.