Subscribe To This Site

Dogs in Heat

The Reproductive Cycle In Dogs

As responsible owners we all need to know about dogs in heat; what it means for the dog and, importantly, how we can care from our pets during this time.

Like any other animals, dogs also undergo their own unique reproductive cycles. The cycle in dogs is known as the estrus cycle.

This cycle is the time when female dogs display interest in mating and is the fertile period.

dogs in heat and the reproductive cycle

The Heat Cycle

The reproductive cycles in dogs begins at puberty, generally when the dog is about 7-10 months of age. This is the average age of puberty and may vary according to the breed of the dog.

For small breeds, this process starts at around 5-6 months of age. While for the large breeds, it can start when the dog is about 2 years old.

Female dogs normally have only 2 reproductive cycles in a year.

During the cycle, they will experience bloody vaginal discharges that last for 4-9 days. After this duration, the female dog will begin to stand for breeding and accept the male.

Depending on the breed, this receptive stage can last for a couple of days to as long as 1-2 weeks. Counting from the first day of the vaginal discharges, the most fertile days are the 9th, 11th and 13th.

How Dogs In Heat React

Females are very restless and receptive to males. They even have the ability to attract male dogs from far distances. You may notice that your female dog is always moving around and is sometimes very irritable.

Caring For Your Dog

It is important to know how to handle female dogs in heat. As a responsible pet owner, you will obviously be concerned with their health and safety. Here are some ways on how to take care of your dog.

* During the third or fourth week of the cycle, your dog will release pheremones, which will attract male dogs even at far distances. So it is best if you keep your dog indoors.

* Even if you keep your dog indoors, male dogs can still smell the pheremones and may wait on the doorstep. If your dog is going outside to urinate, you must accompany her to protect her from male dogs in the neighbourhood.

* If you are planning to mate your dog during this time, remember that as a general rule, it is not best to breed female dogs on their first heat period. Her reproductive organs are still not very mature yet and becoming pregnant may cause some health problems. It is better to wait until the next cycle or the third cycle before breeding your dog.

* To prevent future health problems to the mother and to her future puppies, it is better to have her checked by the vet. This will ensure that she is in a good condition to handle a pregnancy and to make sure that she doesn’t have any medical problems that can be passed on to the future puppies.

* Pregnancy can put strain on the mother. So it is never wise to breed her in every cycle. Give her time to relax and go back to the non-pregnant state for a while before planning to breed again. Consecutive pregnancies may harm her health.

Subscribe To Our Free Labrador Review Newsletter

Enter your E-mail Address

Enter your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Labrador Review.