The Dogs Season or Heat
Season or Heat Cycle In Dogs
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What Is a Season?: The “Season” can also be called “heat” or “oestrus”. This is the time when the female dog can become pregnant
Care must be taken if you do not want a litter of unwanted puppies.
It is not always obvious that the dog is in season. Especially when it is the first. The signs may be quite difficult to spot. That is because the swelling and discharge can be almost non-existent.
When this occurs, varies enormously from dog to dog. An unspayed female dog can usually be expected to come into heat twice yearly and usually lasts three weeks. Unfortunately, nature does not do usually you cannot class all dogs alike. Some seasons can vary in length from two to four weeks. The average is three weeks. Always calculate it as four weeks if you are unsure, or you could be very unhappy with the outcome.
Some females only have one season a year, and others can have three. Nothing is set in stone. The giant breeds may have only one season every year, some have been known to be every 18 months.
Masking The Smell: When a dog is coming into season she starts giving out a pungent smell. Dogs scenting ability is on a whole different level to humans. Therefore all the neighbourhood dogs know when your dog is starting its season.
Do not take your dog over the park when the dog is in season, you will get plagued by every male dog even some of the ones that have been neutered. You will also annoy the male dog’s owners as their dogs will run off sometimes from over a mile away
To exercise your dog whilst it is in season, never take it to the park always walk it on a lead around the streets and roads.
Having said that even then there could be loose dogs around. (1) A Bitch In Season Spray can help in all these cases.
This Spray has been designed to mask the natural oestrus odours of a bitch in Season and discourage unwanted attention from dogs.
I sell this in my online and physical Store in Hampton Hill. Made from herbal natural oils so no nasty chemicals. I do not sell anything with chemicals in my store
What Age Does The 1st Season Normally Start?: Once again this has enormous variations. The average will start when the female is between six to thirty-six months old. Though the lower figure would normally be the smaller breeds. However, like all the others this can vary between different breeds and sizes.
In the picture Charlie, because he was neutered as a rescue before he was mature (A really bad decision) See (2) Paediatric Neutering.
He really does not know what is expected of him and is very confused.
Desperate for sex, Pip the female, mounts him to show what he should do. I have known dogs to have their first season at five months and others as late as thirty-six months.
Having said that these would normally be the giant breeds, such as Wolfhounds or Great Danes. The size of the dog normally means they will mature at different times. For instance, I would start to become a little worried, if the season does not happen until very late (after thirty-six months)
Have the dog checked out by a Vet if you are concerned that the season is delayed way past a normal time for that breed? It is prudent to check to make sure there are no underlying medical problems that could be affecting the onset of the first season.
What Are The Signs?: Sometimes you will see a yellow or white mucus type discharge from the Vulva. This is the area that links to the womb not where they toilet from. After a short period, you may see a bloody discharge.
The dog may be licking around the genital regions more than normal, as she tries to keep clean. Her vulva will often become swollen; this once again can be different from dog to dog. Some can become very large, and therefore obvious, others almost unnoticeable.
Other signs are mood changes and increased urination. She may develop marking behaviour, in which she urinates small amounts on different objects, either at home or on a walk. She may show restlessness and reduced appetite. She can become skittish and show nervous behaviour, recall can become a real problem as she becomes fertile.
On top of that, the surges in hormones may trigger aggression and mood swings so do not go rushing to a behaviourist. I have been called out on numerous occasions only to find the dog was in season, or it was having a phantom pregnancy and the dog reverted back to its normal behaviour when that was over.
When Can She Get Pregnant?: At the time the discharge becomes almost clear with some mucus, which acts as a lubricant, this is when she ovulates. The lasts for approximately 10 days from the start of her actively standing for a dog. She is now at her most fertile stage. This will be the time when she may try and escape and look for a dog to couple with.
The dog’s genetics kicks in and she will actively stand for a dog and move its tail to one side inviting the male dog to mate with her. If you look at the picture you can see Pipsqueak in her second season standing for Charlie.
Whilst he looks interested, in reality, he has been neutered and has no idea why she is flirting with him and what she wants. The female can get very desperate at this time, if any door or gate is unlocked then she will be off.
The local lothario can also sneak in and have his evil way. If she has mated before she reaches this period in her season, she can still get pregnant. Sperm can survive for a week in her reproductive tract, therefore still capable of fertilising the eggs.
It is commonly believed that if the dogs do not “tie,” which is the act of turning back to back whilst still, coupled together, then she cannot fall pregnant. This is an “old wives tale” A dog can get pregnant, just as easily without becoming fully tied, with just normal coupling.
Can Dogs get pregnant when they are not in season?: The simple answer is NO!. It is totally impossible for a dog to become pregnant unless the dog is actually in season and within the heat cycle period which is generally the ten-day period in the middle of the heat cycle. Though sperm can lie dormant for a week inside her.
I have also been told by numerous people that to stop dogs that are already copulating you should throw a bucket of water over them.
This is a very dangerous old wives tale. If you did this and it panics the dogs could be seriously injured internally.
Once they have tied like the picture below then there is nothing you can do. You must let nature take its course and they will untie eventually.
The average time is about 20-30 minutes when the male’s organ subsides and they will part naturally. If you have decided on a litter of puppies, then I have written an article especially for you. It is called (3) The Pregnant Dog Countdown to Birth
Commonly Asked Questions
(1) If dogs couple can I get her the morning after pill? Yes, there is a medication that can help to terminate a pregnancy up to a few days after coupling.
Having said that it can have in some cases severe complications, some vets are wary of prescribing it. The two dogs that have tied together in the picture are my own dogs and produced the litter in the picture below
(2). How long is a pregnancy?
Pregnancy in dogs also called a gestation period, typically lasts 63 days (about nine weeks). The duration of a dog’s pregnancy can fall in the range of 58 to 68 days.
(3) Can a dog get pregnant in its first season?
The simple answer is yes. If the dog has matured enough to have a season, then it is perfectly capable of carrying a belly full of puppies. Though any good breeder would wait until at least the second season before even considering breeding. I believe both of the dogs should be at least 2 years old.
(4) Will, my dog miss having puppies?
This is a typical anthropomorphic question. It suggests dogs like humans will yearn after motherhood, especially if they cannot have pups. The only automatic yearning dogs have is to mate. During that 10 day period, the dog’s instinct is to couple to any male dog. Other than that time the dog will not miss or yearn for a litter of puppies.
(5) Do dogs have menopause the same as humans?
Unlike humans, dogs stay fertile all their lives. The season may be missed occasionally as they move into old age. However, they can still fall pregnant at any age.
(6) What are the early signs of pregnancy?
These include loss of appetite, lethargy, slight nipple growth and some behavioural changes. These changes come about because of the surges in hormones and can include the need for isolation or the opposite such as demanding to be cuddled.
(7) What are the later signs of pregnancy?
After a few weeks, her appetite will improve and she will rapidly start to gain weight.
Her abdomen will thicken and her nipples will enlarge, and she may start lactating a few days before birth. In the last weeks, you can feel and sometimes see the puppies moving around inside the womb. On the right is Fizz
She had given birth the day before to seven healthy puppies, The one with the collar is the one I kept and called Gunner.
She and the father who I also owned called Jet were fed on what I consider the best dog food and supplements including Salmon Oil as are all my dogs. It makes so much difference. (4) Dog Supplements
The miracle of birth can be an amazing experience. I love dogs and always have done, that is why I am in this profession. However, I have only bred one litter of puppies and they turned out brilliant dogs
I have followed many litters from birth to death. Whilst the rescue centres are screaming out for homes for unwanted dogs. and the likes of the RSPCA are euthanising thousands of perfectly healthy dogs. Then perhaps just one litter of healthy and highly specialised Working Cockers is acceptable.
75% of all the dogs I have owned have been rescued. The others I bought as puppies, to be trained as gun dogs or sniffer dogs. If it was a puppy then I needed to get them early and at the most important time of their learning period, which is between 0 and 16 weeks. If I choose wisely and pick the right breeder, then I will know that the 1st weeks of their lives will have been the making of them.
Read Charlies Background. Part of his story is in (5) Fearful and Timid Dogs. When I finish my first book, I will write more about Charlie’s amazing fortitude, and his ability to overcome some of the worst starts in life I have ever heard of or had to treat. I will also mention the brilliant work of a vet nurse, now a dog trainer, Who literally saved him from being systematically beaten to death, when others ignored his plight. Charlie’s brother was kicked to death by this psychopath.
This is Gunner the one I picked from my one and only litter, I have not written about seasons and pregnancies in dogs because I want you to rush out and get your dog neutered. I promise you that is something I would never recommend. Before you consider that read (7) Neutering the Real Story.
However, if I can get just one person to take on a rescue dog. then I will have at least helped the hard-pressed rescue centres, most but not all who do brilliant work. I have very little time for the likes of the RSPCA and some of the other large rescue institutions. I like and support the small individual rescue centres.
Having said that the small RSPCA units, often do sterling work. It is the wasteful heads of these institutions that appear to get the donations, whilst starving the operations that do the real work. Look at the Blue Cross recently and the scandal that hit them.
The RSPCA’s boss Gavin Grant has left for “health reasons”. Rubbish don’t they often say that when people are pushed? He was an absolute car crash of a man and did no favours to an organisation that has totally lost its way.
So my time and money will always go to the little ones. They are the ones that are struggling. Not the ones with a tranche of directors on six-figure salaries and fleets of company cars. ON your donations these people live the high life on salaries many of us only dream about. Charity should be for the animals, not the hangers-on.
Natural Air Dried Treats for Dogs: I have now started my own ethical brand of totally natural air-dried dog treats
Click on the picture right which is Gunner one of my five dogs and it will take you to the range of all my treats scroll down to see all of them. or Click below (6) Air Dried Natural Dog Treats
All are reared as nature intended with no growth hormones, steroids, or antibiotics and non-halal. All meat and animals must come from free-range EU regulated livestock.
Made from fresh raw ingredients No chemical additives. No flavourings or colourings Gently dried and natural.
No preservatives, No sugar, rancid fat or caramel Most are suitable for puppies and older dogs
Come from EU regulated livestock Human grade meat. These are never stored in massive warehouses for years on end waiting for the price to rise.
They come from the open field air-dried and bagged and on my shelves.
I currently have 50 different treats that will rise and new ones arrive. They range from cows horns to bull willies. beef scalp to chicken necks, rabbits ears, Pigs tails, dog spaghetti and ear shells (Auricles)
©Stan Rawlinson Doglistener
Dog Behaviourist. Obedience Trainer Expert Witness Author
and owner of The Dog Store Hampton Hill
September 2012
Latest update January 2021
(2) Paediatric Neutering.
(3) The Pregnant Dog Countdown to Birth.
(4) Dog Supplements
(7) Air Dried Natural Dog Treats
Comments (13)
Your Article on dogs Season or heat
Sent to me by Email.
Thank you so much for the article on how to tell whether a dog was in heat. We have an almost 7 month old peke-a-poo, and I just scheduled her today to get spayed. Tonight, I saw blood near her private area fur (slightly in back of it), and I was nervous.
My husband had mentioned that she was asking to go out (we live in the country and walk her, she is never alone) every half hour. I noticed she was very clingy. I was reading the descriptions of “in heat” at other sites, but I still was unsure and nervous about what may be wrong with her.
Then I went to your site and saw the photos and they were an immense help. I was reading about the tail being moved, but was having trouble visualizing it. Your picture of that is exactly what our puppy is doing. The close up picture of the vulva was extremely helpful , as well.
I don’t normally email people that I do not know, but I was so thankful for that article, because it is late at night, and I would have had to wait until tomorrow to call the vet, and I wanted to let you know what a big help it was. Thank you so much.
We have always had three dogs at a time, and have never had any go into heat before getting spayed, so the whole thing made me nervous. She is a rescue pup and adapting well! We also have an 8 year old female pekingese and a 9 year old male bichon. I am sure hoping that he is like your dog and doesn’t “know what to do.” He was neutered at 6 months old.
Once again, thank you for that great and informative article! I feel much better after reading that, and I had visited many other sites before I found yours, but none explained that as well as you.
Thank you again,
Julia
Looking for a dog
I have a beagle and its a she. Soon she will be on her season and i am looking for another beagle to breeding. I dont know where to search could you help me?
Thanks
Looking for a Dog
Hi Macie
That will depend on a number of variables. How old is the dog and does it have full KC pedigree papers. If she does you could contact the list of breeders of Beagles at the kennel club and ask if they have a stud dog. below is the link.
However, the dog should be at least two years old and have had one full season and be free of any inherited breed diseases. See below also for a list of things you should understand
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/acbr/Default.aspx?breed=Beagle
Things to consider
If you are thinking of breeding from your bitch, there
are certain questions that you will need to ask yourself
before proceeding:
• Is the bitch fit, healthy and does she have a good
temperament?
• Can I afford to pay for the recommended health tests
for the bitch prior to mating her and, where necessary,
for her litter?
• Do I know enough to help the bitch during the
whelping, if necessary?
• Can I afford to pay for a caesarean should the dam
have difficulty whelping the litter?
• Could I cope with a very large litter of, say, 10 or 12
puppies?
• Do I have sufficient knowledge to rear the litter
correctly, including worming, vaccinations and
socialisation?
• Have I the time to devote to a litter until the puppies are
old enough to go to their new homes, which is usually
around eight weeks?
• Am I knowledgeable enough to advise new owners
about caring for their puppies, including rearing, diet,
training and health problems?
• Would I be able to find good homes for the puppies?
• Am I in a position to take back or re-home any puppies
if it becomes necessary?
Tubal Ligations vs traditional spay
What are your thoughts on Tubal Ligation vs traditional spay procedure.
Tubal Ligation
I have written an overview on neutering recently and in that article i cover Tubal Ligation as well as Vasectomy, I aLso cover hysterectomy as opposed to Ovariohysterectomy . I hope it helps.
https://www.doglistener.co.uk/overview-problems-spaying-and-castrating-dogs
great dane
This was very helpful. I just have one question my bitch Dane is coming into her first sewing at 10 months Ive an unnutered male Dane he is 6 years old he’s never been around a bitch in heat and had bad hips… would he still know what to do and would he be able to do it
Great Dane and ability to mate
The simple answer is yes he certainly would. Mating is not a learned process it is instinctual and the need to mate when a female is in heat is very powerful . Therefore it would probably overcome any pain he has during your females season.
You have a couple of options either someone else looks after the dog or bitch when she is in season or you can have a short chemical castration. It is a injection that mimics neutering in the male and in this case it would be Tardak. There is another chemical castration called suprelorin. However the affects of this last far longer and i would not normally recommend it with a dog with joint or bone problems in these circumstances.
There is no chemical neutering for females at present. However they are working on it.
Stan
dogs seasons
does anyone out there know why my 6 yr old girl has not had a season fr a long time
6 year old dog not having a season
The answer will be either one of three scenarios The seasons are almost not showing in any way and she keeps herself clean. She has had a medical condition that is stopping the eggs from entering the fallopian tubes or she has been spayed.
Puppy Second Season?
Hello,
My Miniature Schnauzer puppy came into her first season early at just shy of 6 months and it lasted just over 5 weeks – much longer than I expected. This had a significant impact on her socialisation so we were glad when it had finished and I could eventually sign her up for behaviour and training classes. Last week I noticed that she had a slightly swollen vulva and took her to the vet. I was told that the likelihood is that she is once again in season! There is no discharge but male dogs on walks (she is always on the lead) are very attracted to her and are desperate to mount her – one even ran a long way from his owner just to get to my dog and I had to pick her up in the end as he was getting quite aggressive. Is it possible to have two seasons so close together, one without bleeding? If so, this will be a major setback again as she hasn’t started her socialisation classes.
Thanks for any advice/insight,
Angela
Socialisation and Puppies
Socialisation is way too late at six months. I think it may help if you read this: Critical Periods in a Puppies Life The critical period in a dog’s life for socialisation are 0 to 12 weeks Human socialisation period. 0 to 16 weeks is the Canine socialisation period.
You have not said how old your dog is now? but I do mention in the article that seasons are not set in stone and some dogs can have 3 and even 4 seasons in a year. and they can last longer than the normal 3 weeks.
Worming
Please can you advise
I have a 5 month old Sprocker a great dog and easy to train. What worm tablets would you advise to buy and how often to repeat the dose. Advise varies.
Thank you
6.5 month old puppy in season
Thanks so much for the information on this matter. I noticed my puppy had started her season this morning and seemed ok but has been very fidgety and can’t seem to settle this evening. I’d read about being clingy and licking herself clean but was worried about not settling and not particularly hungry. You have eased my worries thank you.
Comments are closed.