A female canine begins going into heat (the reproductive cycle in which she begins to seek a mate) when she hits puberty, usually between six months and two years of age. Smaller breeds tend to go into heat sooner than larger breeds, so there is some variation between dogs.
Some signs of a female dog going into heat may include lower energy levels, more aggressive behavior, differences in leg-raising while urinating, urinating more often than usual, and even running away from home. This is unlike male dogs, who do not experience heat cycles.
On average, puberty (or sexual maturity) is reached at about six months of age, but this can vary by breed. Smaller breeds tend to have their first estrous cycle at an earlier age, while large and giant breeds may not come into heat for the first time until they reach eighteen months to two years of age.
Signs seen during this phase include a swollen vulva, blood-tinged discharge, excessive licking of the genital area, clingy behavior, and aggression toward male dogs. Your dog may also hold her tail close to her body. Estrus: The estrus phase is the mating phase where your female dog will be receptive to males.
Heat usually lasts between 2-4 weeks. Early in the cycle, a female dog may not be receptive to male dogs, although some are receptive through the entire cycle. It can be shorter or longer and you'll know the cycle is over when all her vulva returns to its normal size and there's no more bleeding or discharge.
Three and occasionally four heat cycles per year can be normal in some females. Very large breeds may only have a "heat" cycle once every 12-18 months. In most giant breeds (Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, St Bernard's, etc.)
She may urinate more than usual. There will also be a blood-tinged discharge and swollen vulva. She may seem nervous or distracted. She'll be receptive to male dogs and may initiate sexual contact, including raising her rear towards male dogs and deflecting her tail to one side, which is called 'flagging.
Often, during courtship, females in heat mount and hump their male “suitors.” Female dogs also commonly mount and hump other females when one or both are in heat.
Stage 1: Signs a Dog Is in Heat
The first signs your dog is in heat are the swelling of her vulva and bright red bloody discharge.
Silent Heat Cycle
This occurs when your female will have a heat cycle without the normal symptoms such as bleeding and swelling of the vulva. Females will still be receptive to males and can become pregnant.
There are some old wives' tales that a dog should go through at least 1 heat cycle before she's spayed. This just isn't the case. Studies have shown that the risks of mammary cancer and urinary incontinence are higher if you wait to spay your dog after she's gone through 1 or more heat cycles.
The typical heat cycle will last between two and four weeks. Your dog or puppy will be fertile during this entire time but there is a small period, 9-10 days into the cycle, where they are especially fertile.
Q: How do you care for a dog in heat? A: The most important thing to remember when a female dog is in heat is that if she is around an unfixed male dog, she can get pregnant. To prevent pregnancy, keep her in a secure enclosure with her own food bowl, water bowl and bedding, apart from other dogs.
Timing is an important consideration, in addition to whether or not to spay or neuter at all. Allowing a female pup to have one heat cycle helps to be sure she is mature and finished growing. When a puppy is spayed or neutered before reaching full maturity, there may be a risk of future orthopedic problems.
A dog's body experiences lots of changes when she's in heat. Because of these changes, your dog may experience some changes in behavior and even some pain. Much like humans, female dogs experience cramps and hormonal changes when their bodies are preparing to mate.
When a female dog is in heat (called estrus), she has a bloody discharge from her vulva—similar to a human period or menstruation. But that's where the similarities end. While humans experience a menstrual cycle every 28 days on average, dogs' estrous cycle is six months or more. A dog's heat cycle has four stages .
According to her, “Hot weather does not impact your menstruation directly, but it certainly affects your lifestyle and stress levels, which in turn can aggravate period-related symptoms.” When your period coincides with a heat wave, the combination of fluctuating hormones and sweltering heat can make your period harder ...
Often, dogs will hump the people that give them the biggest reaction. Some dogs that hump for attention will pick the person(s) that responds the most, effectively rewarding the behavior. Other dogs will hump due to social dominance, choosing to show a person that they are “lower” on the social totem pole than the dog.
Why do female dogs hump? Both male and female dogs can demonstrate mounting behaviour. Females may demonstrate mounting behaviour for all the same reasons as desexed male dogs do – during play, during fights, when frustrated to release energy or even to get their owner's attention!
Whether you call it humping, mounting or thrusting, the behavior is natural in male and female dogs. For some dogs, it is a response to arousal. For others, it can just be a way to exert dominance and show that they're the top dog in the house.
A dictionary definition of oestrus is 'the periodic state of excitement in the female of most mammals, excluding humans, that immediately precedes ovulation and during which the female is most receptive to mating; heat' (American Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 2002).
Heat Exhaustion
It happens in extreme heat when your body can't get cool enough and sweats away too much water and salt. You get pale and clammy, and your temperature often goes over 100 degrees. You also may be tired, weak, lightheaded, and nauseated, and have a headache.
Your dog will only bleed for around half of the total cycle, usually 7 to 10 days. Generally, bigger dogs bleed more than smaller dogs, but it varies between dogs.