What time of year do dogs usually go into heat?

A female dog’s heat cycle, also called estrus, is the time when her body is ready to reproduce. Most dogs begin coming into heat between 6 and 12 months (earlier for small breeds, later for larger breeds) and typically have a heat twice yearly.

During their estrus period, dogs may have several or no signs. You may notice the following in your dog:

Ideally, pet dogs who are not going to be bred should be spayed before their first heat cycle. Here are a few reasons why:

Behavioral Changes

Hormones can be a powerful thing, even for dogs. Intact female dogs are more likely to exhibit signs of aggression and may have behavioral changes during estrus. This is especially of concern when your dog is around small children.

Likewise, females who are not spayed are more likely to get out of the house and yard and may fight. Not surprisingly, male dogs around her are more likely to fight as well.

Health Reasons

Unspayed female dogs are most definitely at a higher risk for health problems. These include:

Pet Overpopulation

It is not uncommon for female dogs to be bred while in heat, even unintentionally. The scent of a dog in season is a powerful one and can attract males from miles around. Consider the following:

Despite popular myths, there are no health benefits to allowing your dog to have a litter of puppies or go through a heat cycle before spaying. Overall, spayed pets live longer, healthier lives and fit better within the family environment in which they live.

If you have questions or concerns about spaying your dog, it is important to talk it over with your veterinarian in order to determine the best course of action for you and your pet.

Do you have a male or female dog, which has not yet been spayed or neutered? In this case, knowing the signs of a dog in heat is very important for both male and female dog parents. This can help you to do the following:

• be better prepared for the experience
• prevent unwanted pregnancy/new puppies
• plan for puppies when you do want them
• avoid dangerous situations; dogs in heat can be very unpredictable and even run away from home
• keep track of your dog

So what are the most common symptoms of a dog in heat? What can you expect when your dog is in heat? Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions on dogs in heat.

Table of contents

A dog in heat refers to the time in a female dog’s life when she’s fertile and ready to breed. It’s the stage in a dog’s reproductive cycle when she’s ovulating, and therefore open to potential mates.

Watch out – during this time your dog may act funny, showcasing the classic symptoms of a dog in heat. And since she’s open to mating, there’s a real possibility that your dog could become pregnant during this time. So you may need to take action in order to prevent an unwanted dog pregnancy.

The dog in heat cycle is also known as the 4-stage estrus cycle in dogs.

Dogs have their first heat cycle when they reach puberty: the time when they become sexually mature and capable of reproducing. This usually happens around six months old, but the exact age can vary by breed.

Small dogs are known to start their estrus cycle earlier, whereas large or giant breeds may not have their first heat until they are 18 – 24 months1.

Heat and breeding in domesticated dogs can happen any time of year – its not associated with any particular season. The only exception is Basenjis and Tibetan Mastiffs, who tend to go into heat in spring.

How often do dogs go into heat?

On average female dogs go into heat twice a year, or about every six months. But the frequency and interval can vary between dogs and among different dogs breeds. For example, very large breeds may go into heat only one time a year, while small dog breeds may cycle three times per year.

Dogs typically have two heats per year, but each dog differs in length of heat, discharge amount and hormonal changes.

While a dog is still young, their heat cycle may be irregular. It can take up to two years for a dog’s heat cycle to become regular.

Do male dogs go into heat?

No, male dogs don’t go into heat – only a female dog can be in heat. Being ‘in heat’ specifically refers to the estrus stage of a female dog’s reproductive cycle, during which she’s receptive to mating and could therefore get pregnant.

While they don’t have a heat cycle, male dogs can mate all year round after reaching puberty at around 6 months old. If you have an uncastrated dog older than 6 months, you probably know the challenges that come with his sexual maturity. Constantly ready to mate, an unfixed male dog will mount things and run away at every chance he gets – eager to meet and “greet” the neighborhood bitches.

Although male dogs don’t go into heat, keep in mind that the female dog in heat cycle can have a major impact on your male dog.

Male dogs will pick up the scent of female dogs in heat thanks to a special pheromone known as Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate. This smell can make your male dog crazy – especially if he’s intact, he’ll become sexually aroused and may put his entire focus on pursuing the female dog. Mating is the ultimate goal of this natural, strong instinct in unneutered dogs. During this time it can be helpful to track your dog with a GPS dog tracker to make sure they stay out of trouble.

Follow every step in real-time with unlimited range. Get alerts if they wander too far. Keep them in shape with Activity Monitoring. And let others – like walkers or sitters – keep an eye on your dog too.

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Your male dog might even neglect opportunities for food or water, since his instinct is very much focused on mating. Get some tips on how to persuade your dog to drink water in order to avoid dehydration.

Common behaviors of a female dog in heat

Not sure if your dog is in heat? Vaginal bleeding may be the first indicator that your dog is coming into heat. Here are a few common behaviors of a female dog in heat to watch out for, along with some other dog in heat symptoms:

1. Licking her lady parts more than usual.

It’s normal for dogs to keep themselves clean and tidy by licking themselves. But if you notice your female unspayed dog licking her private parts excessively, it’s a good indication that she may be in heat!

A female dog will lick herself in response to the swelling of the vulva and bloody discharge she experiences as a part of her reproductive cycle. Most dogs can keep themselves clean during this time. If your dog’s discharge is making a mess, you may want to consider using heat diaper and/or dog wipes.

2. Change in urination habits.

A female dog who is ready to mate often urinates differently, so that’s clue #2 that your dog is in heat. This could mean:

• urinating more often than usual
• raising her leg differently while urinating – or when she sees a male dog
• frequently urinating around male dogs

So if your dog’s peeing habit is suddenly not as predictable as normal, she might be in heat.

3. Getting more friendly with male dogs.

Another big clue that your dog is in heat is when she starts to become more attractive and receptive to male dogs. She will likely be more friendly towards male dogs, while they also show increased interest in her.

For example, during heat she may let male dogs sniff and lick her vulva, when normally she would not tolerate this behavior. Excessive tail wagging is also a sign of openness towards male dogs, signaling that she welcomes physical contact.

4. Change in posture and tail position.

When female dogs enter the estrus (second) phase of the dog in heat cycle, they’re ready to mate and they show this with their posture and tail position. Your dog make take a suggestive posture, as an invitation to male dogs. You’ll also see her raise her tail slightly and move it to the side – this position becoming even more pronounced when she’s touched.

5. Mounting and humping

When aroused, female dogs may mount, hump or thrust when they’re ready to mate – it’s not just male dogs. This is one of the most obvious signs of a dog in heat. She’ll mount or hump both male and female dogs, or other things she might mistake for a dog.

A dog may also become hyperactive while in heat. If you find your dog roaming in search of a mating partner – escaping from the backyard or pulling on the leash – a Tractive GPS Dog Tracker can help you keep tabs on her (and thus keep her safe) at all times. Should your furry friend run away, you can use the LIVE Tracking feature of the GPS tracker from the convenience of your smartphone and find your four-legged friend in no time.

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6. Anxiety, agitation and nesting

Finally, a female dog in heat may become anxious or even aggressive during the time she’s open for mating. Commonly she’ll also display nesting behaviors, in preparation for pregnancy.

Of course, these are not all the possible signs of a dog in heat. Your dog might also become more affectionate towards you, become lazier or more aroused, show signs of distress or ease, or even run away. How a dog in heat will act depends a lot on the individual dog and their temperament.

In case your dog shows any warning signs of illness during her heat cycle, contact your veterinarian.

To better understand the signs of a female dog in heat, it’s best to break down the various stages of the dog in heat cycle, also known as the estrus cycle in dogs. Below are the four stages that your unspayed female dog will cycle through:

1. Proestrus stage

The first stage of the dog heat cycle is called proestrus. This stage can last from 3 to 17 days, but many dogs experience about 9 days in proestrus. The first sign of this stage is the swelling of the vulva. This is one of the best ways to spot the beginning of a dog heat cycle. During the proestrus stage, you may notice the following symptoms:

The estrus stage typically last from 3-21 days and lasts 9 days on average. This is the time your dog is fertile (her actual heat) and where the ovaries begin to release eggs for fertilization. During this stage the female dog will be willing to accept male company. She will switch her tail to the side and she might try to be outside more often than normally. She is following her instinct to breed. During this period, symptoms include:

3. Diestrus Stage

As diestrus takes over, the fertile part of the heat cycle comes to an end. This stage can last from 60-90 days and, at this point, the dog is no longer fertile. If the dog has been impregnated, the diestrus stage lasts from the end of the estrus until the birth of the puppies (around 60 days). Signs of the diestrus stage include:

4. Anestrus Stage

Anestrus is the final stage of the dog heat cycle, also known as the resting stage. This is the longest phase of a dog’s heat cycle, from 100-150 days, at the end of which the entire heat cycle starts again.

How long does a dog stay in heat?

Female dogs in heat in the estrus phase of the heat cycle usually display the signs of heat for 3 – 21 days or 9 days on average. For more information see the detailed explanation above. Dogs will typically have two heats per year, but each dog differs in length of heat, discharge amount and hormonal changes.

How to handle a female dog in heat

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The dog mating process explained

This following infographic illustrates the act of sex or mating between two dogs.  The different stages and duration of the dog mating process are as follows:

1. First Stage Coitus (approximately 2 minutes)
2. The Turn (approx. 5 seconds)
3. Second Stage Coitus (5-45 minutes)

First, the male dog will sit on the female dog (first state coitus). Should they keep this initial position, they would suffer from severe cramps. For this reason, they will change positions (the turn), and the dogs will continue mating (second stage coitus) as illustrated in the infographic below. The uterus, vagina, bulb, vulva and penis are all involved in the sexual act between dogs.

One of the main takeaways from the infographic is the fact that it is forbidden to separate dogs during the mating act, since this can lead to serious consequences.

Dog heat pants: Where do they (not) help

Female dogs are, similar to humans, very neat during the heat period. Still, this behavior can also vary from dog to dog.

Good to know: Some dogs will clean themselves very meticulously, while others can be very neglectful. In the same way, the intensity of their bleeding can vary.

There are special dog heat pants, which catch the menstruation of your female dog. Of course, you need to give your dog time to get used to this first. You could start preparing your dog for the new clothing item, before the period kicks in.

The dog heat pants don’t protect your female dog from the mating act!

Pay attention: Many dog males are very creative during this hormone explosion period and manage to mate with female dogs despite the dog heat pants.

The mating act: Am I allowed to separate dogs while mating?

There is a clear answer to this: NO, under no circumstances! You can easily harm both dogs, since the limb of your dog is swelling, while the muscles of your female dog are contracted.

The mating act should not be mistaken as a light encounter. This process can last up to 30 minutes and might often look embarrassing for humans.

Dogs and menopause: Is this a real topic?

Your female dog is fertile until the end. A missed heat period can be a sign of illness in dogs. Should you notice this happening, make sure to pay your vet a visit.

Undesired dog pregnancy? Available abortion options

Despite all tips and measures, your furry friend could become pregnant. Here are your options, in case of an unplanned dog pregnancy:

• Abortion shot: This option is not without risks and should be only used in extreme emergency cases.
• Hormonal suppression: With this treatment, one can provoke various uterus illnesses to the female dog. Should this option be the only way, your vet is only allowed to give the shot during the hormonal pause period, in order not to harm your dog’s uterus.

If you think your dog may be going into heat soon, consider investing in a dog tracker to always keep your furry friend safe.

For more insights on female dogs in heat, check out the video below:

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