Female dogs are only able to mate while “in season”, also called “in heat”. Male dogs can be sexually active all year long.

A female dog - also called “bitch” will come in heat about every six months. The heat lasts for up to three weeks and the bitch will experience her first heat cycle at around 6 - 7 months. Some larger dog breeds at 8 - 9 months.

A female dog does not show significant behavior changes during heat (contrary to cats). Signs of a female in heat are:

Females in heat will attract males for the whole period of her cycle. The scent of her urine and the vaginal discharge is a strong, irresistible signal for male dogs. If you have male dogs in your neighborhood it is better to drive your animal to remote areas for her daily walk. Otherwise your house and surroundings will be of great attraction for every male! If your dog is normally kept in a fenced yard do not leave her outside unattended during this time. Even if you think that the dog can’t escape, males smelling a bitch in heat are quite inventive and go to extraordinary lengths! Don’t let her off leash, consider that the bitch will succumb to hormones, even the best trained one. The most loving and obedient female can turn into an uncontrollable bundle of hormones during her heat cycle.

Dogs do not experience “menopause”, meaning that if you don’t spay your animal it will be in heat twice a year for as long as the animals lives.

If you know that you will never breed, think about spaying your dog. A good time for spaying is at an age of about 6 - 7 months. Some veterinarians recommend to let the animal go through the first heat cycle, some spay as early as 2 - 3 months. Opinions vary. Most vets though prefer not to spay during a heat cycle due to an increased risk of hemorrhage. In case an “accident” happened and the female is in the early stage of pregnancy, she can be spayed one week after the ending of the heat cycle.