As our understanding of the health benefits progresses, it’s becoming increasingly common for veterinarians to recommend waiting longer to spay or neuter young dogs.

If you’re unsure WHEN to spay your young dog, please discuss this in depth with your vet. But if you’ve decided to delay the spay surgery and are now facing the new experience of navigating your adolescent’s first heat cycle, this article is for you! 

When should you expect your girl’s first heat cycle?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is wildly variable. Most commonly between six and twelve months, but it can take longer. If your dog is from a breeder, your breeder may be able to make an educated prediction based on their observations of your dog’s mother or other relatives.

What should you expect when your dog has a heat cycle?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is ALSO quite variable. But here are some general ideas of what to expect:

• She may be more irritable, more lethargic, or more restless. Some bitches show significant changes in behavior when in heat, and others don’t. Our best advice is to be prepared and empathetic. She may be experiencing some pain or discomfort, and the impact of hormones on behavior is REAL. Don’t be too alarmed by changes in behavior during this time. If she is struggling with things she normally doesn’t, avoid those things and wait for her heat cycle to pass.

• Other dogs may show more interest in her – both male and female. This is really not the time to have your girl around unfamiliar off-leash dogs. She may not appreciate the attention, and her presence can also provoke conflict between other dogs.
• There WILL be discharge, typically for two to three weeks. Prepare your dog ahead of time by teaching her to be comfortable wearing panties. Pair short sessions of wearing panties with treats, toys, and other fun activities so she learns to associate them with good things. Also set up a confined area in your home where it’s easy to clean up the mess — she will need to have frequent breaks from wearing the panties.

Do’s and don’ts of having a female dog in season

• DO take her for ON LEASH walks or hikes. As long as you stay observant and aware when in public, there is no reason to isolate your dog through her entire heat cycle. We recommend avoiding places where dogs are likely to be off-leash or out-of-control. Keep her on a leash or long-line at all times so she can’t get away from you or out of your sight. (No matter how much you usually trust her off-leash, remember that hormones can change behavior dramatically, so keep her on leash for now.)
• DON’T take her to play at the dog park. As suggested above, avoid interaction with groups of dogs, unfamiliar dogs, or off-leash dogs during this time, even if she usually loves playing with other dogs. 
• DO keep her separated from other dogs in your household when you aren’t there to supervise. Even if your other dogs are neutered or spayed, it is safest to prevent interaction unless you are supervising and can intervene. Your bitch in season may be more irritable than usual and you don’t want a conflict to start that will plague you in the long run. Additionally, some neutered males will mount and attempt to breed. Although a neutered male cannot produce puppies, it is safest for everyone to prevent this behavior.
• DO keep her separated from any intact males with a DOUBLE layer of separation. If you have an un-neutered male in your home (of ANY age) keep them separated with two barriers at all times. Dogs have been known to successfully breed through fences and crates! Don’t underestimate the determination and creativity of an un-neutered male and an in-season female.
• DON’T leave her unsupervised in your yard. Again, don’t underestimate the determination and creativity of an intact male! Even if you think your yard is secure from other dogs, don’t take the risk. Many dogs are very skilled jumpers, climbers, or diggers, and the hormone changes in your bitch will create extra motivation for their creativity… and as previously mentioned, dogs have been known to successfully breed through fences.
• DO bring her to class at Fur and Feather Works! Yes, you ARE allowed to come to class! We have invited bitches in heat to come to class alongside both intact and neutered males for a few years now. We view it as an excellent opportunity for the boys to learn an important part of being an upstanding canine citizen, but honestly, they mostly don’t notice because they’re too busy learning. All that we ask is that you let us know ahead of time, and that your bitch wear panties to help us keep the training center clean.

Remember: this too shall pass!

The advice to keep dogs intact longer is relatively new to the dog world, so many of us at Fur and Feather Works have ALSO had the experience of navigating having a bitch in season for the first time.

What we want to tell you is: it’s probably not going to be as big a deal as you think, and it will soon be over. In a few weeks life will return to normal! You and your girl will both be relieved.