by Madlyn Tierney

Created on: November 02, 2007   Last Updated: October 26, 2009

Please take notice that your dog is in heat much longer than you may think. Many dog owners believe that the heat cycle has ended when your female has stopped bleeding. The average heat, also known as the estrous cycle, last 21 days. In some dogs it may only be 14 days, but the heat may last as long as a month.

The symptoms to look for with the start of the heat cycle are bleeding from the vagina, and swelling of the vulva and increased urination. If you have a male dog in the house, he'll probably be the first one to notice your female's changes. The bleeding indicates the beginning of the cycle, but the blood spots may be hard to notice especially in smaller dogs.

During the heat the most fertile days are 11-15 of your dogs cycle. A males sperm can last up to 5 days inside the female dog, so if you are trying to avoid pregnancy don't be fooled by this estimation. The sperm will swim around inside waiting for the egg to ripen. If your dog is breed at any point during the heat cycle pregnancy can occur.

Watch your female dog closely when you believe that she should be having a heat cycle. The average female dog has her first heat cycle at about 6 months of age. Some females will not go into heat until they are 1 year. If your dog hasn't gone into a heat by the time they are 14 months old, take them to the vet. Please also note that your dog can get pregnant in their first cycle which is not recommended. Most dogs will experience a heat twice a year, as the cycles are usually every six to eight months.

The rule of thumb for when your dog is ready to become a mom is their third heat or two years. Before allowing your female to get pregnant a vet check up is recommended. The vet will check your dog for genetic problems such as hip conditions. This check up is important to the well being of your dog as well as the future of the pups.

It is very important to understand that no matter how well behaved your female dog is, her hormones will take over. If there are no male dogs around the house, your female may take it upon herself to go find one. Do not allow your dog off a lease or unsupervised during this time.

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