[Marty]

Female dogs experience their first heat during adolescence, usually between the ages of 5 – 18 months. The heat cycles usually occur every 6 – 9 months throughout the life of the bitch. There are four stages to the female heat cycle but, because every dog is different, the time frame for each stage varies a lot – in fact, even within an individual female’s life the length of time in each stage may vary from cycle to cycle.

Females under two years of age should not be bred. She should have these years to develop physically and mentally, before the rigors of breeding and whelping.

The 4 stages to the female heat cycle:

First stage, Proestrus: The first stage of a heat cycle is the preparatory period and it lasts from 5 – 9 days. Male dogs will start hanging around the bitch at this time, reacting to the pheremones she is emitting, but she won't be interested in them. During this time an unspayed female dog may show physical signs that she has entered her heat cycle. The physical signs involve the swelling of the female’s vulva and there will also often be a blood-colored discharge – although some females lick the discharge up, removing any sign of it.

Second stage, Estrus: The second stage is the active breeding phase. This stage usually occurs about halfway into the heat cycle, at about 10 –14 days. During this stage the female’s discharge is no longer blood-colored but becomes a pale yellowish color. In this stage the bitch will be receptive to the stud dog, and she will show this by standing with her back end toward the male with her tail crooked to one side, known as “flagging”. At this time the female is usually happy to let the male mount her. It’s a good idea to breed the female 2 or 3 times over a 3-day span, in order to encourage a successful breeding

If the breeding was successful in this stage then the whelping date will usually be 58 – 68 days after breeding, but remember each dog is different. It's not possible to give an exact number of gestation days because it varies from dog to dog. Litter sizes also vary from dog to dog.

Third stage, Metestrus: The third stage can last for up to 80 days. The female will no longer be receptive to male dogs and she may again experience some blood-colored discharge. If the breeding was successful during stage 2 then stage 3 will last until whelping.

Fourth stage, Anestrus: The fourth stage is an inactive period between heat cycles.

Sometimes dogs experience "silent heats". During a silent heat the bitch may show no signs of being in heat, and even male dogs may be unable to tell. This happens most often in very young or very old dogs. Dogs do not experience menopause.

It is very difficult to hide the fact that there is a female dog in heat from male dogs in the area. The males will pick up the distinctive scent particular to the females at this time, which is why it is necessary to have an isolation or breeding room in your kennel. During the heat cycle the male dogs will attempt to reach the female by any means, and during the second stage of her heat cycle the female will do the same.

[Patch O' Pits]

Good info

Heat cycles are very messy with some bitches. Some also get moody.. LOL puppy PMS

Male dogs should be kept away if not breeding for obvious reasons and females in heat should never ever be left outside unattended. males find a way to get ino even the best fences. Some have been known to mate right through a crate and or knock down or go through closed doors to get at a female in heat

Also some dogs have false pregnacies which is quite common and others may even have silent heats.

IMO if those who are not breeders or showing the dogs should spay/neutered.

[12weimgirl]

Great info. thank you for the advice it really helps me to know for my female weim. Thank You Bye Bye
~Lauren~

[luv4gsds]

Sometimes a female dog will go into what is called a Silent Heat (is in estrus but is not exhibiting vulvar swelling and vaginal bleeding).

[huntress]

This is great information because we are breeding a female beagle but i have a problem is this the female dog does not eat canned food but our male beagle eats it but since she has been over during her heat cycle he wont eat we cant even seperate them so he can eat if we leave them in the female dog will eat all of his food plus her food but when we seperate them then he barks and barks till she is back in the residing area what can we do any suggestions i even sat in the area and we have tried almost everything.. Another thing is when the female beagle goes back home will my male dog bark up a storm he does now when she just leaves for a little walk and its a non stop till the female dog is back...
So i hope i explained this good I am new at this forum...
One more thing how am I going to know when it will be time for us to return the female beagle back to its owner the dog when in heat on july 1 2009 and they brought over the female beagle on July 2nd 2009 she was bleeding then and her vulva was swelling then we have had this female dog since then she shows no signs of any bleeding anymore from what i can see and i believe her vulva is still alittle swollen and she is still passive towards my male beagle
Can anyone help me in this matter
one more thing i needed to mention the female dog has let him do the wild thing if you know what i mean several times the we have seen but they never got to the point of being "tied or locked " i believe the terms are so does that mean he and she was successful or what am i looking at do they always tie up and lock or do they sometimes let nature take its course.. Can you tell i am new at this but i got my advice from my vet my dog and the female dog beagles have all the necessary tests and everything that is needed to breed all we had to do was wait for when she went in heat and that is where we are at now.
thanks in advance for any advice
Always open for suggestions
Thank you