A dog in heat: how her behavior changes
A female dog’s first heat usually arrives between six and eighteen months and returns roughly every six months after that; she moves through four stages (bleeding, the fertile window, false pregnancy and rest), and during those weeks she may withdraw, get moody and struggle to concentrate. That is not disobedience but a body that is changing. This article is about the behavior: what you see in each stage, how you support her, and what to do about a male dog nearby who is losing his mind over it. Everything medical, such as how long the stages last, how much bleeding is normal, a false pregnancy with symptoms, or the question of whether to have her spayed, belongs with your veterinarian.
In short
First heat between 6 and 18 months, then roughly every six months. Four stages: bleeding, fertile window, false pregnancy, rest.
Expect withdrawal, moodiness and less concentration. That is not disobedience.
Keep her on leash for the entire heat, including in places where she is normally off leash.
Male dogs nearby become frustrated. That calls for distance and damage control, not correction.
Medical questions: your veterinarian. Behavior questions: look at what she is telling you.
A female dog in heat asks for space with very small signals. Learn to see them in the free webinar.
The four stages
Stage | What happens | What you see in her behavior | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Bleeding | The heat begins; she is not fertile yet | Male dogs already show interest; she is often quieter | Keep her on leash, choose quiet routes and times |
2. Fertile window | She is now highly fertile | She may seek out male dogs; this is the stage of an unplanned mating | Stay on leash, keep intact male dogs in the house strictly separated |
3. False pregnancy | The body behaves as if she is pregnant, even without a mating | Nesting, clingy or the opposite, irritable | Rest and space; call your veterinarian if there is milk production or restlessness |
4. Rest | The hormones settle | She becomes herself again | Slowly rebuild training and off leash moments |
In summary: a heat runs in four stages: first the bleeding (male dogs show interest, she is quieter: keep her on leash and choose quiet routes), then the fertile window (she may seek out male dogs: stay on leash and keep intact males strictly separated), then the false pregnancy (nesting, clingy or irritable: rest and space, and your veterinarian if there is milk production), and finally the rest stage in which she becomes herself again.
How long each stage lasts and exactly when she is fertile differs from dog to dog. If you want to know for certain, your veterinarian is the right person to ask.
Why her behavior changes
Hormones are an internal stimulus, and dogs respond to changes inside their body just as they respond to changes outside it. What you often see during a heat:
Withdrawing. She heads for her bed, wants less contact, leaves the room when it gets busy.
Moodiness. Less tolerant toward the other dog in the house, toward children, sometimes toward you. A growl that is normally not there.
Less concentration. Exercises she knows suddenly fall apart. Outside she is distracted.
That is not stubbornness and not dominance. A dog who does not feel well goes over her threshold faster, and over the threshold a dog cannot learn. It is the same logic as with adolescence: first understand what is happening in the body, then set expectations.
How to support her
On leash, the whole heat. Including in off leash areas, and including when she always comes back reliably. A long line of 16 to 33 feet (5 to 10 meters) gives her freedom and gives you certainty.
Quiet places and quiet times. Avoid the dog park and rush hour. Choose different routes, different times of day, an industrial estate or a quiet nature area.
Rest and choice. Let her withdraw when she wants to. A safe haven where she is left alone, including by children and by the other dog, matters more than usual right now.
No heavy training goals. Keep exercises short and easy, or skip them. Sniffing, chewing and treasure hunts suit a dog with less concentration much better.
Read her signals. Lip licking, turning away, yawning or freezing when the other dog comes close are her way of asking for space. Give that space before she has to growl. More about that in Calming signals in dogs.
Two dogs in the house. An intact male and a female in heat stay separated, and not only during the fertile days. Separate rooms, separate walks.
Male dogs nearby: frustration, not disobedience
A male dog who smells a female in heat has an intense need for something that is out of reach. What you hear then is the frustration bark: monotonous, repetitive, sometimes ending in a howl or a whine. It is a cry for help, and correcting it only makes it worse. What does help:
Distance and out of sight. If the stimulus cannot be removed (the neighbor’s dog is in heat), you move the male dog instead: drive to a different walking spot more often, put up window film or close the curtains, play calming music. Do not let the dogs out at the same time.
Let the frustration discharge. The body needs to do something: a short hard run in a safe place, digging, shredding something. After that, a calming and familiar activity such as sniffing in a quiet spot.
No brain work or chew items for a frustrated dog. That asks for concentration he does not have and increases the frustration; on top of that, frustrated dogs gulp and can choke.
Support and closeness when he is ready for it, and stopping when touch adds more frustration.
More about the types of barking and what to do with each one is in Why does my dog bark? The 10 types of barking.
From our practice
In our work on barking, the neighbor’s dog in heat is the classic example of the frustration bark. The scenario people describe over and over: a male dog who normally barely barks suddenly stands at the window or the fence for days on end, barking monotonously, eating less and completely unreachable. What helps is never “being strict”, but removing the smell and the sight, moving the walks to a different neighborhood, and letting the frustration discharge in a safe place. As soon as the neighbor’s dog is through her heat, the male dog is himself again within a few days.
When to see your veterinarian
For anything to do with the body: a heat that lasts a long time or keeps coming back, heavy or unusual discharge, lethargy, not eating, a false pregnancy with milk production or restlessness, and the decision about spaying. If her behavior changes suddenly and dramatically outside of her heat, that is also a reason to have her checked: dogs hide pain by nature.
Frequently asked questions
Can she be off leash during her heat if she has good recall?
No. On leash for the entire heat, including the quiet stage. A long line gives her plenty of freedom.
She has been moody for a few days and growls at our other dog. Is that a problem?
It comes with the heat: withdrawing, moodiness and less tolerance are normal. Growling is her warning, and you respect it. Give her space and keep the dogs apart if you need to. Never correct the growl.
Can I keep training?
Short and easy, at her pace, or not at all for now. Her concentration is lower and forcing it only adds stress.
Our male dog is impossible because the neighbor’s dog is in heat. What now?
That is frustration. Distance, out of sight and out of smelling range, let him discharge it in a safe place, and then something calming. Do not punish, and no brain work for as long as he is frustrated.
Sources
VCA Animal Hospitals. Estrus Cycles in Dogs. On the first heat, how often and how long a female dog is in heat, and the stages.
Read next
My dog is growling: what is he saying?
Why does my dog bark? The 10 types of barking and what they mean
She is telling you how she feels
A female dog in heat who withdraws, turns away or yawns when the other dog gets too close is asking for space. If you see that in time, you never have to wait for a growl or a snap. In our free webinar on communicating with your dog you learn to recognize those requests for space, including the very smallest ones.
Do you have a young female dog and want to get through the hormonal development, the fear periods and adolescence with step by step guidance? That is what we do in the Stressless Communication Course.
Thank you for reading, on behalf of me and all the dogs.
Dog Behavior Consultant & Natural Dog Trainer