The dog heat cycle (estrus cycle)

Home » The dog heat cycle (estrus cycle)

Tail flagging

During the days your dog is fertile and ready to mate she is likely to tolerate and welcome male approaches more than usual. She may also hold her tail up during encounters or lift her tail to one side to make it easier for males to sniff her back. This is called “flagging.” However, this is not a cast-iron sign. Some females reject being mounted by males, no matter if they are fertile or not. A female which is in estrus or close to being in estrus will often flag even when they are pet or scratched on the backside by their owner. This is often a quick test some breeders may conduct to determine where a female is within her heat cycle. However, it has no true accuracy and some females in full ovulation may not even react to it.

Advertisements

More potty business

Many dogs in heat need to “go” more often than usual. During the fertile days her urine contains pheromones and hormones to attract males. Females will wish to mark their territory in several areas within her boundaries and instinctively feel the need to do so more often than their normal bathroom breaks.

Bloody discharge

During the different stages of the heat cycle the dog may or may not loose bloody discharge, alternating in color and amount. If you notice blood discharge from the vulva and do not suspect any other health problem, this indeed is a tell-tale sign that your dog is in a heat cycle.
Please note: Because of the very large differences between individuals, the bloody discharge is not necessarily a reliable clue to tell, which stage of her cycle your dog is currently in. It could indicate everything from Proestrus, through Estrus (fertile!) to Diestrus.

*The time spans given in the infographics at the beginning of this essay are only average values, which can vary largely among individuals!

Managing the “mess in the house”

If your dog usually bleeds a lot during her heat, keeping the discharge from spreading may be desired. Besides doggie diapers, in this post you find a great alternative that may be tolerated easier by your dog and also less leaky than many diapers – the dog heat suit.

Related Bull Terrier Posts

How to Feed a Dog who has Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken 

How to Feed a Dog who has Food Allergies to Beef and Chicken 

When it comes to allergies of our canine companions, today a dog with food allergies to beef and chicken unfortunately…
Help, my Bull Terrier won't walk!

Help, my Bull Terrier won't walk!

What can I do if my Bull Terrier won't walk? I have found an answer to this question. Find out…
Bull Terrier health issues

Bull Terrier health issues

Bull Terrier health issues become more relevant with aging. In this article I talk about Mila's issues, the measures and…
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
35 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
sonja odell
8 years ago

Hi
My puppy Arna come into her first session on the 24th September 2016 and has only stopped bleed for 4 days since then, she humps her bed so I take it away from her, she seems fine in herself, but a few weeks ago she got a bad tummy upset and had to stay at vets, for the day, she now growls in her sleep and in the evenings, she is very friendly with other dogs she meets and people, I have had several tests done on her and nothing shows as being wrong, she is deaf in one ear so I was going to get her spad. Has anyone else had this problem with there bitch

Jenn
7 years ago

Hi I have a female bull terrier that will be one year old in February she started bleeding and has been bleeding for over a week I was wondering how long do they bleed, i feel bad since i have her in her crate all day other than letting her out to use the bathroom or somedays outside her kennel.

Dianna
7 years ago

My female was in heat in december 2016,her heats r 7 months apart. Shouldn’t she be in heat now?on july 11 she had a few drops tgat lasted about 3 days..i was hoping to breed her again this cycle..she is a siberian husky

Romano pesce
7 years ago

My staffie is now bleeding and she seems to be abnormally swollen

Michelle
7 years ago

Hi I have a bull terrier cross staffy she is 6 months and I want to get her desexed before her first cycle. I know they say that they can get their first cycle from 6 months on but I’m just wondering if you have a rough idea of when that might be. Thanks

Christopher Pellicano
6 years ago

I have a pure bred bull terrier. AKC regiestered pet. She is 8 months old. She is exhibiting some very unusual behavior. She is highly intelligent. The vet told me that her purebred DNA could be of concern. He said she could flip out on me and get very dangerous. Watching her grow up stong and beautiful has been a real joy. He has green eyes and snow white color. Any fact behind this vets opinion that her DNA will kick in and she becomes dangerous?

David
Reply to  Dorothea Cornelius
3 years ago

Definitely not a purebred English bull terrier if Eyes are green, actually a purebred English bull terriers eyes are black. My girl had her first heat at 7 months, now she’s approaching 17 months and still no signs of a second heat. Is this normal?

Kacie
6 years ago

Hi, I am wondering after a female heat cycle, to know when the next cycle should begin, should I count from the beginning off her last cycle, or the end? Thanks

Peter
5 years ago

Hi, I would like to ask if a dog will get pregnant in her late estrous cycle? I brought her to the vet last time and did a smear test, that’s when I learned that she was on her late estrous stage already. I wasn’t able to track the start of her cycle since I was waiting for a bloody discharge, but I wasn’t able to track a bloody discharge. Same goes on her 2nd heat cycle the difference was on the 2nd heat i bred her on her late pre-estrus and at the beginning of estrus. I was only able to know that she was on heat because of my male dog licking her private parts and trying to mount her. She is a 24mos old siberian husky.

China James
5 years ago

My Staffy ended her heat about 60 days ago but she started to present to the male dogs she is around. The dog we live with continually tries to mount her and wait s for her outside the door and she has no problem with him mounting her and she runs up to him and let’s him do it. I am concerned she could go back on heat with no visible signs because she is around an intact male. Is this true? I am wondering your opinion on what to do as he has inseminated her yesterday and it’s not a pregnancy we want. I will take her and get a prog test. I am not sure what else to do.

Meegan
4 years ago

Hi there
My staffy girl is 17months and has had 2 heat cycles so far (4months apart) i have spoken to a vet and she doesnt seem to concerned as long as the blood is normal in colour which it is. As shes quiet young our vet and breeder have both said she may regulate to every 6 months as she gets older.
But can they go every 4months?

Genia
4 years ago

My girl, is 10 months old 39 days since possible breeding. Her teats and vulva are still swollen. Teats glands seem to be going down. Do you think this is possibly a false pregnancy or real?

Nathan
4 years ago

My female has been in heat four weeks and a one day. Visually there are no signs that she even should be, but my female is still VERY MUCH trying to breed her. Can anyone help us? Should be bathe her to remove any residual smells? What’s the longest anyone knows of a cycle?

Nicole W
4 years ago

Hi was wondering if you could help me my girl just turned a year on the 18th of March she started her season on the 10th of March she was really swollen then she started bleeding a few days after now that’s 4 weeks up and she’s still really swollen , really red and bleeding again , she won’t stop licking herself constantly she can’t sit still without licking am worried about her could you help ?

Mark
4 years ago

Hello my girl is a pitbull 10 months and haven’t got her first heat cycle as yet. Should I be concerned?

Jake
3 years ago

My bitch has been out of season for about a week but I also have a male this was her first season since she’s come out it her nipples have gone big and teets swelled abit should I be worried she’s 8months old xl bully

Nirali
2 years ago

I have a female bull terrier that turned 8 months on Christmas Eve. Her vulva is swollen and has been spotting since Wednesday. Everything else about her is normal. Could this be her first period?

Jennifer
2 years ago

Hi all,
I have a 20 month old beautiful EBT. She had her first (short) heat at 7 months.. She had her full heat in August this year 2022..
Its only October now and this last week she has displayed behaviour like nesting, crying nearly constantly and extremely boisterous stuff when out walking… Im wondering if she may be approaching another heat? Her vulva isn’t swollen (yet?) and shes gone of certain foods aswell..Ive read different things but was hoping someone may be able to shed a bit of light through experience…
Thank you for reading
Jennifer 🐾ebt🐾

35
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Scroll to Top