NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 15: White House Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks following a meeting on infrastructure at... Drew Angerer The disconnect between the White Houseâs John Kelly and his boss
A bitch generally has her first estrus season, or heat, at between 6 and 12 months of age, most commonly between 8 and 10 months. Mating will produce a litter at this age, but she is immature, so it is important to guard against that potential. A female dog will normally return to season about every six months. Some have estrus seasons as often as every four months or less. If you are not a serious breeder, the healthiest thing you can do for your female puppy is to spay her before she reaches sexual maturity, according to the PetMD website.
For the most part, itâs better to wait until a dog is at least two years old before allowing her breed. You want to make sure her body is fully developed and can handle the strain of giving birth to a litter of puppies. Female dogs normally go into heat twice per year, with each cycle lasting approximately 21 days. A mature female dog may go into heat every six months, although itâs common to skip some cycles. The period is characterized by a swollen vulva, a bloody discharge and mood changes. Itâs important to note here that these changes only mark the beginning of a dogâs heat period; they do not mean sheâs ready to mate.