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.
If you have a female puppy, you'll need to be prepared for her estrus cycle. It is similar to a woman's menstrual cycle except that it only happens twice a year. She can go in heat from as early as 6 months, so watch out for the signs. Your dog can come into her first heat any time between 6 and 24 months. According to Webvet.com, small dogs come into heat sooner than larger breeds. Typically she will have two estrus cycles, or heats, a year, and each one lasts for between 18 to 24 days. She is likely to show signs that her heat is about to start by changes in her behavior. You could compare this with the kind of emotional ups and downs women go through monthly just before menstruation.