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.
Female dogs have their first estrus cycle -- known as coming on heat or being in season -- at around 6 to 7 months, though it can be as early as 4 months or as late as 2 years in some breeds and individuals. From then on, most bitches come on heat twice a year. During estrus, female dogs have a blood-stained discharge. Pro-Estrus Bleeding The first stage of estrus is pro-estrus, lasting 4 to 15 days, and a hormone called estrogen is produced causing changes in the bitches' wombs and vaginas in preparation for mating.