How to handle a puppy in heat

If your puppy is not spayed, the first heat will come at 5-8 months of age. In case you do not want to have offspring from your pet, she will not receive any benefits from estrus, and many owners prefer to spay before the first estrus. This is because a 21-day cycle can cause major changes in your life. When a dog goes into heat, he becomes very attractive to males, and if you’re not careful, you can end up with a whole basket of unwanted puppies.  

Signs of estrus

At first, you may notice slight spotting from the genitals. The dog may constantly lick this place, and this is the first sign that he is in heat.

How to behave in this situation

For starters, if you don’t want your dog to be a magnet for suitors, keep her away from unwanted contact throughout her heat period. If you take her out in public, be very careful, keep her on a leash and make sure there are no males around. The hormonal surge during estrus can make your dog very playful, so he may behave worse than usual.