A lot of people wonder “How often do dogs go into heat?”
Let’s explore this question a little deeper shall we?
The term in heat or in season refers to a dog that has reached puberty and is at the stage of their reproductive cycle where they may become pregnant. This cycle is known as the estrus cycle.
Every dog will go through an estrus cycle but when they go through it and how often they go through it depends on their age and breed. Small breed dogs may have their first estrus cycle at 6 months of age while large and giant breed dogs may not develop until 12 to 18 months of age.
Most dogs will come into heat twice a year, or every 6 months at any time of the year. This number can vary dog to dog and breed to breed. Small breed dogs may have a heat cycle 2 to 3 times a year, while large and giant breeds may only have 1 cycle every 12 to 18 months.
It is very important to know when your dog has come into heat. It is abnormal if your dog has not had their first heat cycle by 12 months of age which at this time your veterinarian should be consulted.
