How long till dog goes into heat again after having a litter

[OkieChickenGal]

How long does it usually take for a dog to go into heat again after having a litter? Is it 6 months after the pups are weaned? Or is it 6 months after she actually had the puppies.. I know every dog is different.

 

[igorsMistress]

6 months or so from the birth of her last litter.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How familiar are you with heat cycles? Many think that when the bleeding stops the dog is no longer in heat when actually the bitch is at that point entering her most fertle phase.

 

[igorsMistress]

And the age and size of the dog can influence the heat cycle. How old is the dog? What breed is it?

 

[OkieChickenGal]

she is a Golden retriever and a year and a half old

 

[Willowspirit]

She's way to young for puppies you know, right? I would chart the beginning of her next cycle from having the puppies about six months but it's so variable who knows? The first sign of pre-estrus is swelling of the vulva and the bleeding starts then. Then as BigBlueHen mentioned she will be fertile for nine or ten days. The whole process takes about 18 to 20 days. If you choose to breed her again, you should wait at least three heat cycles or four.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

No, that's not what I said. She will bleed about 7 days and the vulva wil be swollen. She'll lick a lot. But she probably won't stand for a male, at least not until the 7th day or so, although she may have a lot of visitors. When the bleeding stops is when the fertile period BEGINS and lasts *about* 7 days. People drop their guard at this point because they think the heat cycle is over, then they are amazed when they end up with 10 puppies later. The final phase also lasts 7 to 10 days and she will stop accepting mates, but may still become impregnated in the first few days of that phase.

She drops or sheds every day during the middle phase, and each egg can be fertilized by a different sire.

Every phase of the heat cycle is "about" 7 to 10 days. When you see the first sign of blood or notice her licking, keep her confined for the entire 21 days. This means you can't even let her out in the yard alone. Dogs will jump the fence to get to her. They will lure her out. They will dig under, climb over, even breed her through it. Heck, they may build a helicopter and parachute in (kidding!)

The urge to breed is the strongest in nature. The only way to prevent it is to spay or neuter, which I highly recommend. Millions of homeless animals, *even purebred ones!* and yes, even registered ones, are euthanized every year in America. It's shameful. Please just don't add to the problem.

 

[igorsMistress]

No, that's not what I said. She will bleed about 7 days and the vulva wil be swollen. She'll lick a lot. But she probably won't stand for a male, at least not until the 7th day or so, although she may have a lot of visitors. When the bleeding stops is when the fertile period BEGINS and lasts *about* 7 days. People drop their guard at this point because they think the heat cycle is over, then they are amazed when they end up with 10 puppies later. The final phase also lasts 7 to 10 days and she will stop accepting mates, but may still become impregnated in the first few days of that phase.

She drops or sheds every day during the middle phase, and each egg can be fertilized by a different sire.

Every phase of the heat cycle is "about" 7 to 10 days. When you see the first sign of blood or notice her licking, keep her confined for the entire 21 days. This means you can't even let her out in the yard alone. Dogs will jump the fence to get to her. They will lure her out. They will dig under, climb over, even breed her through it. Heck, they may build a helicopter and parachute in (kidding!)

The urge to breed is the strongest in nature. The only way to prevent it is to spay or neuter, which I highly recommend. Millions of homeless animals, *even purebred ones!* and yes, even registered ones, are euthanized every year in America. It's shameful. Please just don't add to the problem.

I think I love you

 

[Willowspirit]

I am so sorry. I skipped a step in quoting you . You are, of course, absolutely right about the sequence of fertility.

 

[Fairview01]

0nce the puppies are permanently removed and no longer nursing the dam can go through a very light unnoticeable heat cycle within 30 days and become pregnant again. This is how puppy mills burn out their dogs.