🐾 Blog: When Your Bitch Comes into Season

Understanding what’s happening, how to manage it, and how to keep everyone calm and comfortable

If you share your life with an unspayed female dog, you’ll eventually notice the signs of her coming into season. This is a completely natural cycle — her body preparing for the possibility of motherhood — but it can bring a few challenges for both of you. With a little understanding, care, and good hygiene, it’s easy to make this time comfortable and stress-free.

This blog is for Debbie and Scout!

How Often Does It Happen?

Most bitches come into season roughly every six months, although this can vary between individuals and breeds.

• Smaller breeds often have longer gaps between seasons.

• Larger breeds tend to cycle more regularly, around every six months.

• Some girls only come into season once a year, others may be bi-annual.

If your bitch is coming into season more often than every six months, or if the bleeding is excessive, or greenish rather than the normal red to reddish-brown colour, it’s best to have her checked by your vet to rule out infection or hormonal imbalance.

How Long Does It Last?

A full season usually lasts around 21 days. The most fertile period tends to fall between day 10 and day 16, though some girls can remain attractive to males right through to the end. However, every bitch is different — I’ve known one successfully mate as early as day 8, so it’s safest to assume she’s fertile for the entire three weeks.

Managing Hygiene, Scents & Home Cleanliness

During her season, your bitch will produce a scent that’s very appealing to male dogs — even those some distance away. You’ll also notice a degree of bleeding that can be fairly consistent, especially in the first half of the cycle.

• Be prepared for spotting and drips. You may wish to limit her access to rooms with carpets, rugs, or furniture you’d rather keep stain-free.

• The worst mess often appears after she’s been lying down for a while and then gets up again.

• Doggy nappies or “season pants” are available and can help if you’re worried about hygiene in the home.

• Wash bedding regularly to keep her comfortable and smelling sweet.

• Gently wash her “girlie bits” with a soft, damp cloth, gentle soaps to help her feel fresh and reduce odour.

• Use pet-safe odour neutralisers or anti-mating sprays to mask scent — avoid strong chemical cleaners as they can irritate her skin.

• Keep windows closed if there are entire males nearby — their sense of smell is remarkable!

• Never walk her off-lead, and avoid walking directly from your home. If possible, take her out by car to a quiet spot to prevent leaving a scent trail.

• Supervise garden time, even in well-fenced areas.

As bitches mature and go through more seasons, they usually become cleaner and more settled with each one.

Scout

Phantom Pregnancies

Around nine weeks after a season, when puppies would have been due had she been mated, some bitches experience a phantom pregnancy. This can be surprisingly convincing — her body behaves as though she really is expecting!

Common signs include:

• Loss of appetite or fussiness with food

• Nesting or digging up bedding indoors or outdoors

• Carrying toys or objects around as if they were puppies

• Swollen mammary glands or even milk production

• Mood changes — appearing sad, clingy, or irritable

If you notice these signs, the best thing you can do is keep her busy. Exercise, fun training sessions, and walks in new places, generally get her out and about so she has more to think about all help lift her mood and settle her hormones. Avoid doing “the quiet thing” — too much stillness can make her more depressed.

Most phantom pregnancies resolve naturally within a few weeks, but if she seems distressed or uncomfortable, or if it happens every season, do speak to your vet. Hormonal treatments can help break the cycle and prevent recurrence.

A Little Extra Care Goes a Long Way

Your bitch may need a bit more reassurance, calm handling, and consistency during her season. With a regular routine, cleanliness, and a few gentle adjustments, she’ll stay comfortable, balanced, and happy — and you’ll both come through it just fine.

A season doesn’t have to be stressful — with good hygiene, gentle guidance and awareness, it becomes just another rhythm in your dog’s life.

If you’d like more support or tailored advice, please do get in touch.

Avril Munson — Clinical Canine Behaviourist 📞 07505 277374 📧 avril@thedogcalmer.com🐾 thedogcalmer.com