When Do Dogs Mate?

Dogs' mating patterns are based around the reproductive cycle of the female.

Females generally come into heat twice a year (every 6 months) and this is the time when they are most likely to mate.

Dog mating and reproduction

If you're planning to breed your dog, working out its reproductive cycle of the female is very important.

Male dogs are good to go pretty much all year round, but they'd be attracted to a female that is emitting signals that say she is ready.

The reproductive cycle in female dogs is divided into various stages, and understanding those will certainly help you manage your dog's mating.

So when do dogs usually mate?

Well, female dogs usually come into 'heat' twice a year. This first starts when they are sexually mature (between 8 and 18 months, depending on breed).

When a female is ready to mate, she will go through the following phases:

• Proestrus - Approximately 9 days
• Estrus - This could be anywhere up to 21 days, and is the time when females will engage in copulation.
• Diestrus - Is the period where a dog would show signs of pregnancy. It lasts for around 60 days in pregnant dogs, and up to 100 days in non-pregnant dogs.
• Anestrus - Is like the 'off season' where females aren't interested in sex- this can last for 4-5 months (poor male dogs!).