09/26/2026
Fae has started her first heat cycle at about 9.5 months old. If you have an intact female dog, you need to be extra aware of them during their heat cycle, particularly when bleeding stops, to prevent accidental litters. That means no unsupervised time, even in a fenced yard. Male dogs can jump, dig under or breed through fences. I do not recommend having an intact male and female dog in the house at the same time for pet owners, it is too likely to fail and heat cycles can be very stressful on boys. If you had an intact boy I would recommend sending him away for a month, again not coming back until 2 weeks after the bleeding stops, or keeping 2-3 solid barriers between them to prevent them rushing to each other- examples a solid door, crate, etc with multiple feet of space between them. If your female does tie with a male, you can talk with your vet about your options including an emergency spay.
Keep in mind that male dogs can breed as young as 4 months old and females can get pregnant on their first heat cycle, but it is not good for them, they are not full grown so we do not know if they pass their full health testing, what their adult build will be or adult temperament, all of which are important considerations if you were breeding. Also keep in mind that belly bands and doggy diapers are not contraceptives, dogs can work around them.
I see so many stories of litters that come from young dogs, dogs not kept separated or just from owners who didn't know any better and it is the mother dog and puppies who end up being put at risk. Our dogs are our responsibility, so please if they are intact be very mindful and if you cannot guarantee you can prevent an accidental litter, spaying is a good option.