If you plan to bring a female Cockapoo into your home, you might want to educate yourself about the signs a Cockapoo is in heat. Cockapoos are the most gentle, playful, and intelligent dogs that you can gift yourself and your family. Being a dog parent, especially a female Cockapoo, will require you to be well-versed in its heat cycle.
There are several signs that a Cockapoo is in heat. They can range from a swollen vulva, and tail tucking, to genital licking and many others. Some signs you might not even be aware of are an indication of your Cockapoo being in heat.
Your gentle and cute Cockapoo might be in heat, and you might be missing all the signs your dog is displaying. As a dog parent, it is essential to be attentive when going through its heat cycle. If your Cockapoo goes through its first heat cycle, it needs extra care and attention. Besides, you might want to keep a close eye on your Cockapoo if you do not want to have unwanted litter in your care.
Your Cockapoo will start displaying its natural instinctive signs when it starts its heat cycle. Some symptoms might be obvious, and some might need some signs might need some extra care and attention. This article will help you get all the information on knowing when your Cockapoo is in heat and more.
Signs a Cockapoo Is In Heat
There are common signs that Cockapoo exhibit when they are in heat. However, every dog is different and might show such behavior which some variations.
Here is a detailed section on reading the signs that your Cockapoo is in heat.
- Swollen vulva
One of the first signs your Cockapoo will exhibit when she is in heat is the swollen vulva. The vulva will be more prominent in size, but you can be assured that your dog is not in pain. Once you notice the swollen vulva, you can expect the following sign: blood discharge.
- Blood discharge or bleeding
Simultaneous with the swollen vulva, your dog will start discharging blood or start bleeding. This is a normal behavioral pattern in the dog’s reproductive cycle. You can be definitely assured that your dog is in heat when you notice the blood discharge.
Your Cockapoo is now ready to mate with male dogs. However, since Cockapoos are small, the blood discharge might not be the same as bigger dogs, and the discharge could be considerably less in amount.
- Licking the genitals
Another very common sign your Cockapoo is in heat is that you will observe that she starts licking her genital quite too often. This action can be understood as a way the dog is keeping its genitals clean and tidy.
- Tail tucking
Tail tucking is a sign that your dog is protecting its vulva from male dogs. You will observe that your dog tucks its tail during the initial stages before actually being receptive to male approaches.
- Nesting behavior
Innate to its material behavior, your Cockapoo will exhibit nesting behavior when she’s on her heat cycle. She is just preparing the space for giving birth to the litter.
- Shedding
Another common sign when Cockapoo comes into heat is that it sheds much of its fur. The dog’s hormones change causes it to blow off its coat during the heat cycle. However, this might not be uniform in all Cockapoo, but it generally occurs in most dogs.
- Tail flagging and mounting
When your Cockapoo is ready to mate, it will show flirtatious behavior by flagging its tail. When the male dog is near, it will allow them to mount.
- Increased urination
Your Cockapoo will release urination more than its regular release during the heat cycle. This indication needs rather closer observation.
- Extra attention
Cockapoos generally require a lot of love and affection. During the heat cycle, your dog might need some extra attention and snuggle than your regular snuggle time. Make sure you give your time and attention.
As mentioned above, not all your Cockapoo will display the same sign. If you are still doubtful after noticing some of the symptoms your Cockapoo presents, you can take her to the vets. Getting a professional opinion can help you clear your doubt and prepare yourself for the arising situation.
Cockapoo Heat Cycles
Let us briefly run through the dog’s heat cycles before going through the signs to know if your Cockapoo is in heat. Usually, all-female dogs go through the same heat cycle even though they have different timing for the heat cycle. And not every dog shall exhibit the same change as the hormonal changes are different in every dog. This section will help you better understand the heat cycles for your Cockapoo and other dogs too.
There are four stages to a dog’s heat, reproductive, or estrous cycle. Each stage has its own distinct behavior and changes that signify the dog’s heat cycle. They are as follows.
- Proestrus is the first stage of your Cockapoo reproductive cycle and is also often referred to as “the dog is in heat”. Your dog will start exhibiting behavior that you will begin to notice. This phase lasts for an average of 9 days, but in some instances, it can last till 27 days in some dogs.
Your Cockapoo will start attracting male dogs but will generally be not receptive. The dog’s vulva will be swollen and will discharge blood from her vaginal area.
- Estrus is the next stage of the reproductive cycle, and this stage can last from 9-12 days on average but can also extend from 4-24 days in some cases. You will notice that your Cockapoo is now receptive to the male approaches in this stage. This stage is the most fertile period for the dog to get pregnant. You will also notice that the blood discharge has been reduced and that the vulva, although swollen is soft. The progesterone level in your dog starts to increase at this stage.
- Diestrus follows the next stage where your dog will no longer be receptive to male approaches. Your dog’s estrogen level will be low while the progesterone will be at its peak. This stage usually lasts for about two months. Your dog will not get pregnant at this stage of the reproductive cycle.
- Anestrus is the final stage of the reproductive cycle. You will notice that your dog’s vulva is no longer swollen, and there is no blood discharge. By this stage, the dog has given birth to a litter, and the body is recovering for undergoing the same reproductive cycle again. The estrogen level gets back to normal. This stage can last to about four months.
Knowing Your Cockapoo Heat Cycles Better
Let us start by getting to know more about your Cockapoo’s heat cycle by answering the following questions.
When Does a Cockapoo Start Its Heat Cycle?
Cockapoo usually starts their heat cycle early. A Cockapoo, on average, starts its first heat cycle when it is just 6 months old. In some cases, it can even begin its heat cycle as early as 4 months old to late as 8 months. If your Cockapoo does not start its heat cycle for more than a year, seek professional help by going to the veterinarian.
How Often Does a Cockapoo Go Into Heat?
Your adorable Cockapoo is small in size, and smaller dogs do start their heat cycle early. Since the heat cycle of a Cockapoo lasts from 5-7 months on average, it can have 2 heat cycles or biannually. You can expect a Cockapoo, who is mature, to give litter twice a year.
How Long Does a Cockapoo’s Heat Last?
As mentioned above, a Cockapoo heat cycle can last from 5-7 months on average.
How Many Litters Does Cockapoos Give Birth To?
Your Cockapoo, although small, can give birth to 4-6 puppies in one heat cycle. You can expect to get around 8-12 litter per year under a regular cycle.
However, the number can vary if the Cockapoo is on its first heat cycle, and it can even give birth to just one litter in its first pregnancy.
When Does a Cockapoo Stop Its Heat Cycle?
Dogs do not have a menopause stage like humans. Your Cockapoo can go fertile and have a heat cycle until its death. Unless you get your dog spayed, you can expect it to give litter till its senior years.
How Long Does Cockapoos Live?
Besides the usual health complication that a Cockapoo gets caught with, it can live on an average from 10-15 years.
Some of the common health issues for the Cockapoo are epilepsy, white shakers syndrome, portosystemic shunt, colitis, etc. regular check-ups, a healthy diet, and exercise can elongate life expectancy.
Thankfully there are ways you can increase your Cockapoos’ lifespan, quite easily even!
Taking Care of a Cockapoo in Heat
It is hard enough work just looking after your Cockapoo on regular days. It is, however, going to be more challenging full-time work when your Cockapoo is in heat. Besides taking care of your dog, you will also have to fend your dog from other male dogs, given its small size. Here are some tips on how to cater to your dog when in heat.
- Trust me; when your dog is in heat, the whole neighborhoods male dogs will know that she is in heat. The neighborhood dogs will try to get into your backyard or your compound, trying to mate with your dog.
Make sure you protect your Cockapoo when this happens. During the initial stage of the reproductive cycle, your Cockapoo might be ready to mate, and hence, fending it from the male dog is necessary.
If your dog has an unmatured cycle, fending your Cockapoo from mating is crucial for its health.
- In case you decide to see through the heat cycle, keep track of the heat cycle in your calendar and count the days. During the Estrus stage of your dog, accommodate the mating process by going out for mating with male dogs or the kennel for breeding.
- Your house, carpet and porch will be stained with blood discharge from the dog. You can opt for putting a diaper on your dog to avoid such discharges.
- Your Cockapoo may need some extra care and attention during the heat cycle. Make sure you give her a good snuggle and attention to ease her through the cycle.
- Use wipes for quick cleaning when there is discharge from your Cockapoo .
- Give extra care to your dog’s diet and make sure she drinks plenty of water during the heat cycle.
What to Do if You Don’t Want Your Cockapoo to Get Pregnant?
There could be several reasons you would not want your Cockapoo to get pregnant. It could be that she is not mature yet or too old to cater to litter anymore. It could also be that you are not ready to shelter the litter due to some unavoidable circumstances.
If your Cockapoo is in heat and you want to avoid your dog getting pregnant, here are some tips you can use.
- Calculate its mating period and lock your Cockapoo in her doghouse. Since the mating period lasts from 9-12 days, keeping them locked will be better to avoid pregnancy. However, keep them well-fed and release them under supervision.
- Make sure you have no outlet for your dog to escape or other dogs entering your backyard or compound.
- Using a diaper also helps to some extend. As the diaper covers the genital areas, using one can be a preventive but not a full-proof plan.
- Remain extra vigilant and pay attention to your dog’s behavior and needs.
Signs a Cockapoo Is Pregnant
You can look for the following signs to know if your Cockapoo is pregnant.
- You will notice that your Cockapoo has lost appetite post the mating season.
- There might be cases of vomiting involved when she is pregnant.
- The Cockapoo might also experience irritable behavior.
- Her growing belly will be a clear indicator that your Cockapoo is pregnant.
- Her mammary glands will also start swelling or growing.
- Your Cockapoo will start displaying nesting behavior.
Conclusion
Your dogs are a part of your family. Ensure you take extra care and give attention at the first heat cycle and on the older stages of her life. And knowing the signs a Cockapoo is in heat, can help you better help your dog.
If you are still not confident with the above information, you can always seek the help of a professional veterinarian for your dog’s best care.
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