Your Sheepadoodle could be in heat, and you might be missing out on all the signs of your dog being in heat. As a dog parent, knowing the signs a Sheepadoodle is in heat could help you avoid the health complication of your dog. Your dog can get into serious health complications if the dog is not mature enough to get pregnant.
Besides, if you are not ready to cater to some unwanted litters, knowing when she is in heat might help you out. And even if you are prepared to host a bunch of cute adorable Sheepadoodles, knowing the signs can help you tend to your dog’s needs and cycles better.
Your dog will generally start exhibiting different changes in behavior and with additional signs. The key is to be aware and assess your dog’s behavior to be ready for any situation that arises. If you are not aware of the signs your Sheepadoodle displays when she is in heat, this article have you covered.
This article will take you through the signs a Sheepadoodle is in heat and some extra pointers you would probably like to know.
Signs a Sheepadoodle Is In heat
There are common signs a Sheepadoodle in heat will exhibit. However, every dog is different and might show such behavior which some variations.
Here is a detailed section on reading the signs that your Sheepadoodle is in heat.
- Swollen vulva
One of the first signs your Sheepadoodle 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 Sheepadoodle is now ready to mate with male dogs.
- 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.
- Licking the genitals
Another very common sign your Sheepadoodle 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 flagging and mounting
When your Sheepadoodle 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 Sheepadoodle will release urination more than its regular release during the heat cycle. This indication needs rather closer observation.
- Nesting behavior
Innate to its material behavior, your Sheepadoodle will exhibit nesting behavior when she is on its heat cycle. She is just preparing the space for giving birth to the litter.
As mentioned above, not all your Sheepadoodle will display the same sign. If you are still doubtful after noticing some of the symptoms your Sheepadoodle presents, you can taker her to the vets. Getting a professional opinion can help you clear your doubt and prepare yourself for the arising situation.
Dog’s Heat Cycles
Before going through the signs to know if your Sheepadoodle is in heat, let us briefly run through the dog’s heat cycles. 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 exact change as the hormonal changes are different in every dog. This section will help you better understand the heat cycles for your Sheepadoodle 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 Sheepadoodle 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 Sheepadoodle will start attracting male dogs but will generally be not receptive. The dog’s vulva will be swollen and will discharge blood from her genital.
- 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 Sheepadoodle 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 to undergo the same reproductive cycle again. The estrogen level gets back to normal. This stage can last to about four months.
Understanding Your Sheepadoodles’ Heat Cycles Better
Let us start by getting to know more about your Sheepadoodle by answering the following questions.
How Often Does a Sheepadoodle Go Into Heat?
Sheepadoodle is a mixed breed of the Old English sheepdog and poodle. They are usually bigger in size, so they come into heat twice a year or biannually. If you have a Sheepadoodle who is mature enough, then you can expect litters a couple of times in a year.
When Do Sheepadoodle Mature for Heat?
A Sheepadoodle, both male and female mature anywhere from 18-24 months. You can have the dog to yourself for a good 2 years without litter. The female may mature early within 14 months and show heat signs in some cases.
However, as a dog parent and owner, make sure your dog is mature enough to go through a heat cycle. You might run into the risk of hampering your dog’s health if she goes through the heat cycle before maturing.
How Many Litters Do Sheepadoodle Give Birth To?
Sheepadoodle is usually big in size with a biannual heat cycle. As mentioned above, you can expect litters twice a year, and on average, they give birth to 5 puppies in one cycle. So, in a year, you can expect around 10 puppies.
When Does a Sheepadoodle Stop Its Heat Cycle?
There is no stop to a heat cycle of a dog. You will be surprised to know that a female dog does not have menopause. Your Sheepadoodle can reproduce until you have spayed or actively prevented mating.
How Long Does Sheepadoodles Live?
The Sheepadoodle breed, on average, lives a good 12-15 years. However, your Sheepadoodle can be prone to health issues like hip dysplasia, joint problems, Addison disease, bloat, etc.
How to Cater To Your Sheepadoodle When in Heat?
It is good enough work just looking after your Sheepadoodle on regular days. It is, however, going to be a more challenging full-time work when your Sheepadoodle is in heat. Besides taking care of your dog, you will also have to fend your dog from other male dogs. Here are some tips on how to cater to your dog when in heat.
- Trust me; when your dog is in heat, the whole neighborhood male dog will know that she is in heat. You shouldn’t be surprised when the neighborhood dogs try to get into your backyard or your compound trying to mate with your dog. You might find some of them even stuck to your fences.
Make sure you protect your Sheepadoodle when this happens. During the initial stage of the reproductive cycle, your Sheepadoodle is not ready to mate, and fending it from the male dog is necessary.
In case your dog has an unmatured cycle, fending your Sheepadoodle 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.
- As mentioned above, Sheepadoodle in heat discharges blood from the genital. 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. Make sure you don’t keep the diaper on the dog at all times, as licking the genitals is natural for the dog during the heat cycle. Keeping it on at all times will deprive its natural heat cycle instincts.
- Your Sheepadoodle 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 Sheepadoodle.
- 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 Sheepadoodle to Get Pregnant?
There could be several reasons why you would not want your Sheepadoodle 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.
Whatever be the reason, we have got you covered. If your Sheepadoodle 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 Sheepadoodle 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.
- In case you would not want to lock your Sheepadoodle, you can fence up your backyard well. 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 Your Sheepadoodle Is Pregnant
Post your Sheepadoodle heat cycle; before you see her belly growing, you can look for the following signs to know if she is pregnant.
- You will notice that your Sheepadoodle has lost appetite post the mating season.
- There might be cases of vomiting involved when she is pregnant.
- Like humans, your Sheepadoodle might also experience irritable behavior, and she might get irritated with anything.
- Her growing belly will be a clear indicator that your Sheepadoodle is pregnant.
- Besides the growing abdomen, her mammary glands will also start swelling or growing.
- Another crucial sign will be her nesting behavior; your sheepdoodle will start displaying nesting behavior.
Conclusion
Your dogs are a part of your family. Your Sheepadoodle will be fertile her whole life. Ensure you take extra care and give attention at the first heat cycle and on the older stages of her life.
The information mentioned above will be enough to know if your Sheepadoodle is in a heat cycle or not. However, if there is still doubt, you can always see the help of a professional veterinarian for your dog’s best care.
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