Generally, we tend to associate heat only with female dogs, because we mistakenly interpret that heat in dogs necessarily occurs through bleeding and fertility cycles. However, although it occurs differently than in female dogs, heat in male dogs exists and it is very important to know how to recognize its symptoms to avoid unwanted litters.
In this article on our site, we invite you to discover everything you need to know about heat in male dogs to provide effective reproductive control to your best friend. Shall we start?
First heat in male dogs
Let's start at the beginning: At what age does heat begin in male dogs? As with female dogs, the The first heat in male dogs does not have an exact date, but can vary significantly depending on the size, breed, organism and metabolism of each individual.
Broadly speaking, male dogs usually reach sexual maturity between six and nine months of age. However, if we want to know precisely when male dogs go into heat, we need to be on the lookout for behavioral changes that reveal their "waking up" to the sexual maturity.
As dogs' sense of smell is highly developed, male dogs can perceive through their olfactory receptors the pheromones that females eliminate through their urine when female dogs are in heat. Therefore, when a dog has reached sexual maturity and is fertile, it will show some alterations in its behavior when identifying that there are fertile females in its environment.
Estrus behavior in male dogs
When a sexually mature dog identifies that there are fertile females in her environment, her body begins to produce and release increased amounts of testosterone (the male sex hormone). The high concentration of this hormone in the body is responsible for the typical behavior of heat in male dogs, which reflects that this dog is ready to reproduce.
Next, we review the main symptoms that a male dog is in heat:
- MarkingThe appearance of the marking behavior, accompanied by the behavior of lifting the paw to urinate, is one of the most obvious symptoms that a dog has reached sexual maturity. When a male dog goes into heat, we will see that he will tend to urinate in small amounts on various objects, with a certain predilection for vertical surfaces (doors, walls, etc.). It is also common for a dog's urine to smell stronger than usual when it goes into heat.
- Monta When feeling an intense sexual desire, the dog usually has the need or the will to relieve it and obtain pleasure through behavior riding, either with other dogs, with objects and even with the legs of their guardians. However, dogs can mount for other reasons as well, and excessive mounting behavior can be a symptom of illness, stress, or socialization problems.
- TerritorialityWhen your furry reaches sexual maturity and goes into heat, you will see that he will begin to be more territorial. Territoriality is present in all animals and is essential for their survival, so all dogs, no matter how affectionate they may be, will show signs of territoriality in their daily lives with strangers. But in males in heat, these signs are usually even more intense and evident, as they need to ensure that other dogs do not interfere in their territory and in the females that are in it. For this reason, it is possible for a male dog in heat to behave more suspiciously, and may even be aggressive towards other unknown dogs.
- Restlessness and hyperactivity A sexually mature dog that perceives the presence of fertile females in its environment will be more restless, hyperactive and/or or nervous than usual. Logically, his organism "asks" him to go to meet the females to alleviate their sexual desire and guarantee the reproduction of their species. These alterations in his behavior can lead to destructiveness or incessant barking.
- Attempts to escape. During peak sexual activity, male dogs may repeatedly attempt to escape to meet fertile females they perceive in their environment.
These symptoms tend to recur whenever a male dog enters a period of increased sexual activity. Likewise, not necessarily a male dog will show all these symptoms every time he goes into heat when he perceives a fertile female in his environment, so eventually his guardians can take time to realize that their dogs are in heat.
Heating season in male dogs
Male dogs do not have fertile cycles like females, which usually go into heat twice a year, although this frequency may vary depending on the breed and the organism of each female dog. Once the male dog reaches his sexual maturity, it can be said that he remains in constant heat, showing periods of greater or lesser activity.
So, male dogs, How often do they go into heat? As we mentioned, heat in male dogs is not governed by fertile cycles such as heat in female dogs, but a male dog is always ready to reproduce from the moment he reaches sexual maturity.
However, the behavior of heat in male dogs will not necessarily be present continuously or with the same intensity. Symptoms of heat in male dogs usually appear after the identification of a female in heat. In other words, when the male dog perceives the odors emanating from the organism of a fertile female in her environment, it enters a peak of reproductive activity and begins to reveal the typical behavior of estrus in male dogs.
Likewise, climatic conditions can also influence the peaks of sexual activity in male dogs. As in the colder seasons, your body needs to store energy, the behavior of the dog is usually more pleasant and stable, which also impacts its reproductive activity. Still, it is entirely possible for a male to show symptoms of heat during the winter or fall. But generally, oestrus behavior in male dogs often intensifies during the spring and summer
How long does heat last in male dogs?
Because it is not divided into fertile cycles, but is constant, the duration of heat in male dogs can extend throughout their entire lives, since the dog may present peaks of sexual activity throughout the year, depending mainly on the fertile days of the female dogs that live in its environment.
Therefore, environment is often a key factor in the duration and frequency of heat in male dogs. For example, if a dog lives in a neighborhood where there are many unneutered female dogs, it is possible that he shows symptoms of heat constantlydue to perceiving a high or frequent availability of fertile females in their environment.
On the contrary, if where the male dog lives most of the females are neutered, these peaks will be less frequent, and the behavior of the dog will remain more stable and calm throughout the year.
How to avoid heat in male dogs?
When evaluating whether to adopt a male or a female, it is essential that we be aware that a male dog is fertile for virtually his entire life. In other words, it can go into heat at any time of the year and cross paths with one or several fertile females, giving rise to unplanned litters that end up worsening the complex social problem that street overpopulation means.
Furthermore, if the dog runs away during peak sexual activity, he runs the risk of getting lost, having an accident and coming into contact with numerous pathogens in the streets. For these and several other reasons, it is perfectly understandable and desirable for guardians to wonder how to prevent or alleviate thesymptoms of heat in male dogs.
The only safe, reliable and assured way to avoid heat in male dogs and prevent unplanned litters is through surgical neutering or spaying. However, it is important that you know that there are differences between these two procedures, and only castration is effective to control behavioral changes associated with heat in male dogs.
Also, you should always consult a veterinarian to make sure which procedure is most suitable for your best friend. In addition to explaining the advantages of spaying and neutering for male dogs, the vet will also help you choose the best age to neuter a dog.
