If your female dog is not fixed, they will eventually go into heat, and this will happen approximately twice a year. When this happens, their body gets ready for mating. To maximize their chance of becoming pregnant, several biological and behavioral changes occur due to the hormonal changes. The changes that occur during proestrus and estrus will have an impact on the male dogs nearby, which can make them act a bit bonkers. If you have a male and female dog in your home, the female going into heat can completely throw off the male dog.
Some males will do absolutely anything to reach the females, and even very well-behaved males can become quite erratic. Of course, this will continue to happen every time your female goes into heat, unless she is spayed. However, there are ways that you can make this time a bit more comfortable for everyone.
The 4 Ways to Calm a Male Dog When a Female Is in Heat
1. Separate the Dogs
This should be done to prevent unwanted pregnancy. An intact male should never be around a female in heat unless you plan on having puppies. The dogs should be separated and, ideally, stay in different houses for the duration of the heat. If both need to stay in the same house, you can use a barrier to keep them apart. A baby gate will usually not work in this instance, even if your dogs stay behind it most of the time.
It is best to put your dogs in separate rooms and keep them there until the female’s cycle is over. Switching them between areas may work. However, this increases the odds of them being exposed to each other. The female’s scent will also spread into a wider area, driving the male crazy. Your best bet is to keep them on separate sides of the house, if possible.
If you can manage it, having a family member take your male dog for the time being is your best option. This is probably the best solution, but it is not practical for everyone.
2. Hide the Female’s Scent
Females in heat will have vaginal discharge for several weeks. They also emit pheromones to attract a mate, and even if you can’t smell them, the male dogs can. Do your best to keep the female’s scent under control while they are in heat, although you won’t be able to mask the scent completely. This involves cleaning their living area more than you would otherwise and bathing your female’s rear-end area more often.
You can bathe your dog using a mild shampoo. You shouldn’t bathe her entire body, because you can end up drying out their skin. This simple action while your female is in heat can make a big difference. Adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to the bathwater will also help mask the scent.
You can also put a doggy diaper on your female, which can also work to collect some of the discharge, but dogs should be supervised while wearing these and even some dogs don’t tolerate wearing diapers and will do their best to take them off!
3. Exercise
Get your male dog out of the house as much as possible. Go on walks and make them tired. A tired dog is a good dog, even when a female is in heat. However, you should not take your female on walks at busy times and places during this time. The last thing you need is the neighbor’s male dog escaping and showing up at your house. Keep your female dog on the leash and walk her around quiet places to give her the physical activity she needs without taking any risks.
4. Surgery
If you are certain you don’t want to breed your dogs, neutering your male dog and/or spaying your female dog is the most effective way to help calm your male dog. In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies and making it easier for both dogs to live together, these surgeries can also protect your dog from certain diseases. Speak to your vet about the best time to have your dogs neutered, especially for females, as spaying should be timed with their heat cycle to minimize risks.
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Conclusion
The methods described above may help to some extent, but it’s hard to counter a dog’s natural instincts. Surgery is by far the most effective way to prevent the behavioral changes that occur when a female is in heat and a male is around. Ensuring your dog’s well-being and happiness is our main goal, and we hope these suggestions can offer some support.
Featured Image Credit: Annadudkova, Unsplash
