Dogs have high sexual drives, and some will become sexually excited and determined to mount other dogs, human legs and even table legs. So, how can this dog sexual behaviour be controlled? At what age do male dogs become sexually active? When and how often will a female dog come into season?

It's important to understand, as dog owners, your dog's sexual behaviour and heat cycle, especially if you don't want a litter of puppies or, on the other hand, successful matings. Our guide to dog sexual behaviour will answer your queries on dog mating and the behavioural issues related with dog sexual maturity.

When Do Dogs Reach Sexual Maturity?

The age that dogs become sexually mature depends on the breed and size, and can depend dog to dog. For most dog breeds, it’s usually between 6 and 9 months (smaller breeds may reach sexual maturity even earlier at 4 months), and by 12 months the dog will reach peak fertility. However, size and breed does come into account with giant and large breed dogs who may not reach sexual maturity until they’re 18 months or even 2 years old. 

In male dogs, increased testosterone levels can lead to a change in their behaviour that some owners may find difficult to handle. A female dog will have a ‘season’ every 6-7 months with the season lasting around 21-35 days. She’ll have a swollen vulva and there’ll be a bloody discharge from her vagina. Around the 11th day of her cycle, she’ll ovulate. This is the time when she’ll be most receptive to accepting the attention of the male and allow sexual intercourse to take place.

Generally, it’s advised to wait until your dog has had 3 seasons before allowing her to breed. This will ensure that she has both physical and mental maturity to give birth and raise puppies.

Dog Mating Behaviour

Intact males can detect a female in heat from miles away, and nothing will stop them in their quest to mate with her. They’re also more likely to want to defend their territory and be aggressive so can get into fights with other males. You should be mindful of this type of behaviour when out on a walk, because they can be at risk of running off and being involved in traffic accidents.

Mating a dog and bitch can take around 45 minutes. Once an intact male dog meets up with a female dog in heat, he’ll become sexually excited. He’ll sniff the female dog’s backside and she’ll lift her tail to give him access (a process called ‘flagging’) – but only if she’s interested. The male dog mounts the bitch and inserts his penis into her vagina, the part of his penis called the bulbus glandis will swell and the dogs are then ‘tied’.

The dogs can remain locked together for around 10-30 minutes – don't worry, this is just how dogs mate! Don’t try to force them apart as this will be painful and could result in injury. During this time, the male dog will ejaculate, the swelling will reduce, and the female dog’s vagina muscles will relax. They’ll then separate - the female may yelp, and the male will look exhausted! 

How to Calm a Sexually Excited Dog

When an excited dog starts mounting and humping, it can be difficult to stop them! The urge to have sexual intercourse and to breed is a very strong instinct. However, this behaviour is not always sexually motivated.

Some neutered dogs may hump because they’re excited for other reasons, or the behaviour may be a way of showing dominance or a way of relieving stress. Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise to use up any excess energy.

There are some effective ways to stop this embarrassing behaviour:

• Let them know it’s unacceptable behaviour – Firmly say ‘No’ and clap loudly.
• Make them focus on something else – you can distract them with a toy or game, or ask them to perform a task and then reward them.
• Make sure you don’t inadvertently reinforce the behaviour with positive interaction. It’s best to ignore, stay silent and leave the room without engaging and giving them attention.
• Give a treat when they stop mounting and are calm.
• Use the ‘time-out’ command and leave your dog alone for 1-2 minutes.
• Neutering your dog.

If the behaviour is excessive or your dog becomes aggressive when you try to stop them humping, ask your vet for advice. Your vet will check for any underlying health issues and refer you to a behavioural specialist if needed.

How to Deal with an Unwanted Mating

If an intact male dog detects an unneutered female dog in oestrus (in heat), then an unwanted mating or misalliance is likely to occur! Dogs are highly fertile so there’s a high chance (>80%) that it’ll result in an unwanted pregnancy. If this happens (or you suspect it has happened), contact your vet as soon as possible as they may be able to prevent your dog having the puppies.

He may give your dog an injection that will terminate the pregnancy. If you had already planned to get your female dog spayed, your vet may carry out the surgery as long as it’s shortly after the mating.

When Should a Dog be Neutered?

Having your dog neutered not only reduces the number of unwanted puppies but is beneficial for your dog’s health. But what is the best age to spay or neuter your dog? There's no upper age limits, male and female dogs were traditionally neutered at around 6 months of age, but now it’s common for the procedure to be carried out at around 4 months. Female dogs are generally spayed before their first season or heat.

Both castration and ovariohysterectomy are carried out under an anaesthetic and are very common procedures. A small number of female dogs may develop urinary incontinence after the surgery but their risk of developing mammary gland cancer in later life is greatly reduced. Male dogs will be less likely to develop prostate diseases and testicular cancer. If you have any concerns about the surgery or side-effects, your vet will be happy discuss the risks as well as the health benefits of neutering with you.

Most dogs are sexually mature by 12 months of age with female dogs coming into season twice a year. If you don’t want to breed from your dog, make an appointment with your vet to get them spayed or neutered. This will not only prevent unwanted mating and unplanned litters of puppies, but it can have health benefits for your dog too. It'll also eliminate your dog’s sexual behaviour so your male dog will be calmer and less likely to wander off in search for a mate.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis 

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