Behavioral Changes During Proestrus and Estrus in Dogs: Vet-Approved Facts
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View 2 More +Female dogs typically go through a heat cycle twice a year, during which time, they can mate and conceive babies. The first part of the heat cycle is referred to as the proestrus stage, while the second part of the cycle is referred to as the estrus stage.1 Both trigger different physical and behavioral changes that can help owners decipher just where their dogs are in their cycles. We put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand all the behaviors that your dog may display. Here is what you need to know.
The Proestrus Stage
This is the stage when a female dog is preparing to mate. They are not yet fertile and are not quite receptive to mating, but their hormones are starting to change and prepare the body for conception. Here are a few of the behavioral and physical changes that your dog may display during the proestrus stage.
The Estrus Stage
The estrus stage happens when a female dog is ready for mating and conception. Behavior tends to change at this point for most dogs. No longer will your dog be nervous, and she will not continue trying to hump other animals, people, and things like she did during the proestrus stage. Here are the behaviors that you can expect from your dog during the estrus stage.
Common Behaviors of a Female Dog in Heat
As mentioned before female dogs exhibit various behaviors during their heat cycle, including two main stages: proestrus (mating preparation) and estrus (receptive to mating). A female dog’s heat cycle is a time of significant hormonal changes affecting her behavior. Let’s break down the specific behavioral patterns in the different stages:
General behaviors can include:
During the proestrus stage: Female dogs will not be receptive to mating, but as hormonal changes are happening, they might act friendly towards male dogs, eat more or less than usual, and show signs like a swollen vulva, bloody vaginal discharge, and licking their genitals.
During the estrus stage: They become more receptive to male dogs and actively seek attention from them, display tail positioning and playfulness as part of their courtship effort, and show reduced aggression toward males while aggression toward females may increase.
In recognizing these signs and changes in behavior, pet parents can see to their dog’s health and well-being and prevent unwanted pregnancy, by supervising interactions, providing extra attention, and maintaining hygiene.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you know what kinds of behaviors to expect from your dog during the proestrus and estrus stages of her heat cycle, you can keep an eye out for the behaviors to determine whether she is in her cycle at any given time. Signs of these behaviors can help you avoid an unwanted pregnancy during all heat cycles and plan a wanted mating session when the time comes.
Related story: Pre-breeding Tests to Get for Your Dog
Featured Photo Credit: Ryniu1234, Pixabay
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Rachael has been a freelance writer since 2000. In this time she has had an opportunity to research and write about many different topics while working to master the art of fusing high-quality content with effective content marketing strategies. She is an artist at heart and loves to read, paint, and make jewelry. As a vegan, Rachael is obsessed with helping animals in need, both in her community and anywhere in the world where she feels she can make a difference. Animals also happen to be her favorite topic to write about! She lives off the grid in Hawaii with her husband, her garden, and her rescue animals including 5 dogs, a cat, a goat, and flock of chickens.
