What happens if I don't breed my female dog every time she's in heat?

You have some great questions! When Luna goes into heat, keep her and your make completely separate at all times until it passes. You are right that she shouldn’t be bred until closer to two years of age. No, they will not mate when she’s not in heat. Signs of heat include a swollen vulva, bleeding, and mounting behavior. A dog goes into heat once every six months, and it lasts 3-4 weeks. I hope this helps!

Female dogs don't actually stop having [heats](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anatomy-and-function-of-the-reproductive-system-in-dogs). This is because as they get older, they do not always show the external or behavioral signs that they are actually having a heat, this can sometimes be referred to as a ‘silent heat.' It is important to remember that even though your dog may not be showing signs of being in season that she could still get pregnant if mated by an intact male dog. Ideally, you should consider having her [spayed](https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-dogs). There may also be an undiagnosed hormonal disease or ovarian disease present that stopped her cycling. In order to make sure it is not a serious condition you should have her checked by a veterinarian. It is possible that it is a harmless reason, but it is also possible that there is a serious underlying condition.

Continue to monitor her progesterone levels every couple days. Ovulation occurs when the progesterone level reaches 5ng/ml. Evaluation of vaginal cytology will also help to determine the best time to breed her.

Dogs typically go into heat every 6-8 months. If you feel like you can spot the beginning of a heat cycle right away you might be able to wait since she's showing no signs now, but I would definitely keep her separated from the male whenever they are unsupervised. To be safe you could also send her to your sister's since it has been 6 months, but she may not go into heat for another month or more.

Yes, mating does not affect the length of the heat cycle, so she may continue bleeding even after being bred. Dogs can mate several times within a heat cycle, and puppies can even be born with different dads within the same litter.

She may be extremely clean and you might not notice when she is in heat. If you intend to breed her I suggest you have her examined by a theriogenologist or veterinarian specialised in dog breeding . She may not be cycling due to ovarian cysts, or may be missing ovaries, or have hormonal problems.

Males can mate after 6 months of age. Females can be bred, ideally, after 2 years of age. Separating them during this upcoming heat cycle would be recommended if you are not prepared to breed dogs and have a litter of puppies. By her next cycle, both will be more than ready to breed and in the interim, you can gain knowledge regarding breeding and raising dogs.