![]() When a puppy is spayed or neutered before reaching full maturity, there may be a risk of future orthopedic problems. Allowing a female pup to have one heat cycle helps to be sure she is mature and finished growing. Timing is an important consideration, in addition to whether or not to spay or neuter at all. Unless you plan on breeding or showing your dog, many veterinarians recommend spaying and neutering. The most important decision you need to make as your puppy reaches sexual maturity involves spaying and neutering. It helps to reinforce the behaviors you want and discourage the ones you don’t want. Remember that this is just a phase that will come to an end as your dog grows. Providing your adolescent dog with physical and mental exercise and continuing your puppy training will help you to prevent or mitigate behaviors that develop at that age. Roaming is another behavior that is sometimes characteristic of sexually mature male and female dogs. Males can start to mark their territory as they become sexually mature, which many owners consider an undesirable trait. At this stage, they have higher testosterone levels than even adult male dogs have, which may cause other male dogs to be aggressive toward them. Male dogs are sexually active year-round and can be capable of siring puppies when they’re as young as 5 months, but they are most fertile after 12-to-15 months of age, once they are fully physically mature. It’s important to understand that a puppy can become pregnant during her first heat, so be sure to keep a close eye on her if you decide not to spay yet, and keep her on a leash when you take her outside. The first heat usually takes place when the pup is between 6 and 15 months, depending on the breed and size of the dog. The female dog can be fertile for as long as 2-3 weeks. She will also develop a red vaginal discharge for a period of 7-to-10 days, a bit like a human period. The bitch’s vulva will swell, and she will lick the area and urinate more frequently. The most noticeable change during this time occurs at the start of their heat, called proestrus. Sexually mature female dogs typically go into heat twice a year. The changes are different for male and female puppies. ![]() Dogs get to skip the acne and facial hair, but they do experience significant hormonal changes that can alter behavior. We all know what happens to humans when we hit puberty. ![]() ![]() What To Expect As Your Puppy Sexually Matures The reason is that such procedures can alter hormones, which are critical to proper bone growth. Many veterinarians believe it can be harmful to spay or neuter your dog before the growth plates close. This also varies based on size and breed. However, most dogs are at least 9-to-11 months old before their growth plates close. Sexual maturity in puppies typically begins to occur between 6-to-9 months of age, although certain giant breeds may not reach sexual maturity until they are older. So, talk to your vet and breeder about your puppy. The timing of sexual maturity is largely size- and breed-dependent. ![]()
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