How to Control a Male Dog Aggressive Behavior Around a Female in Heat
When a female dog is in heat, it can make their pet care needs more difficult. Their psychological state can be anxious, but they may also become aggressive. When you have male dogs in the home or you are taking the dog out for a walk, your main concern may be keeping male dogs under control when they sense a female in heat. This is mainly a practical issue as the attention of male dogs can prove distracting. If your dog is not neutered, having sex can lead to unwanted pregnancy in dogs. This can mean a much greater responsibility as a pet owner.
Male dogs do not go into heat. A female will go into heat an average of twice a year, the only time during which they are interested in mating. Male dogs can mate at any time of the year and will look for any opportunity to do so. This is not the case if they have been castrated. By neutering the dog, you remove the organs which produce sex hormones and remove their sex drive in the process.
When a female dog is in heat, she releases a pheromone called Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate that has shown to sexually arouse male dogs that pick up that scent. That’s by design, of course — but it can stir up a lot of chaos for you and your canine companion. If an intact male dog catches the scent of a nearby female in heat, she will become his entire focus. Male dogs may stop eating, increase their marking, become increasingly aggressive and obsess over tracking down the female dog in heat throughout the duration of her cycle.
If you have an intact male dog who lives near an intact female dog, it’s important to keep him as far from her as possible when she’s in heat if you are not looking to breed with your dog. Be sure to take your male dog out for lots of independent exercise and activity and keep him distracted as best as you can. Certain pheromone sprays can also be helpful during these times, particularly if there’s some distance between the two dogs to start. Be sure to speak to your veterinarian before using any of these sprays.
Neutering your male dog can help curb many of the negative behaviors associated with sexual maturity, such as marking, mounting and roaming. It can also reduce some types of aggression. Neutering may help reduce the possibility of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland), perianal tumors and hernias. testicular tumors.
Now you know: Male dogs don’t go into heat. But that doesn’t make their sexual maturity any less challenging for them or for their pet parents. Be sure to talk to your vet to discuss how to deal with your dog’s behaviors, especially if he hasn’t been neutered.
Do Male Dogs Go Into Heat?
The answer is no; male dogs do not go into heat like female dogs do. In fact, mature dogs are able and ready to mate all year round. Instead, when you see hormonal behavioural changes in a dog, it’s because they’ve picked up the scent of a female in heat.
When a female dog comes into heat, she emits a powerful pheromone that can be detected by male dogs from miles away. This pheromone is so potent that it can actually trigger a physical response in males, causing them to become excited and sometimes even aggressive.
If this happens, you may notice your male dog exhibiting some unusual behaviours. For example, he may become more aggressive than usual or start marking his territory more frequently by urinating on things around your house. Additionally, he may try to escape from your yard more often in an attempt to find a mate.
Male Dogs in Heat Symptoms and Behavior
Male dogs have the urge to escape their homes, start urine-marking excessively, lose focus, and sometimes become aggressive whenever they want to mate.
The closer the female pheromones that provoked this behavior are, the more acute the symptoms become.
Taking sudden escape routes is what most owners first notice in males that went to seek one of their many female soul mates.
Breaking out of the yard is not at all unusual for canines but should be avoided by placing a digging-proof fence inside your yard.
To get the female’s attention two or more males can behave aggressively toward each other.
While two males will rarely deal out fatal blows, you should always interrupt this behavior.
The male hormones will keep him active and thinking only about one thing.
During this time, the male spends time around the female without sleeping or eating whatsoever.
One of the few activities still interesting to him is marking as a way to gain notice from the female.
Male Dog Behavior Around a Female In Heat
With females in heat around, an aroused male dog’s behavior can be very difficult to manage.
Besides getting aggressive they can also get antsy, agitated, and won’t stop whining.
Although these behaviors are completely understandable considering a dog’s nature, for most it’s annoying or even embarrassing when other dog owners are around.
An intact male on a leash is ready to do just about anything to get to his potential bride.
That’s the time you will learn that a mild-mannered pooch can behave erratically making it impossible to control him.
Even dogs that were properly trained by a professional can suddenly stop obeying commands.
Some people get so worried their dogs are not drinking, eating, or sleeping properly they decide to get them to the vet to rule out other medical issues.
Here are the top 5 signs to look for:
- He’s moody.One minute he’s happy as can be, the next minute he’s sulking in the corner. Sound familiar? It’s normal for your pup to be a little moodier than usual during puberty. Don’t take it personally – he’s just trying to figure things out!
- He’s lifting his leg more often.As your pup’s hormones kick into gear, he’ll start lifting his leg to urinate more often. This is perfectly normal behaviour and nothing to worry about.
- He wants to roam.If you’ve noticed your pup wanting to wander off more often, it’s likely because he’s curious about the world beyond your yard (and possibly because he’s looking for a mate!). Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t get too far from home.
- He’s eating less (or more).Appetite changes are common during puppy puberty, so don’t be surprised if your pup isn’t as interested in food as he used to be (or if he suddenly has a heartier appetite). Either way, make sure you’re giving him high-quality food that will meet his changing needs.
- He’s getting into fights. As your pup enters puberty, he may start squabbling with other dogs more often – even if he’s never shown any interest in fighting before. This is usually just alpha posturing and nothing to worry about, but keep an eye on him and intervene if necessary (i.e., if a fight breaks out).
How Long Will a Male Dog Be Interested in a Female in Heat?
A normal estrus period in female dogs lasts for about 3 weeks. During this whole time, intact male dogs will be interested in the female, although she will only let males mate with her for half or less of the time.
The female becomes receptive to males around the 9th-11th day of the cycle.
That’s when the estrogen levels reach their peaks and once the eggs are released (ovulation) the levels drastically drop.
Keep a close eye on your dog to avoid spotting surprising signs of dogs going into labor a couple of months later (yeah, it happens that people notice this pretty late).
A female can have her first heat at around 6 months of age.
For some females, it takes up to 24 months for their first heat to happen.
Bigger dogs tend to experience a late first estrus compared to smaller dogs.
Keeping the scent under control
Hygiene in the home is especially important when you have a female dog in heat. Although you may not be able to perceive it, they leave their scent all over the place. This is a hidden sign of their sexual cycle. If you have a male dog in the home, this scent alone can cause them to get overexcited and exhibit their own behavioral problems such as mounting other dogs.
As dogs have such a prodigious sense of smell, keeping this scent under control as much as possible is imperative. It may be enough to control a male dog around a female in heat. If a male and female dog live in the same home, you need to keep them in separate areas of the home. This also means preventing them from using the same materials such as blankets and dog beds.
Cleaning the common areas thoroughly will also help to keep their hormones under control and prevent destructive behavior. It may be enough to calm the male dog if they cannot smell the female’s pheromones.
Doggie pants for females in heat
You may think it a little strange, but dog underwear is becoming more widely accepted in the canine care community. This acceptance is so much so that pet stores have started to stock specially made doggie pants for the purpose of keeping female dogs healthy during heat periods. They are many styles and types which can be used for both male and female dogs to help with incontinence as well as a female dog’s estrus cycle.
However, you don’t need to buy special dog underwear if you want to control male dogs around a female dog in heat. Human underwear can be adapted to make doggie pants by either cutting holes or affixing with safety pins. A pad similar to human sanitary napkins can be placed in the underwear so that it absorbs secretions as well as helping to mask the smell. They should also help work as a form of birth control if male dogs tried to mount them.
Change their walking schedule
Changing your dog’s walking times can be a very practical solution to this problem. The best time to walk your dog is the quieter hours of the day. You can take a female dog in heat out for a walk without having to worry about male dogs bothering them. Your dog may normally be very happy to run around off leash without a problem. However, when they are in heat, it is recommended you keep them on leash.
The reason for keeping female dogs in heat on leash is for both their benefit and others. Doing so helps you keep them calm in the presence of male dogs, as well as helping them to evade the dog’s attention. It also means other dogs and people are kept safe from potentially aggressive behavior during this time.
Products to cover up the scent
As we stated before, keeping male dogs calm in the presence of female dogs in heat is greatly helped by keeping the scent under control. To help meet this end, there are some other commercially available products which may help. These include anti-odor smells which mask the smell and keep male dogs distracted. Their effectiveness may differ, but they are all designed to help mask or neutralize the pheromones emitted during the heat period. These include methanol scents, similar to Vicks Vaporub which is used for cold related treatments.
Proligestone injections for dogs in heat
Speak to your veterinarian about other medical options which may be able to help keep a dog in heat from being bothered. These include injections designed to regulate the heat cycle. The most common drug for this purpose is known as proligestone which is sold under the brand names of Delvosteron[1] and Covinan. While these drugs can be effective in controlling the estrus cycle of dogs, they are more often used to treat dogs with related problematic issues such as hypersexuality.
Proligestone has been used to treat other health issues in dogs such as problems related to dwarfism in German shepherds[2]. These studies, however, have shown the possibility of adverse side effects. These include obesity, problems with their coat and insulin related issues. These treatments also come in pill form.
These treatments are often used for animals which are too old to go under sterilization surgery. Not only are they expensive options, their use could be detrimental to your a pet’s quality of life. If you do want to consider using these treatments, it is very important you speak to your veterinarian first.
How to keep your male dog calm during a female’s estrus cycle
Here are the 3 things you can do to keep your male dog calm when they’re sharing a roof with an in-heat female.
- Separate the dogs.Under no circumstances should an intact male and an in-heat female dog be kept near each other if you’re trying to avoid pregnancy. Keep the dogs separated until the female’s heat cycle is over. Put the dogs in rooms on opposite sides of the house for maximum distance. If you’re limited on space, you can keep your male dog outside in the yard and the female dog indoors. Don’t keep your in-heat female dog outdoors, she may attract nearby male dogs or try to escape to find a mate. An alternative for keeping your dogs separated is having the male dog board in a kennel or at a vet’s office where boarding services are available until the female dog is no longer in heat. Having a friend or family take your male dog off your hands for a while is a cheaper way of doing it.
- Mask the in-heat female’s scent. You’ll need to create a conducive environment in your home by keeping the scent of the in-heat female under control. One way of doing this is by keeping your house clean. While cleaning is something you should be doing anyways, it’s especially important when you have an in-heat female dog. An in-heat dog produces a freely-dripping discharge which is not only messy, but the primary source of male attracting hormones and pheromones. Clean the house using vinegar or bleach for hard surfaces and shampoo for your carpets to mask the scent. Also make sure you clean the in-heat dog’s bedding regularly. Additionally, you’ll need to bath your dog more frequently using a mild shampoo. Adding a splash of apple cider vinegar in the rinse water will help mask the smell. Applying a menthol rub or spray onto the tail of the female dog will also help, but make sure she doesn’t lick it before it dries as it can be toxic. Also, be careful not to get the menthol on any sensitive parts as it could be very irritating.
- Exercise is good for everyone.Exercise is a great way to distract and calm your dog while expending a big portion of their aggressive energy. Play with both the dogs separately; the male outside and the female indoors, and provide them with toys to keep them busy and relaxed. Your male dog should be walked regularly, and ensure that he gets a walk that is long enough for his size and breed. Avoid walking your female dog when she’s in heat as this could cause trouble with other nearby male dogs. You can however take her out in a fenced in area and supervise her the entire time so that she doesn’t get into trouble.
Another remedy you could try is a physical barrier. Place a Doggy Diaper on your female dog. This will collect any discharge and will help mask the scent from your male dog. Make sure you change the diaper regularly so as to prevent any possible infection.
A Permanent Solution
To avoid dealing with the problem of an in-heat dog every few months, veterinarians recommend that you get your female dog spayed (removal of ovaries for female dogs) and your male dog neutered.
Desexing is not only effective for keeping your dogs from becoming parents, it can also reduce the risk of certain types of cancers and help improve your dogs’ overall behaviour.
Hope this helps! If you have any other questions about this topic, check out the frequently asked questions below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do male dogs go crazy when a female is in heat?
Often yes, male dogs may increase their marking behaviour, stop eating, become more aggressive and may obsess over tracking down the female dog in heat for the duration of her cycle.
How long will a male dog be attracted to a female in heat?
Typically it will be for the duration of her cycle. Typically the estrus period for dogs is around 18 days.
Why is my male dog whining so much?
There are several reasons your male dog is whining so much including; excitement, anticipation, apprehension or anxiety. This behaviour may increase if there is a nearby female dog in heat.
How to calm a male dog?
- Separate the dogs
- Mask the female’s scent
- Exercise your male dog
- Place a Doggy Diaper on your female dog
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
