Sex

Female dogs go through what is called an oestrous cycle, which consists of multiple phases, each of which is important to the reproductive process.

During proestrus, the first phase of a woman's menstrual cycle, the vulva swells somewhat and a bloody discharge may be present. The average duration of this period is 9 days, however, it might vary from female to female. While the female is in proestrus, she sends out signals that attract males but make her infertile.

The subsequent phase, known as estrus, is when a woman is most fertile. This phase typically lasts 1-3 days but can last as long as 7-11 days. The colour of the discharge also changes, from a brilliant red or pink to a deeper reddish-brown when the blood content decreases during estrus. When an intact male is around, the female will often make her mating presentation to him, with her rear end forward and her tail held to the side.

Diestrus follows estrus and lasts for around two months. The female body either readies itself for pregnancy or recovers to its natural state during diestrus. The discharge stops and the vulva shrinks back to its normal size.

The oestrous cycle concludes with anestrus, the period between diestrus and the subsequent proestrus. During anestrus, a female may not ovulate for up to four months. Neither the vulva nor the vagina will be enlarged or bleeding at this time. During this period, the uterus might get ready for the next potential pregnancy.

Female dogs go through a cycle called estrus, which consists of four distinct phases: proestrus, during which the uterus swells and bleeds; estrus, during which the dog is sexually receptive; diestrus, which follows estrus and lasts for about two months and involves pregnancy preparation or returning to a normal state; and anestrus, during which the uterus rests in preparation for the next proestrus. Female dogs' reproductive cycles are controlled by these phases.