How Often Do Beagles Go Into Heat?
My female Beagle puppy is four months old, and I know she will go into heat at some point. I don’t know when, how often, and what I can expect with this process since I have never owned a female dog before.
Seeking to gain insight into this process, I used the internet and other resources to gain more knowledge. What I found out was interesting. I hope you will check it out.
How often do Beagles go into heat?
Beagles, like other dog breeds, go into heat on average twice per 12 months calendar year. This process is driven by the first time the female Beagle goes into heat, and then it usually happens every six months from that point on.
Some calendar years may occur three times, for instance, if the female Beagle goes into heat in January, then again around the end of June or early July, and then once again in December of that same year.
This is not very common, but it can happen at some point in a female Beagles’ life.
Some smaller dog breeds can regularly go into heat three times per year, while larger breeds can go into season once per calendar year.
Beagles are of average size and will go into heat twice per year most years.
Many things can affect when they go into heat like if the female becomes pregnant, has existing or new health issues, if their diet is inferior, or under a lot of stress from any source.
These issues can affect not only when a female Beagle goes into heat but how their season is, and if they become pregnant, their and their puppy’s health.
Suppose litters of puppies are not in the female Beagles’ future.
In that case, their pet parents might find it in their best interest to spay the Beagle to protect against potential health issues, reduce physical discomfort that comes when the female goes into heat and reduce the chance of surprise incidents that create an unwanted litter of puppies.
However, many times a female Beagle goes into heat.
It is a natural reproductive process; their needs and comfort during this time should be considered, whether it is their first heat season or their ninth.
Beagles are an average-sized dog breed, and for this reason, the female will typically go into heat on average once every six months or twice per calendar year.
Some dog breeds bigger or smaller than the Beagle might go into season once per year or three times per year.
A female Beagle will go into season three times in one calendar year on certain rare occasions, but this depends on when their first heat season happened. This normal reproductive bodily process occurs about every six months in a female Beagles’ life.
Like other dogs and humans, the heat season for a female Beagle can be affected by many factors like their health, hormones, age, diet, exercise, and stress levels.
Creating a healthy lifestyle for your Beagle regardless of gender can reduce the incidence of health issues affecting reproduction.
This is even true for male Beagles.
A healthy diet, adequate exercise, ample rest, minimum stress, and a happy, loving home environment should be a part of every dog’s life, regardless of gender or breed.
If the pet parents are planning on their Beagle having a litter of puppies, good health is even more critical before, during, and after their heat season as their health affects their puppies.
Good health for the female Beagle who goes into heat should include a stress reduction, especially during the heat season, as it can be a terribly uncomfortable time for them.
They should be treated with tender loving care as they go through this reproductive process so that they and their puppies are healthy.
Spaying is best for those pet parents who decide that they do not want a litter of puppies.
This is most often the case as most breeders will have a contract with their clients that prevents breeding their adopted female dogs.
Spaying the female prevents the likelihood that accidents will happen, and litters of unwanted puppies will be created.
Still, it also reduces the chance that the female Beagle has specific health issues related to their female organs later in life.
If that isn’t enough, spaying the female Beagle reduces their discomfort, which happens when they go into their season.
Whatever path the female Beagle chooses, how often they go into season is not the issue, but how they feel, and their health is a top priority.
Therefore, during this time, their needs for comfort, connection, and anything else, should be considered and addressed.
If I don’t want a litter of puppies, when should I spay my female Beagle?
If you don’t want a litter of puppies, the best time to spay your female Beagle is around their first six months of life.
The decision that needs to be made is if the pet parents will allow their female Beagle to go into their first season and then spay, or if they want to spay before the first season.
Much research shows spaying before the first season, somewhere around four months of age, is best, but each pet parent will make their own choice on this matter.
Some pet parents believe that spaying at this time, further reduces the chance of health issues, discomfort, and surprises, while others find it vital to their female dogs’ health that they go through at least one season.
There is no hard and fast rule; each pet parent must consider their lifestyle and what they feel is best for their female Beagle.
When selecting to spay their female, pet parents should consult their puppy’s veterinarian in advance to discuss the options and what the veterinarian’s thoughts are on the matter.
This will help them make an informed decision that is right for them and their Beagle.
Whether before or after the female Beagles’ first season, pet parents would be wise to spay their females before one year old.
Research shows that females who are spayed earlier can recover quicker from the surgery than older dogs, therefore before the one-year mark is best.
Another reason it is best to discuss this matter with the Beagles veterinary doctor because they know the individual dog. They know the dogs’ health inside and out and can best determine if spaying is suitable for the dog and, if so, when.
Do Beagles ever stop going into heat?
No, Beagles do not ever stop going into heat.
Once they go through their first heat season, the female Beagle, like other dog breeds, will continue this reproductive process throughout their entire adult life.
This varies from what happens with humans and can be confusing for us to understand.
If we look around, there are likely a few cases of senior dogs having litters of puppies, as hard as it is to believe.
How do I prepare for my Beagles’ first heat season?
The most important preparation for a female Beagles’ first heat season is to make sure they live a healthy life. Healthy food, exercise, rest, vaccines, veterinary visits, and minimal stress are excellent places to start.
Beyond that, making them as comfortable as possible during this time.
This can include having them wear a doggie diaper to minimize messes which can stress everyone out in the home because drops of blood do happen during this time.
Providing comfortable places to rest and relax and be available for snuggle time and keeping a very close eye on the Beagle to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Keeping your female calm and relaxed is best during this time, which will likely mean reducing excitable physical activities for the time being and replacing them with comforting moments that are soothing and pleasant.
Female dogs go through this process repeatedly, and it should be as comfortable as possible.
The changes happening during this time are not just physical, like a spot of blood.
They are also emotional and mental, internal, and externally similar to the changes that happen to human females during their monthly cycle.
Therefore, anything that can make the female Beagle more relaxed and happier and content while this is happening is best, soon the time will be over, and she will be feeling like herself again.
It can be helpful to take off time during the heat season or have a trusted friend or neighbor spend some time with the dog, if they keep them secure and away from any male dogs.
This is highly important; ensuring that your female dog doesn’t escape or come near a male dog is very important if the pet parents don’t want a litter of puppies.
Beyond these steps, nothing else can be done except to wait out this normal body process with your Beagle with open and loving arms.
Final Thoughts
Beagles, like other dogs, go into heat. Their first heat season is driven by when and how often this happens, which varies from one dog to the next.
Generally speaking, the Beagle will go into heat once every six months since they are an average-sized dog. It will continue throughout their lives from that moment on, so pet parents must consider this and what lies ahead if they don’t want more puppies.
No matter how often the Beagle goes into heat, their health should always be at the forefront of their pet parent’s thoughts and choices!
