When do Labradors Go Into Heat?

Congratulations on your new girl Labrador puppy! She is undoubtedly adorable and loaded with energy that’s perfect for seemingly endless playtime. She might be chewing the world in search of teething relief and figuring out what’s right and what’s wrong, and that’s great. But one thing you need to figure out is when do Labradors go into heat – the first time, and thereafter.

When do Labradors go into heat? A Labrador puppy will have her first heat session at around 6 months of age, although it’s not uncommon for larger dogs to take up to two years. From that point on you can expect your Labrador to go into heat twice a year or annually.

Knowing when your Lab is going into heat is important, whether you’re just concerned for her health, are looking to breed, or wanting to know when the right time to spay is. We are going to discuss the ins and outs of Labrador heat sessions, from the moment they begin to what to expect as your Lab gets older.

When do Labrador Puppies Have Their First Heat Session?

Some people opt to spay their Labrador puppy before she even has a single heat session, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you are not looking to breed your dog and don’t want the hassle of dealing with a Lab in heat, then it’s actually recommended to spay before your girl even begins her first heat cycle.

When should you expect the very first heat cycle, though? Well, you can expect the first heat cycle to occur at around 6 months of age, or anytime after that.

The most common for a Labrador is actually between 9 and 12 months. However, it is not uncommon for a larger breed, such as the Lab, to not have a heat cycle until they are close to 2 years old.

This means that you should not panic if your puppy is a ‘late bloomer’. Every dog is going to ‘mature’ in its own time, so don’t worry if you don’t see any signs of heat when your puppy turns 6 months old.

How Often do Labs Go Into Heat?

After their first heat cycle, it shouldn’t be too long before they are on a regular schedule. It is similar to what a human goes through, except not as often. Instead of the heat cycle occurring once a month, Labradors typically go into heat at least twice a year. 

Again, keep in mind that every dog is different and some may go into heat only once a year, while others may have it as regularly as three times a year.

This is why it is important to log your Labradors heat cycle. By regularly logging what’s going on with their heat pattern, you can spot any odd changes. Sometimes sudden changes can lead to a visit to your local veterinarian to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

The heat session itself should typically last around 3 weeks. During this time, your Labrador will be very fertile and ready to pounce on anything she sees, whether it’s another female dog, a male dog, a human, or a stuffed animal- you name it, she will want it.

How to Tell if Your Lab is in Heat

There are a couple different ways to tell when your dog is in heat. These are fairly clear signs that should take the guesswork out of everything. However, it can be somewhat difficult to determine when it’s her first time, so always keep an eye on your Labrador pup.

Here are the top five signs your Labrador is in heat session:

• Her vulva swells. Perhaps the biggest and most obvious sign of your Labrador entering her heat season is that her vulva, or genitalia, becomes extremely swollen. Now, we aren’t talking about just a bit swollen. It will be noticeably larger, sometimes becoming four times the normal size.
• Slight bleeding. For the most part, dogs don’t bleed like humans and you might miss it if you are not paying attention. But that doesn’t mean it’s absent. However, a Labrador in a heat session will likely only leave a few spots of blood, perhaps on her bed or on the floor. You can tell if she’s in spotting due to heat by wiping her vulva with toilet paper.
• Increased self-cleaning. Your Labrador will likely enjoy keeping herself clean regardless, but during her heat season, she will be extra careful about cleansing. You will notice your dog cleaning herself a lot more often, which also helps to conceal the blood.
• Changes in behavior. Of course, with all the extra hormones flowing through her body, her overall behavior is bound to change- at least a little bit. Most Labradors will become a bit sleepier than usual and may enjoy excessive cuddles. On the other hand, some will end up being a bit more excitable and restless. 
• Humping and flagging. Your female Labrador is going to want to hump everything in sight. She will also move her tail off to the side, exposing her bum, fairly regularly. This is essentially to let other male dogs know that she is ‘ready for business’. This is especially true during the time of her heat season when she is 100% ready for mating.

When can You Spay Your Female Lab?

A lot of people who do not intend on breeding will consider spaying, and for good reason, too. If you are not planning to breed your dog they should be spayed before their first heat cycle.

Why put your precious puppy (and yourself) through such a hard time when it’s not absolutely necessary?

Spaying a dog you don’t plan to breed will help to avoid the horrible situation where doggy ends up pregnant to a bunch of ‘unwanted’ pups. They might end up in shelters or undesirable homes along the road, and that’s the last thing anybody wants.

So what should the owner do?

You may have your Labrador puppy spayed after just 2 months of age. This completely avoids the first heat cycle and never even allows your female Lab to get the ‘feeling’ of the heat cycle. Without this, they can grow up to be worry-free and enjoy their lives without worrying about a mate.

Of course, you should always discuss spaying with your veterinarian. There are many pros and cons to spaying , and building your knowledge is always going to be the best way to make the right decision.

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