Libby

Question
Hello! I have a 10 month old beagle,cinnamon- black lab mix female. I have been reading a lot of books and information on the Internet and have been concerned lately that my puppy, has not gone into heat yet. She is a very healthy puppy, and I would hate to pay a lot of money taking her to a vet because of this if it is normal.
Should I be concerned?
Thank you! :)

Answer
Sometimes they don't come into heat as soon.  Our last 3 puppies never came into heat before they were a year old.  I would recommend seeing the vet and getting her spayed now, before you have to go through the mess, hassle, and risks of her going through her heat cycle.  

The second and third weeks are when the most risk of accidental breeding is. Don't take this lightly. She will do anything to get loose and get to a male. Once loose, an accidental breeding and an unwanted litter is far from the worst that can happen. Such breedings can also result in fatal infections. She can get killed when she dashes heedlessly across the road in front of a car. Other dogs or coyotes may kill her.

You can expect the same thing about every 6 months for the rest of her life if you don't go ahead and get her spayed. There is no other answer, and no good reason not to. Besides saving the hassles, it reduces the chances of cancer later in life. Please make life easier for yourself, her, and society in general by getting her spayed as soon as a vet will do it.