Miniature Pincher

Question
How long do miniature pinchers go into heat usually? How long inbetween each heat session?

Answer
Hi Rachel,

Most dogs, no matter the breed go into their estrous cycle, or "heat" twice a year. It is possible to have a dog that only has one cycle per year, but that isn't usual, the average is every six months.

How long the cycle lasts can vary from dog to dog. The average is three weeks (21 days). But it can be shorter or longer, depending on your particular dog.

Females do not go through menopause, though sometimes there may be a cessation in heat cycles for a period of time and then they can start back up again. As a female ages, her fertility does drop off but she will not go through menopause as humans do. It is also possible for senior dogs to become pregnant.

Your dog would gain the most health benefits from being spayed before the onset of her first heat.
An unspayed female has a greater risk of developing some tumors such as mammary tumors. An unspayed female can developed pyometra (a serious uterine infection than can be fatal) as well as uterine cancer. Having litters is risky to the dog and can be very costly to properly plan and raise. Then there are behavioral issues: unspayed females are more likely to have hormonally related behavioral issues than spayed females.

Best of luck,
Patti