When there’s a female dog in heat, you and Fido might feel crazy.
He’ll be whining here and there when he smells her.
Then, you’ll have to deal with that crying and many other behaviors.
So, how can you prevent your male dog from smelling a female pooch in heat?
Continue reading to discover:
- A permanent solution to this issue.
- 7 ways to stop a male dog from smelling a female in heat.
- What you need to know about a female dog’s heat cycle.
- And much, much, more…
Table of contents
How to stop a male dog from smelling a female in heat?
To stop a male dog from smelling a female in heat, you have to keep them separated and mask the smell. You must frequently keep your place and female dog clean. You can also take your male dog for a walk to tire him out. When walking your female dog, there are precautions to take.
7 ways to stop a male dog from smelling a female in heat
#1: Familiarize yourself with her cycle
Now, this is highly necessary…
Why?
That’s because intact male dogs will be the first to know.
So, you better race them to it.
Not only to protect your female pooch but to also contain your male dog.
But, how can male dogs easily beat you in this race?
It’s because when a female dog is in heat, she releases uniquely smelling pheromones.
That’s why a male dog can easily detect a female dog in heat.
He just has to smell that distinct pheromone from the dog’s heat cycle…
And uh-oh…
Here comes the male’s extreme urge to mate. And you’ll observe it once your male dog starts showing signs of his urges.
Now, how exactly will you pull this off?
The answer is, you must get to know your female dog’s heat cycle.
The best way to start is to learn the science behind each heat season.
Dogs’ estrous cycle
A dog’s heat cycle is called the estrous cycle.
According to the Merck Vet Manual, female dogs go in heat at least twice a year. Those seasons are usually 6 months apart.
Are you wondering when a dog starts to experience heat?
The same manual says that the first heat usually occurs between 6 to 15 months of age. However, it still depends on the size of the dog…
For example, larger canines experience their first heat cycle later than mentioned.
The manual also tells us that this heat cycle has 4 periods. Namely:
Proestrus
This is the start of the heat period. It usually lasts for 7 to 10 days.
In this period, the female dog’s vulva is swelling.
The pheromones I was talking about are already released. Therefore, she’ll attract male dogs.
However, she won’t allow mating yet. So, take note of this period…
This is the time where your female pooch will pick up a fight with a male dog that tries to pursue her. That’s because she’s not ready yet.
Estrus
Now, this is the period where she’ll allow mating. You might notice your female pooch trying to hump a male dog when she’s near one.
That aside, this period usually lasts for 5 to 10 days.
Moreover, blood flow lessens in this period and comes to a stop.
About 2 to 3 days after mating, ovulation occurs.
Diestrus
This is the period 10 to 140 days after the cycle.
She’s either pregnant or resting in this phase.
Anestrus
This is the resting period that lies between diestrus and the next proestrus.
You may also wonder: Do male dogs go in heat?
#2: Keep them separated
As I mentioned before, pheromones are to blame for a male dog’s urge to mate.
Once they catch a whiff of that odor, they’ll go wild.
Moreover, it’s believed that male dogs can smell those from a mile away…
It’s even said that Fido can detect it from up to 3 miles (4.8 km).
Then, as a human, you don’t have the same ability as a male dog.
And like I said, you can rely on your knowledge about the female dog heat cycle.
But sometimes, Fido’s extreme sense of smell prevails.
With that, the only answer lies in containment.
This is especially applicable if you have a multi-dog household.
So, separate your male dogs from the females.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Putting him in a crate.
- Ask a friend to take care of your pooch for a while.
- Don’t mix their toys together. That’s because your female dog’s toys might still have her smell.
- Placing them in separate rooms. Make sure these rooms are on the opposite ends of your house.
Moreover, you should also separate your male puppers from one another.
“Why is that necessary?”
In this situation, your female pooch is the princess.
Then, every male canine is a competitive suitor.
With that, the princess might provoke some fights between these suitors.
#3: Frequently clean your female dog
This is an important step to take…
Its help might seem little, but it can contribute to prevention.
You must frequently bathe your female pooch in heat.
By frequently, twice a day would do.
This is necessary because a female dog releases a discharge when in heat.
That discharge contains the same pheromones I’ve been talking about.
Moreover, your female dog will highly appreciate this.
That’s because the discharge can feel irritating in her genitals and skin.
Now, when you clean her up, not only will she feel fresh…
It can also reduce the smell of pheromones.
So, how will you do this?
Bathing a dog in heat
The first thing to remember is to proceed with caution.
Why?
That’s because female dogs in heat are often unpredictable.
She’s not her best self when she’s on her cycle…
That’s why aggression during a female dog’s season is common.
Hormonal changes in her body cause this.
Now, to bathe your dog…
You can start by putting her over a sink or a basin large enough.
Do a quick wash of the following parts:
- Tail.
- Rear.
- Legs.
Then, you can use a mild shampoo every once in a while.
Note: Don’t do the latter every time, as shampoo can cause dry skin. With that, the areas mentioned might get more irritated.
Moreover, you must avoid touching her genitals during this process.
That’s because it’s swelling, and touching it might cause an aggressive reaction.
After this, you can rinse and dry her body off with a towel.
For a quicker process, you can use safe wipes that are made for dogs.
You can also use a damp towel to clean those areas.
Warning: This practice is essential during a female dog’s heat cycle.
This study shows that bacteria in your dog’s vagina changes during an estrous cycle.
With that, they might develop genital tract infections.
That’s why you must always keep your pooch clean during her season.
Read also: 11 Home Remedies For Dogs In Heat (#7 Works Instantly)
#4: Keep your area clean
Having a female pooch in heat takes a lot of work.
Then, add a male pooch to your family. It becomes a little harder.
That’s the fact of being a dog parent to many fur babies…
I say so because after keeping your female pooch clean, there’s more to do…
This time, you must maintain the cleanliness of your place as well.
By doing so, you lessen your male pup’s reaction to the smell of your female pooch in heat.
But what exactly do I mean when I talk about keeping your place clean?
Your first goal is to keep your place free of urine.
That’s because there are traces of pheromones in a female dog’s urine.
So, what happens when your pooch pees inside the house?
You must use the proper cleaners to get rid of the smell.
AKC suggests using enzymatic cleansers.
Such products are perfect for this scenario.
It contains enzymes that break down organic molecules in the urine.
Then, once those are broken down, here come the bacteria. Those are assigned to eat those molecules.
After that short process, the pee loses its smell…
Not only that, but it also helps with stains.
So try enzyme cleaners like this one.
Want something asap or a DIY option?
This one’s available for use…
Create a DIY solution in your home using only water and vinegar.
Put equal parts of those in a spray bottle and shake it thoroughly.
With that, go on and spray it on the surface after wiping down the urine..
Continue reading: 9 Tips To Keep The House Clean When Your Dog Is In Heat
#5: Take your male dog for a walk
This works as a separation tactic when you have both male and female dogs.
You walk your male pooch while your girl in heat stays in the house.
Moreover, separation isn’t just the only benefit of this tip…
When walking your male dog, his energy gets used. He can get tired from the activity.
With that, he might be aroused by the smell of a female in heat, but he might be less reactive.
It’s widely known that a tired dog is a good dog. And you can attest to that once you choose to follow this tip.
Moreover, your pooch isn’t the only recipient of the many benefits of walking…
As a dog parent, you’ll feel exercised when you walk with your dog.
Most importantly, it makes you both happy.
According to this research, dog parents experience happiness while walking their dog. It’s mostly connected to the fact that dogs enjoy the experience as well.
So, what are you waiting for?
Grab the closest opportunity to walk your male pooch and tire them out.
#6: Transport her properly
There must be a question in your mind…
“How ‘bout my female pooch? Can I take her for a walk, too?”
Yes, you can walk your female dog when she’s in heat…
However, there are many things to note when doing so.
When walking your pooch in heat, they create a track of their smell…
If there’s a male dog around to smell that, he’ll get sexually frustrated.
Worst case scenario is him following that trail to your house…
Such can be dangerous as he can be hit by a car by trying to wander.
That’s why dog parents keep their pooch in season at home as much as possible.
But what if you need to get her out of the house?
Transporting your female pooch in heat
The best way to do this is by making her wear a dog diaper.
By doing so, you make sure that her discharge won’t drip on the floor.
Here’s a recommended dog diaper in a pack of 3 (they’re washable).
Now, there’s one more thing you can do…
As much as possible, you must carry her out of the house.
Yes, that’s even though she’s already wearing a diaper…
As I said, male dogs can follow the tracks just by using their sense of smell.
According to vets, dogs have over 100 million sensory receptors in their nose…
Because of that, estimates show that dogs can smell up to 10,000 times better than humans.
So, add that ability and their urge to mate together…
It’s a mix of possible chaos…
#7: Chlorophyll
After all those precautions, there are direct ways to achieve what you want to…
I’m talking about masking the smell of the heat from the source, your female pooch.
A widely reported tactic for pulling this off is using chlorophyll.
What’s that?
Chlorophyll is initially found in plants. It’s what makes them green.
Moreover, it’s a healthy component full of vitamins and antioxidants.
Then, it’s also said that it can help mask the smell of heat pheromones.
You can choose between giving it to your dog through a tablet or liquid.
The average dosage needed is one tablespoon twice a day. Preferably one in the morning and another in the evening.
Put it on your female dog’s food.
And for it to really work, you must give it to her on the first day of her season.
Warning: It’s still best to ask the advice of a vet regarding this.
If they approve, they’ll give you the proper dosage to administer.
#BONUS: The permanent solution
To avoid doing this twice a year, look at a long-term solution.
You can spay your female pooch to prevent them from having a heat season again.
Experts also say that your girl will live a longer and healthier life.
It can prevent breast tumors, which affects 50% of dogs.
Then, if you neuter your male pooch, you’ll reap the same benefits.
He won’t get sexually frustrated. His urge to mate is less to none.
Note: Neutering doesn’t totally remove sexual behaviors.
Your male pooch can still feel pleasure.
However, his libido would be lowered down by his decreased testosterone levels.
Moreover, neutering can also prevent testicular cancers.
Most of all, he’ll be well-behaved and less likely to escape.