Dogs and Reproduction Facts

Did You Know?

• Female dogs can go into heat as early as 6 months of age.

• Most dogs reach sexual maturity by one year of age, although it can take up to 18 months.

• Dogs can be spayed and neutered before they reach sexual maturity - as early as 6 weeks of age.

• Dogs can go into heat as often as 4 times a year.

• The average gestation period for dogs is about 65 days.

• There is no benefit to letting a dog become pregnant once - dogs don't feel any need to be "fulfilled" by having a litter.

• Spaying and neutering offer many health and behavioral benefits for a pet, including a significant reduction in reproductive cancers.

• Male dogs should also be neutered (in addition to female dogs being spayed) - it takes two to make a litter.

• It's estimated that a single unspayed female dog and her puppies can produce up to 67000 more pups in just 6 years. That's a whole lot of good homes to search for!

Please don't litter ... spay or neuter your pets!