Unspayed Females

Since we have a bunch of really cute photos from our Valentine's party, I thought they would be useful for the topic of boarding intact females.Whether you, as the owner, decide to spay or neuter you dog is entirely up to you. We won't stand on any soap box and preach one way or the other. It's your business. But if a female comes into heat while at Bark City, we have the obligation as the responsible caretaker to kennel her. It is for her safety as well as for the other dogs.

A dog that is in heat, will release pheromones that will drive dogs CRAZY with frustration.  It is not uncommon for a male dog to scent a female in heat from a mile away. Male dogs will MOVE MOUNTAINS to get to the desired female and will become aggressive competing for her. The female in heat may also become aggressive with other dogs in order to drive them away from a chosen male and/or  because she might be experiencing some pain during ovulation. The female must be kept under constant supervision to make sure there are no "oops puppies". Like I said, male dogs will move mountains...

What is the most logical step for your intact female? I would recommend keeping track of her cycle and to not board her when she is going to be in heat. A female will generally start her first cycle anywhere between 6-24 months old (No, we do not expect you to wait two-full years to board your dog! That is a bit unreasonable!). Typically, the smaller the breed the earlier. The cycle will last approximately 18 days. Males will be attracted to the female the whole time, but the female will only be receptive for about half of it. You can expect your dog to go into heat about twice a year (approx. every six months). There is a lot of good information via the web about what to expect when your female goes into heat. I would recommend reading up BEFORE it happens! You WILL need to be prepared...