New dog owner to a small female dog that is very popular for the males in our community. She is experiencing her first heat and i hear they can only get pregnant during this time,is that really correct? Can she not get pregnant outside the heat period?

Most post pubertal female dogs , generally over about 10 months of age, will have oestrus (‘heat’) every 6 months. The heat lasts about 3 weeks. Ovulation occurs generally between days 8-12 of this heat.

The bitch (female dog) can only become pregnant if viable sperm from a male dog fertilizes her eggs after she ovulates. As the sperm can survive for 4 days in the bitch - the period in which the female dogs can become ‘pregnant’ is roughly between days 6 and 16 of the heat period.

When she starts her heat, ver vulva will swell, and she will have a blood coloured discharge - this is day 1.

To prevent her becoming pregnant, you need to keep her locked away from male dogs during her heat period - especially the danger 6-16 day period.

Alternatively - if you don’t want her to have pups - I suggest you have her desexed/speyed/sterilised.

Sorry - short answer - she can not get pregnant if she does not ovulate (have a ‘heat’)

Edited June 27Jun 27 by G Rex

My bitch got pregnant 5 times in 4 years,

Wish I’d never married her.

9 hours ago, G Rex said:

Most post pubertal female dogs , generally over about 10 months of age, will have oestrus (‘heat’) every 6 months. The heat lasts about 3 weeks. Ovulation occurs generally between days 8-12 of this heat.

The bitch (female dog) can only become pregnant if viable sperm from a male dog fertilizes her eggs after she ovulates. As the sperm can survive for 4 days in the bitch - the period in which the female dogs can become ‘pregnant’ is roughly between days 6 and 16 of the heat period.

When she starts her heat, ver vulva will swell, and she will have a blood coloured discharge - this is day 1.

To prevent her becoming pregnant, you need to keep her locked away from male dogs during her heat period - especially the danger 6-16 day period.

Alternatively - if you don’t want her to have pups - I suggest you have her desexed/speyed/sterilised.

Sorry - short answer - she can not get pregnant if she does not ovulate (have a ‘heat’)

Very clear and specific,Thank you! Will bring her to the clinic and consult/have her spayed after the heat is over,the male dogs go crazy outside our house.

On 6/25/2026 at 9:28 AM, John_s said:

New dog owner to a small female dog that is very popular for the males in our community. She is experiencing her first heat and i hear they can only get pregnant during this time,is that really correct? Can she not get pregnant outside the heat period?

Reads like some of the posts from the Pattaya forum !....

Keep her indoors out of the way - have her spayed ASAP.

59 minutes ago, John_s said:

Very clear and specific,Thank you! Will bring her to the clinic and consult/have her spayed after the heat is over,the male dogs go crazy outside our house.

Poor bastards 555