How to calm a male dog when a female dog is in heat

Male dogs are often attracted to female dogs in heat, because they are biologically programmed to respond to female scents. Keeping a male dog next to a female dog during estrus is stressful for both dogs. You should separate male dogs from female dogs and create a relaxing, safe environment for them. If you are raising such a pair together, you can avoid having the two of them copulating. In addition, both should be sterilized to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy and prevent some types of cancer, and make them behave better.

Table of Contents

Separate male dogs from female dogs

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Separate the male from the female until the female is out of heat. The only way to keep the male dog calm is to separate him from the female, because he cannot control his actions when the female dog is around. Bring the male dog indoors or lock up the dog if the female dog is outside, this will prevent the male dog from smelling the female.

Do not walk male and female dogs together or let them play together.

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Put two dogs in a separate room. If you have a pair of dogs in the same house, keep them in separate rooms as far apart as possible so that the male dog cannot smell the female dog. Confine them in two separate rooms away from each other, close the door, and don’t let them both out at the same time. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Make sure there are no female toys or objects in the male dog’s room, as they will smell. Smelling a bitch from such things causes male dogs to whine, howl, or scratch at the door.

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Keep female dogs indoors and male dogs outside if you have limited space in your home. If you don’t have a lot of room or space in your home, you can keep the female dog in the house and the male dog in the yard until the end of heat. Make sure the yard area is fenced so that male dogs don’t run out into the street. ^{[2] X Research Source}

This is only an appropriate option when the weather is good and local laws do not prohibit keeping dogs outside.
Do not keep the female dog outside while she is in heat as she may escape and find a male to mate with.

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Keep the male dog in the crate until the female dog is out of heat. Although you can separate two dogs in the house, you may not be able to control her aggressive behavior towards the bitch. In that case, it’s best to limit the male’s range by keeping the female dog in captivity until the end of heat, which is usually around 3 weeks. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You can prepare for this process by acclimatizing the male dog to the kennel environment. You can reserve a large kennel for the male dog to stay in during heat.

Set up a relaxing home environment

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Spray methanp on the bitch’s tail to mask her scent. Vick’s spray or other methanp sprays are good choices, which can mask the bitch’s estrous scent. Spray a few times a day on female dogs to calm the male dog if they both live in the same house or area. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Avoid letting your dog lick the medication by enticing a toy or food while it dries.
This medicine can cause discomfort to your dog, you should consult your veterinarian before taking it.

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Play with both dogs separately during separation time. Keep both entertained and forget about heat by playing with them. Keep the female dog in the room with a toy to chew on alone while taking the male dog outside to play. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

After spending time with the male dog, switch to playing with the female dog in the room while keeping the male dog outside in the fenced-in yard.
Try to balance playtime with the two dogs, in separate areas, so that both of you can relax and calm down.

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Take the male dog for regular walks. Stick to a walking schedule for your male dog, making sure he gets enough walks for his breed and size. Regular walks keep the male dog away from the female dog and expend less energy when he gets home. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Avoid taking a female dog for a walk during estrus as she can affect neighboring male dogs. Only let the female dog play outside in the fenced-in yard and watch so she doesn’t follow any passing male dogs.

Sterilize male dogs

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Talk to your veterinarian about neutering both dogs. Both sterilization has beneficial results. Veterinarians will usually recommend spaying male dogs within 6 months of age because they have low mating motivation and low testosterone levels. Sterilization also helps them reduce the risk of disease and prevent cancer. ^{[7] X Research Source} Spaying bitches helps prevent cancer as well as mammary tumors. It’s best to have a female dog spayed before she goes into heat for the first time, although you can also perform surgery when she’s in heat. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Remember that neutering does not prevent male dogs from reacting to lustful female dogs, only partial control. You will still need to separate neutered male dogs from female dogs as a precaution.

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Do not feed your dog within 8 hours before surgery. The clinic will give you some instructions before surgery, usually do not eat or drink for 8 hours before surgery. The anesthetic will make the dog nauseous so it’s best to leave the stomach empty following the procedure. You can still give your dog water in moderation. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Follow the clinic’s instructions to make sure the surgery goes smoothly.

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Allow the clinic to perform the procedure. The surgery is completed relatively quickly in the clinic and is painless because the animal must be anesthetized. ^{[10] X Research source} . The clinic may ask you to drop off your dog in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon.

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Help your dog recover from surgery. The clinic can prescribe pain medication if needed. Your dog may vomit after surgery as well as not eat for 1-2 days, this is normal. Make sure your dog rests and doesn’t move or run too much for 1-3 days, as complications can arise. ^{[11] X Research Source}

The male dog’s scrotum may be swollen for a few days, and the swelling should go away once the incision is sutured.
If your dog keeps licking the incision, have him wear an anti-licking ring, which is a funnel-shaped ring that prevents the dog from licking the wound.
If the incision is oozing pus and the dog seems to be in pain, bring it to the clinic right away.
You will need to bring your dog back to the clinic to have the stitches removed. However, some clinics will use self-dissolving floss.

Steps

Separate male dogs from female dogs

Set up a relaxing home environment

Sterilize male dogs

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