Ok, I mentioned a few weeks back that we adopted a 2nd dog. We now have Sandy our loving Golden retriever, and Abby - a very friendly, doesn't even hurt a cat, black lab (mixed with something!). Well, Sandy we adopted at 7 1/2 weeks back this past January. Abby is said to be around a year old. (Nobody knows because the people we adopted her from found her literally wandering the woods, very sickly looking, and very unhealthy. The vet guessed her age!) Ok, long story short, they are able to get out of our fence! We've tried everything! Now, I find out, they don't need a hole. Apparently there are sections where our fence isn't into the ground so they literally scoot their fat behinds under the fence, since it's so bendy! now, I also find out why they are getting out. They are neither one fixed, and neither are the 2 males dogs that began hanging around my yard approximately a week ago. Can you guess what my question is? HOW EARLY DO DOGS GO INTO "HEAT"? How soon can they get preggers? Am I looking at having puppies?

Tracy,
This is copied from "TalktotheVet.com," search topic: Estrus in Dogs.

Estrus ("heat") is the mating period of female animals. When estrus occurs, animals are said to be "in heat" or "in season." Dogs generally have their first estrous cycle at 6-12 months of age. Some females of the large breeds, however, may not have their first estrus until they are 12-24 months of age.

The complete cycle takes about 6 months, resulting in 2 estrous periods each year. Individual variation occurs, but a given female's pattern tends to be repeated regularly.

If you do a Google search, maybe "heat cycles in dogs" I'm sure you can find anything you'd want to know, plus a whole lot more!

Good luck!

I'm laughing because I may also learn more than I want to about my dogs! LOL!!!

I've had dogs come in as early as 5 months, and as late as 18. Ya just never know! If you're seeing males around, that's a good indicator that she's come into season.

First heats often have little or no spotting that YOU see. (most likely they are, but the girl is doing a good job of cleaning herself so you're not seeing it.) You need to be looking for spots of blood on the floor, or for her to be licking herself A LOT.

From the first day of spotting, they're in standing heat from about day 10 to day 14. She can get bred multiple times in one day, and she can get bred by more than one dog.

If your female is in tact and comes into heat, and there is even a remote chance another dog can get into your yard, she should not be outide unsupervised for even 5 minutes. When I have dogs here in heat, I spend a lot of time outside, and those dogs can't even get around the corner of the house without me right behind them to make sure no male is hanging out around the corner! LOL

Take her in and get her spayed. If you can't afford it, call your local ASPCA or Humane Society and tell them you can't afford it. They are all about preventing unwanted pups and will often make a deal with you!

Hope you like puppies!!!!

Our first labrador cross never got out of the yard but managed to get pregnant at around 6 months old. After she had the puppies we identified the culprit as a dog that lived around the corner. Apparently he can jump really well if highly motivated.

If you don't want puppies, get them fixed. It seems like some major fence reconstruction is needed. Labradors and lab crosses are really skilled at getting under fences. At our old house I had to concrete bricks across the bottom of the fence to stop them. Ours are all fixed now and get out whenever they feel like it. At least here it just gets them into our horse paddock or into the sheep paddock next door.

Leah, thank you! I will be calling the ASPCA and seeing what we can work out! We have been meaning to have it done but it's one of those costs we just keep having to "wait on" because we've got so much other costly stuff going on. I guess I have a phone call to make tomorrow!