When Do Huskies Go Into Heat? (The Signs To Know)

We get a range of questions about husky heat cycles and breeding on a daily basis, so I’ve made this article to alleviate some concerns and cover everything owners should know.

I’ll explain when huskies usually go into heat, the signs to look out for, how often it comes, when they can get pregnant, and much more.

Huskies typically go into heat between 6-10 months of age, but in rare cases, it can be either earlier or later than this. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to their first heat cycle.

When Do Huskies Go Into Heat?

Most huskies go into their first heat between 6-10 months of age. As explained above it could be earlier or later than this, however.

I’ve spoken to many owners whose husky didn’t enter heat until 12-14 months. Which is still perfectly normal. However, It is advised to have a precautionary vet-check up if your husky hasn’t entered heat by 12 months.

Signs Your Husky Is Going Into Heat

Thankfully, there are a range of signs you’ll likely witness which indicate your husky is going into heat. These include:

1. Blood spots and bleeding
2. Swelling Vulva
3. Discharge
4. Aggression towards male dogs
5. Tail tucking covering the Vuvla
6. Unusual change in behavior

It’s important to note that not all huskies will show these signs in the same way. While some huskies might start acting unusual, others will remain the same… And while some huskies might bleed a lot, others might not at all.

This makes it important to keep an eye out for all of them.

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4 Stages Of The Husky Heat Cycle

The Estrous cycle (Oestrus), or more commonly referred to as the “heat” cycle has four stages to it.

1. Proestrus stage (infertile) 7-10 days
2. Estrous stage (fertile) 7-10 days
3. Diestrus stage (body returning to normal) 7-10 days
4. Anestrus stage (resting stage) until next cycle

Huskies typically go through 2 heat cycles per year, once every 6-8 months once a regular pattern establishes.

1. Proestrus Stage

Your husky will first enter the proestrus stage which will last around 8-10 days. During this primary stage, she may bleed and it’s usual to see a swollen vulva.

Your husky will NOT want to mate during this stage so introducing a male husky is not recommended. This can result in serious aggression and fighting.

2. Estrous Stage (fertile stage)

After the proestrus stage ends the estrous stage begins. This stage lasts around 8-10 days after the proestrus stage.

This is now when your female husky is fertile and capable of getting pregnant. She will accept pretty much any intact male, and may even take it upon herself to seek a partner (which means escaping!)

You can watch for her discharge to become very watery, which is a good sign that she is her most fertile.

If you’re interested in breeding, then it’s worth knowing that male dogs are not as comfortable in new environments compared to female dogs, so it’s best to bring the female dog to the male dog.

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When Can a Husky Get Pregnant? When To Breed?

Female Huskies are capable of breeding from whenever their first heat cycle is. But this is not recommended.

Smaller female dogs can sometimes reach sexual maturity as young as 4 months old. For bigger dogs, it can be much longer and take up to 2 years of age.

Complete Husky Pregnancy FAQ Guide

What’s the best age to breed a husky?

The best age to breed a husky is when she has reached both sexual and physical maturity. This is usually after she has finished her second or third heat cycle at around the age of 2 years old.

Why wait this long?

It is only possible to know a mother’s full health once she has reached her full maturity. Although she is capable of getting pregnant from her first heat cycle, other underlying health problems might not have been discovered, and could therefore pass down to the offspring, should she be bred.

When can male huskies get a female husky pregnant?

Male huskies can usually start producing sperm from 6 months of age and will therefore be capable of impregnating a female dog who is in heat.

How many times can a husky get pregnant in a year?

While it’s technically possible with the right care for a female to have two litters a year, this is not recommended. In the best interest of the female, breeders and owners should wait at least 18 months between breeding.

Many illnesses and physical issues like hip dysplasia can go undetected up until this age.

If you breed a female husky (or any dog) too early on, you may not be aware of subsequent health issues she’s passing on to her puppies.

Breeding too early on can increase the chances of behavioral issues, health issues, and increased risk to the mom and puppies during birth.

Knowing The Best Time To Breed Your Husky

There are two tests you can get done at your local vets to know exactly when to breed your husky. These tests help determine when your husky is the most fertile.

Vaginal Smear Test

This is a simple, non-invasive test you can get done that uses a microscope to inspect the vaginal cells for change of appearance and cell quantity. This test has been done for many years and is fairly reliable.

Serum Progesterone Test

This is a test that measures the level of progesterone in the blood. This test is far more accurate than a vaginal smear test but your husky may need to have several done before your vet can get a valid prediction.

How Many Puppies Do Huskies Have?

If you’re breeding your dog for the first time, it’s likely you’re unaware of litter sizes. The number of puppies in a litter changes depending on the breed, age, weight, and overall health.

Huskies typically have 4-6 puppies in a litter. Although after speaking to many husky breeders, litter size can vary dramatically depending on multiple factors.

Some husky owners report having as little as 3 and some as many as 10! So if you are breeding a husky, be ready for an overload of cuteness!

Signs Your Husky Is Pregnant

If you suspect your husky is pregnant, the best thing you can do is take her to your local vet for a check-up.

What are the signs of dog pregnancy? You may start noticing some of these signs that can all indicate dog pregnancy. It can take up to 30 days after mating to see any signs.

1. Her teats may become slightly swollen, with a change of color. It’s also common to see a semi-clear liquid secret.

2. Weight gain is also a sign that your dog is pregnant. Again this will start to happen around 30-40 days after mating. As she gets further through her pregnancy she can almost double in weight.

3. You may see small amounts of mucus discharge happen around one month after mating.

4. You can also expect to see some vomiting early on in the pregnancy. This shouldn’t be a regular occurrence so if it happens too much, a trip to the vet is needed.

5. Her appetite usually decreases in the beginning and then increases drastically during the second half of pregnancy.

6. Her behavior will be different from usual. She may seem quieter and perhaps less sociable. This should be monitored closely as big negative changes may indicate a different issue that you need to address.

How To Prevent Your Husky From Getting Pregnant

If you’re not looking to breed your husky, there is an easy and safe solution to prevent her from getting pregnant. You should, however, think carefully about this as it’s a permanent procedure.

So, how can you prevent your husky from getting pregnant? You can stop your husky from getting pregnant through Spaying. This is a surgical procedure that involves removing the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus from a female dog.

This is a very common and safe procedure that has been carried out for many years. Spaying is a safer procedure if you get it done before your female dog gets pregnant, in this case, it is relatively quick, safe, and cheap.

However, accidental mating is a very common problem many dog owners have to deal with. If your husky is going through her heat cycle and is in her estrus stage, she will be accepting of most male dogs that come to her (which will be a lot!).

Mating can be a very quick process and if you’re not constantly monitoring her, this could easily happen during a walk.

The good news is that you can still spay a female dog after she falls pregnant, as long as it’s still early on.

The downside to this is that there is an increased risk to her safety and it’s more expensive.

Are You Ready To Breed Your Husky?

Breeding a husky can be a wonderful thing. No doubt about that! It will also likely be very time-consuming, expensive, and hard work!

So for the sake of your husky and her puppies, you should be aware of the commitments beforehand.

Knowing how to care for a pregnant dog is also important. Many things will change with a pregnant dog like her behavior, diet, sleeping, bathing, and more.

So do your research and due diligence before making this commitment 🙂

Thank you for reading! If you have experience breeding a husky, or any kind of dog, please share your advice and tips to help the big audience we have reading this blog! Let us all help each other to be better owners

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