heat

[Mr & Mrs Kirkley]

Xena was born January 14, 2012 and so far, there hasn't been any bleeding. We've been patiently waiting for her first cycle to come and go so we can take her back to the dog park once it's safe. She loves it there. Is it odd that Xena hasn't gone into heat yet? Do some German Shepherds never go into heat? If so, at what age can one assume they never will?

[FlyAway]

It could still happen. A friend's dog has 11 month cycles.

[gaia_bear]

I thought I've been waiting a long time. It's good to know that there's differing time frames..should I take her to the vet just in case? She's only 8 months old but I was expecting it to happen a couple months ago.

[wyominggrandma]

They can start having heat cycles as young as 4 months, but not unusual to go 12 months or 18 months or anytime inbetween. I have had big dogs come into heat at 4 months old, and continue on a 4 month cycle until I finally bred her. Her other litter mates came into heat at 10 months old for the first cycle.
Each female will cycle when her body is ready. Just watch because sometimes a first heat is not as noticeable as the following ones.

[pfitzpa1]

My girl didn't get her first heat until just past 15 months, then 6 months thereafter.

[PatchonGSD]

Could it be possible that she has had a heat and you didnt notice? I had a female once, (non gsd) who I never saw bleed, (I guess it was an extremely small amount) you could only tell by her swollen vulva.

[jaggirl47]

Leyna was 10 months I think with her first heat.