Will Groomers Groom a Dog in Heat?

Female dogs go through an oestrous cycle, much like humans. Dogs come into heat when they are fertile and able to breed.

A dog will have her first season around six months of age, but this can change depending on the breed size. Larger dogs like Great Danes may reach puberty and come into heat when they’re up to a year old. Smaller breeds like the chihuahua can come into heat below the age of six months because of their faster rate of development.

Your pooch will generally come into heat twice a year or every six months, but this can vary due to the size of your pup.

When a dog comes into heat there can be both physical and behavioural signs. Some of the most common physical indicators that your beloved pet is in heat will be around their vulva. During heat, a pup’s vulva becomes inflamed and enlarged so while you may not notice it from day to day, when they come into heat, it’s going to be a lot more obvious. They can sometimes appear red and swollen and may have some red or brown discharge coming from them.

You might notice them licking themselves more often and that is usually to keep themselves clean of any discharge. When your pooch is in heat they may need to urinate more.

Behavioural signs that your four-legged friend may be in heat is you may notice they become substantially more friendly to other dogs, especially males. During the fertile period of their reproductive cycle, you might notice that your pooch may even seem a little flirty and will often offer their rear end and stand for a male. If you give their bum a scratch, she will move her tail to the side and away from her vulva.

There is no reason why a dog can’t be groomed in heat, but you may find it easier to schedule any big, deep grooms in for when they aren’t going through any hormonal changes. You may find that your beloved pup becomes a little more sensitive when in heat, especially around her back end, so she may not want to go to the groomers during this time.

Grooming a dog in heat isn’t very different to usual; you just have to be careful around their vulva. If you have an appointment with your groomers and your pooch comes into heat before you attend, it’s always best to call ahead and check if it’s still okay to bring them in.

The hormones they leave behind can cause other dogs to behave differently, especially males, so some groomers prefer not to cause chaos in their salons, especially if the pups are kept near each other while they wait.

If you find your pooch needs a groom while in heat, you can always do this at home to keep them clean and tidy in between their deep cleans with a professional.

To keep your pup clean at home, you can take them to the bath and give them a quick wash with doggy shampoo. Sometimes long-coated and curly-coated pups may need a little trim around their eyes to make sure they can see between trips to the groomer. It can help to trim the fur around the vulva to keep the area nice and clean too.

You can buy wipes to get rid of any discharge. Wipes like the Furrish Wipes Fragrance-Free are best because they don’t contain any extra scents and are good for sensitive areas.

Once they're done with their heat and back to their normal selves, treat your pooch to a fresh look and a pamper at your nearest Grooming Spa.