Dogs are a joy to own. They entertain us, and give us unconditional love. However, sometimes things go awry. If you have a dog that won’t leave your female alone, it can be frustrating for you and your female. Why is this happening? What can you do?
Why won’t my dog leave my female dog alone?
There are several reasons why your dog won’t leave your female dog alone. These range from the female being in heat, to the other dog simply wanting to play.
Female in Heat
One reason your dog won’t leave your female alone is that the female is in heat. If you have an unneutered male and an intact female, this is the natural course of things.
As the female goes into heat, she will emit pheromones that signal she’s ready to mate. These pheromones drive males crazy, and make them want to mate with her desperately.
The first signs your female is in heat are a swollen vulva and bleeding from the vulva. She may also lick herself much more frequently, in an attempt to stay clean.
Behavioral changes are also common. Your female may become withdrawn, or more friendly than usual. She may also show an interest in male dogs.
The first stage of heat, known as proestrus, This is when bleeding begins. Your male will probably start showing interest during this period. It typically lasts about 2 weeks, but can last from 4-20 days.
The next stage is estrus, which is when she is ready to mate. Bleeding will slow or lighten during this time. It lasts from 5-13 days.
The next stage is diestrus. During this period, she will transition out of heat. If she is pregnant, diestrus continues until she gives birth. After this stage, which lasts from 60-90 days, is anestrus. This is the dormant period, and will last until her next heat cycle, usually 2-3 months.
Hormones
Even if your female isn’t in heat, she is still giving off low levels of hormones. If your male is particularly sensitive or if her smell is particularly strong, your male may not want to leave her alone.
Despite her not being in heat, she gives off enough hormones to trigger your male dog’s sex drive.
Territorial Behavior
Heat isn’t the only reason a dog, male or female, may bother another dog. It can also be a territorial issue. Dogs are pack animals by nature, but they are also territorial.
If your dog bothers your female only in certain situations, like when she enters a certain area or gets a certain toy, this is territorial behavior.
Jealousy
Does your dog bother your female when she is near you? They may be jealous. Dogs can become jealous, just as people can. You may notice your dogs vying for your attention, or one dog trying to get the other away from you. This is jealous behavior.
Age or Energy Difference
The other dog may simply want to play. This commonly happens when one dog is much younger than the other. It’s also common if one dog is high energy, and the other is more relaxed.
The playful dog will try to get your calm female to play. This can become annoying, for both you and your dog.
Mounting
It’s important to note that mounting isn’t always sexual. If you notice one dog mounting another, you may assume that it must be a female in heat.
The truth is, dogs mount each other for a variety of reasons. Both male and female dogs will engage in mounting. When it isn’t’ sexual, it’s typically either an invitation to play or a show of dominance.
Boredom
Boredom is another reason your dog may not leave your female alone. Dogs are like children. When they are bored, they will find something to do. Most of the time, this is something you don’t want them to do. This includes pestering your female dog.
Why won’t my dog leave my spayed female dog alone?
If your dog is spayed, it’s easy to assume that heat or hormones couldn’t possibly be the reason. Any of the other reasons above could be the cause of the behavior. However, it’s also possible for hormones to cause the behavior, even if she is spayed.
Ovarian Remnant Syndrome
A traditional spay involves removing the ovaries and uterus. Without ovaries, the female can’t produce the hormones necessary to go into heat, or attract males.
However, the surgery isn’t always complete. If pieces of ovarian tissue are left behind, these can still produce estrogen. Your female may even go into heat, depending on how much tissue was left behind.
Of course, she can’t get pregnant if her uterus has been removed. However, the hormones she produces can still drive your male to breed with her.
Even if she doesn’t go into heat, there’s a possibility of her producing enough hormones to get the male excited.
How to get my male dog to leave my female dog alone?
If you want to curb your male’s unwanted attention to your female, there are a few strategies you can try. Keep in mind, however, it will require time and patience to break the behavior.
Spay or Neuter
If your dogs are intact, spaying or neutering them is one way to curb the behavior. However, this isn’t foolproof. A neutered male may still show sexual interest, because they’ve become accustomed to it. It should at least reduce the behavior, however.
Spaying your female will stop her from going into heat, usually. This can keep your male from wanting to mate with her.
Give Them Their Space
Give each dog their own area. This can help reduce territorial disputes. Each dog should also have their own food and water bowls and a few toys.
This might not eliminate territorial behavior completely, but it should at least make it less frequent.
Jealousy
If jealousy seems to be the problem, make sure each dog is getting an adequate amount of time and attention. Play with them together, as well as separately.
If you ignore the other dog when they want attention, this can actually increase the jealousy. What you’ll want to do is choose times to be with each dog. When it’s your females turn, give the male something to do.
This may be tossing them a toy or a treat. Be sure that you do this before the dog tries to steal attention from the female to avoid reinforcing bad behavior. This is about preventing behavior.
Age or Energy Difference
If your dogs have a large age or energy difference, you’ll need to allow your energetic dog to get more exercise. One way to do this is with extra playtime or walks.
You can also schedule playdates for your dog. This can work really well, because high energy dogs usually have a high need for socialization as well.
Boredom Busters
There are a few ways to remedy boredom. Give them plenty of exercise. If they are already getting a good amount of physical activity, focus on mental stimulation.
Puzzle feeders are one way to keep them entertained. Walks or allowing your dog to explore the outdoors is also helpful.