Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a small-size herding dog that hasn’t been desexed will go into heat for the first time most probably between 9-11 months of age. After that, the heat cycle will repeat every 6 months. The heat cycle usually lasts for 3 weeks during which each Pembroke needs special care.
Devote more time and attention to your Pembroke Welsh Corgi during her heat cycle (she might become snuggly and demanding). Avoid any encounters of your dog with male dogs. Walk your dog on a leash only. Offer her more apeling food, extra treats, and tastier cuts of meat, as she may suffer from appetite loss. Keep all areas in your home as clean as possible, and buy some diapers and blankets to prevent accidents. Try to distract your Corgi with some additional activities and new toys.
If you want to get more details and tips about taking care of your Pembroke Welsh Corgi during the heat cycle keep reading this article.
Table of Contents
How Do I Comfort (Care) My Pembroke Welsh Corgi While in Heat?
The heat period is quite a special one and your Corgi may behave differently than usual due to hormonal level changes. Of course, every dog is different. On the other hand, Corgi’s heat cycle doesn’t have to be a scary trauma for you.
While some Pembrokes may become more clingy during the heat period – real velcro dogs, others will get grouchy, moody, and even aggressive. But all these changes are normal.
During her heat cycle, your Pembroke could want to spend the whole day in your lap. Take a little more time than usual to cuddle her. She really needs that.
Although dogs generally don’t feel pain like cramps during the heat, hormonal changes may lead to a certain level of physical discomfort which can be relieved by a gentle massage of her belly area or legs.
Other behavioral changes are also possible. Your Pembroke may become more protective. Even though this breed is pretty vocal and they have a high tendency to bark, during the heat cycle your Pembroke may even bark more than usual.
Distraction is very important during the heat cycle. The best way to divert your Corgi’s thoughts is by providing some new toys
During her second phase called Estrus, she will have only one thought on her mind- to mate! In order to distract her and make her think about something else, a new, interesting toy or some safe chew toys would be perfect.
Pembroke in heat may feel sleepy and more tired than usual. Lack of energy is quite normal during the heat cycle, although some dogs may appear restless. Set aside a safe and calm zone, where she can rest as much as she wants.
During the first stage of the heat cycle, called Proestrus, your Corgi girl will have vaginal bloody discharge.
Dogs usually lick themselves intensively during these days so most probably you won’t find any mess on your floor but still, if you do, don’t yell at her, don’t scold her, just comfort her gently while you clean the mess.
How To Walk My Pembroke Welsh Corgi While In Heat?
Some people think by mistake, that they shouldn’t walk the dogs in heat. On contrary, dogs in heat do require some physical activity. Despite their size, Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a lot of energy and normally need plenty of walks and play sessions. This doesn’t change much during heat cycles.
During the heat, on some days Corgi may not be in the mood to walk/run for the whole hour but still needs to go out.
When you walk your Pembroke girl while in heat, you need to take precautions to avoid any unpleasant situations like an unwanted pregnancy.
Did you know that Pembroke which was bred earlier may hold the semen for 5 days and wait for ovulation? That means that you need to be very careful and attentive right from the beginning of the heat cycle.
Although the most fertile period is when the discharge changes from bloody red to a more transparent color, you have to take precautions before that.
First, make sure that the ID tag and microchip information are up to date. Dogs in heat usually have a strong urge to escape so they can find a mate so this way you will find your Corgi easier if she runs away.
Another thing, you can invest in a GPS tracker for even better results.
Never leave your dog without supervision while outside. No matter if you have a spacious yard with a tall/strong fence. You won’t believe what males are capable of when they smell the female in heat.
It’s recommended to walk your dog in the least crowded time – very early in the morning and late in the evening to reduce the possibility of meeting other dogs.
Don’t go dog parks, dog shows, or public events where you think other dogs will show up. Pick some less visited place/park/path for a walk where you won’t be meeting other dogs.
It’s a good idea to mask the scent of your female in heat. One of the most common and popular solutions is to put some Chlorophyll liquid solution in your pet’s drinking water. It’s said to reduce the smell of Pembroke in heat. It seems that female canine in heat urine smells less intensive if this solution is used (by the way one of the main heat cycle symptoms is frequent urination).
Giving your dog Chlorophyll tablets may also reduce the odor but you should consult the vet about the exact dosage. Never give any medicine to your dog before consulting the vet.
Some dog owners apply a tiny amount of Vicks VapoRub cream on the tip of her tail which should keep the males away from her but cause.
Dogs hate menthol scent but you should be careful and do not let her lick the area you applied the cream as this product contains menthol and camphor among others and these are toxic to dogs.
Another solution is to use diluted essential oils that are safe for dogs, like tea tree oil. If you don’t have diluted tea tree oil you can make it by yourself. Every drop of essential oil has to be diluted with 12 drops of carrier oil.
This is the safest proportion. If you have never used diluted essential oils, apply a tiny amount to your Pembroke body and observe if it’s going to be any reaction/irritation. If not, you can use it carefully the same a Vicks Vapo Rub cream to mask the scent of the dog in heat.
You should also prevent male dogs to track her scent all the way from the park or some other spot to your home.
Males can detect the scent of a female in heat up to 3 miles. So they know that there is some female in heat even if they don’t see her.
They can track her smell all the way to your home and then hang around trying to get to her. This is a possibly dangerous situation that should be prevented.
Don’t walk to the park, take the car instead. This way, males will have no chance to track your girl.
Don’t forget though that your Pembroke Welsh Corgi in heat should be always on a leash while outside ( even in normal conditions they cannot be trusted off-leash due to high energy). During heat, even if your dog is the most obedient dog on earth and has good recall, her natural instincts would win in this situation, so keep her tight and never let any intact male come near her.
How To Keep Clean My Pembroke Welsh Corgi While In Heat?
As you know, the dog should have several baths during one year. The general rule of thumb for Corgis is one bath per 1-4 weeks unless your dog gets really dirty so you are forced to bathe her.
Like we said in the beginning, the heat period is a bit different than anything else so different rules apply when it comes to hygiene as well.
Even though PWCs like other breeds take really good care about their intimate area, and lick themselves more than usual, they might need your help in order to keep a good level of cleanliness.
During the first phase ( around 7 days ) of the heat cycle, you might be able to see the bloody discharge. The amount of discharge varies from dog to dog but still, it can make a mess.
So some extra baths won’t cause any problems for skin and fur. If you don’t feel the need to bathe your dog you can only wipe her intimate area on daily basis. This will keep her clean and will reduce the scent.
Many Shiba Inu owners use either disposable or washable diapers for dogs in heat. This can prevent a mess but never consider these items as contraception for dogs ( as some owners do) as males will easily find the way even if a female wears diapers or heat pants.
This breed can be pretty stubborn so you might have a problem with keeping the diapers on. If this is the case you might want to try with Suitical Recovery suit for dogs. It offers so-so protection as a diaper during the heat cycle but still, it’s better than nothing!
You can also place disposable absorbent pads on the place where your pet sleeps. Other options are light-colored blankets that are easy to wash and for which you can use bleach. You would need a couple of them, since you may need to change them 2-3 times a day. You can use blankets to cover your furniture and protect it. You can also use washable pee pads.
What To Do If My Pembroke Welsh Corgi In Heat Won’t Eat?
I know it’s hard to imagine that your Corgi refuses to eat as these dogs really like to chew but believe me it can happen and it’s totally normal! Especially for the second phase ( Estrus). Your female canine friend has only one job to do and that is to find the mate and breed. Nothing else matters, not even the food.
Having said that, I must emphasize that there are Corgis in heat that have increased appetite, but that’s also a normal occurrence.
Luckily the appetite loss during heat doesn’t last long enough to harm your dog but still, you have to do your best so your Pembroke gets all nutrients she needs.
No matter how well she usually eats, during those days she may become a picky eater. That means that she likes one food today but totally dislikes it tomorrow. As a good dog parent, you have to cope with it.
- Offer her favorite food more often than you usually do.
- Bribe her with some tasty treats.
- Give her tastier cuts of meat.
- Put some delicious topping over her regular food. That can be a healthy and tasty fish or coconut oil or even peanut butter. You can always purchase ready- to use toppers or cook a delicious unsalted chicken broth and soak her kibbles in it. It will give her a different texture and improve her dry food taste.
- Treat her with some tasty fruits like blueberries, strawberries, or bananas.
- If she is used to eating kibbles, mix them with some wet food
Always make sure your Pembroke Welsh Corgi drinks enough water to keep her hydrated.
If she refuses to eat, try hand-feeding, in some cases, it helps since she needs more of your attention and affection.
Your Pembroke girl won’t be so interested in food during the first and second phase of her heat cycle ( around 2 weeks ) If her appetite doesn’t recover and get back on track after the heat cycle symptoms are over, you should consult the vet.
Conclusion
Your Pembroke will go into heat every 6 months or so, will stay in heat for approximately 2-4 weeks, and during that period she will require special care and attention.
The most important thing you need to do is to give her more cuddles and more of your time if she asks for them.
Another equally important thing is to keep her far away from an intact male. This means that you should seal up your house, don’t let any intact male come in, always supervise your girl while outside, walk her on a leash and never let her go near males.
I really do hope that you find this article helpful and that you will find some tips on how to handle and properly take care of your Pembroke Welsh Corgi female in heat.
