When do dogs generally reach sexual maturity?

Dogs belong to the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, subclass Eutheria, order Carnivora, suborder Caniformia, family Canidae. Along with horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens, they are known as the “six domestic animals”. So, when do dogs reach sexual maturity?

1. When do dogs reach sexual maturity?

The time to sexual maturity varies with breed, feeding method and environment. Small breeds generally take around 8-10 months, medium breeds 1-1.5 years, and large breeds 1.5-2 years.

2. What are the behavioral characteristics of dogs?

1. Eating habits

We all know that dogs like to gnaw on bones. Beyond that, they also like to eat omnivorous food, eggs and meat. The food given to them must be nutritionally complete; they cannot be fed only meat or only omnivorous food, but need a balanced combination. Note that dogs cannot eat too much salt or sugar.

2. Dependence on people

They are very dependent on humans; socializing with people is an innate habit of dogs, and domestic pet dogs are especially clingy. Note that if a dog is left without company for a long time, it may develop symptoms such as loss of appetite and depression. So owners should spend plenty of time with their dogs, so that the dogs grow up happy and healthy.

3. Hierarchical habits

As the saying goes, “a dog looks down on people”, and there is some truth to this. In a dog's eyes, if the female owner normally takes care of it more than the male owner, it will obey the female owner's commands, while feeling awe toward the male owner who spends less time at home. They also feel that older people have higher status, and will look down on the younger ones.

In addition, they like to live in groups. In kennels or wild dog packs, there is always one top dog managing the others. The top dog's leadership position is usually proven by these specific actions: allowing only itself to check the genitals of other dogs; not allowing others to urinate where another dog has urinated; when other dogs act up in front of the top dog, they may only stand still once the top dog leaves; once the hierarchy is clear, the hostile state disappears. Therefore, owners should not be too indulgent, but establish the image of the top dog so that the dog obeys obediently.

4. Instinctive barking

Whenever ambulances, police cars and certain music sound, dogs often bark. Barking is a common way for wolves to contact their companions, and as an instinct, dogs have inherited this trait. So sometimes we can find dogs “singing along” to music when they are happy, but some do not bark; not every dog has this instinct.

5. Mounting behavior

Mounting behavior looks very unseemly to humans, but dogs do have this innate tendency, and their mounting behavior differs with age and sex. For example, when the owner comes home, they will climb all over the owner, which is a sign of happiness and playfulness. Sometimes two young male dogs also mount each other, but this is just a childlike game with no intent to mate, and is also a sign of happiness.

Adult male dogs are different: first, they do it to mate with a female dog in heat, with “improper” behavior; second, they try to establish their own dominance. Female dogs usually allow a male to mount only at the peak of estrus, and even then, to flirt, the female may not only rub her body against the male and stand with her tail raised, but most stimulating of all, mount the male, at which point mating should take place immediately.

Dogs are friendly pets and are also very loyal. Once we choose to keep one, we must pay more attention to their growth process and be responsible for them to the end.