02/08/2026
Understanding heat cycles — Lucy’s story ❤️
I thought I’d share a little behind the scenes of breeding, because there is so much more to it than people realise.
A female dog’s cycle is a complex process, and every girl can be different. Most girls will come into season approximately every 5–6 months, although some may be longer or shorter depending on the individual dog.
Even the same dog can have different timing from one season to the next.
This is why we use progesterone testing. It helps us understand what is happening internally and allows us to make the best decisions for our girls.
Our beautiful Lucy is a great example. Lucy has had successful natural litters before, but this season we have been closely monitoring her cycle and watching how her body progresses.
Sometimes breeding doesn’t go exactly to plan. Sometimes the timing doesn’t line up perfectly, and sometimes a season just isn’t the right time. As breeders, we have to be prepared to make decisions based on what is best for our dogs, even when it isn’t the outcome we were hoping for.
At Designer Oodles of Adelaide, we don’t breed our girls every season. We choose to skip seasons because our girls are not just breeding dogs — they are our family.
Giving them time between litters allows them to recover, enjoy life, and ensures we are making thoughtful decisions about every litter we bring into the world.
Responsible breeding is about patience, health testing, understanding your dogs as individuals, and accepting that nature doesn’t always follow the plan.
Lucy’s journey is a perfect reminder that behind every puppy is a lot of planning, care, science and love.