#soft cycle

so in my last post i mentioned that pups’ baby scent starts to dissipate around the time of their first soft cycle

soft cycles are non-reproductive hormonal cycles. omegas experience soft heats, betas experience soft cycles, and alphas experience soft ruts. these begin in childhood (typically around ages 7-9), and are usually considered the beginning of puberty.

soft cycles in general

heightened desire for pack physical contact

more emotional sensitivity

increased nesting drive

sensitive to scent

more frequent instinctive vocalizations (e.g. purring, growling/rumbling, chirping, etc)

territorial behavior over spaces or people the pup declares ‘theirs’

in older pups closer to their full cycles, there may be an aversion to older pack mates of opposing dynamics (e.g., omega pups avoiding older alphas, alpha pups avoiding older omegas). betas do not typically experience an aversion to certain dynamics.

in those same older pups, there may be an increased desire to have close friends or members of their own non-family pack in the nest, regardless of dynamic

soft heat

low-grade fever throughout

private nesting in a bedroom or closet is often an early sign of soft heat

pack feels increased protective instinct toward the pup

intense scent marking

territorial behavior includes nuzzling, scent marking, hissing at invaders

more stationary period, i.e., the omega pup will settle into a nest and stay there for the duration of the soft heat

packmates provide food, companionship, entertainment

soft rut

fever spikes on the first day but breaks quickly

public nesting, e.g. on a sofa or near the entrance of the home

oral fixation, urge to bite or chew. it’s common for alpha pups to have a variety of chew toys

restlessness, i.e., the alpha pup will build a nest near the entrance of the home but will often ‘patrol,’ checking in on pack mates to ensure the den is safe

may insist on accompanying pack mates on errands or become distressed if favored pack mates are missing from the home