The objectives of the present study were to characterize in dogs circannual and ultradian prolactin (PRL) secretory patterns and also to compare gender differences in the ultradian period of study in the Southern hemisphere. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 2.5 h from seven male and seven female dogs and a single monthly sampling, over a 1-year time span, from six male dogs for the ultradian and circannual studies, respectively. Plasma PRL was measured by a homologous enzyme immunometric assay. The ultradian study evidenced PRL elevations suggesting pulsatile secretion in both genders. Significantly higher mean smoothed baseline (ng / ml [7.02 +/- 1.2 vs 1.23 +/- 1.0, p < 0.01]) and AUC (ng/ml * 2.5 h [25.2 +/- 3.8 vs 4.4 +/- 3.8, p < 0.01]) were found in females when compared with males. In the circannual study, plasma PRL concentrations did not statistically differ among the months of the year. When grouped together the 3 months with a longer daylight had significantly higher PRL concentrations than the 3 months with the shortest (2.31 +/- 0.37 vs 0.96 +/- 0.37, p < 0.01). The correlation between length of daylight and PRL concentrations was 0.24, p < 0.05. It is concluded that PRL does have a circannual rhythmicity and that there are ultradian gender-related differences in the period under study in these groups of dogs. This study also demonstrates plasma PRL elevations suggesting pulsatile secretion in male dogs.