Our 8mth old pomXchi has not had her first season yet. I had decided to let her have one season before spaying after research and discussion with vets etc. My worry is our 18mth old neuterd male gsd. Is it as obvious in little breeds when they come into season as bigger breeds ( she is not my first bitch just thefirst toy ) as I am terrified that he may hurt her if he realises she is due before I do. Sofar he has never bothered with females but obviously I dont know how many females in season he will have met on walks
Any advice ?

A male will demonstrate that a bitch is in season long before she would be willing to oblige so your unlikely to miss the season with a resident male.  Toys fairly often have silent seasons which can be an issue when you want to time things, but a male will know.

Thanks I am keeping a close eye on her "bits " and our gsd is just being hhimself. I had not heard of a silent season are ther any signs to watch for if this happens ? I do want her spayed  but as I said after the first season .I have no intention of breeding from her I will leave that to the experts in purebred dogs

If you think she is getting close usually dabbing her bits with a kleenix every day will let you no- some bitches are just very good at keeping themselves clean so we just don't notice. Unlike mine she was pretty heavy :-(

> I am terrified that he may hurt her if he realises she is due before I do

Don't get too worried about that one.  I have toys and Collies.  When one of my Yorkshire Terrier bitches was getting close, my BC boy tried to kneel to mate her!  She wasn't having any of it, and it did serve to make sure I kept my Yorkie boy away from her.  My Border Collie didn't hurt the Yorkie girl at all.

Just to bring you all up to date. Mia is in season no mistaking it no problems from GSD maybe just a bit more playfull and interested in that "end"  No kneeling though LOL She is keeping herself soo clean and is just a little quiter than usual. Well at least i know where we are now and can think about having her spayed in a couple of months.

Most males will not be hugely interested until a bitch is ready for mating, they can easily lull one into complacency and then mate the bitch in seconds.

It is also cruel to keep an in season bitch under a males nose,a nd eh may become very distressed,s top eating etc, not to mention may howl the place down.

If at all possible one of them should go away from the end of the first week at the latest, preferably the male, do not let them together until four weeks after the season started to be on the safe side.

My gsd is neutered and has been some months and is showing no signs of being interested in matingas it was the first and only time she is going to have a season. I was just concerned if he happened to be one of a few males who may be interested in trying to mount her.Particulaly given their size difference.n He is not behavingf towards any differently than he does to bitches normally.
I just need to know what to expect. they are quite happy together but supervised as usual

> My gsd is neutered and has been some months and is showing no signs of being interested in mating

My Border Collie is neutered too, but he wasn't done until he had matured (one retained in inguinal canal.)  Have to say that he has never, ever howled or gone off his food, but when a girl is "ready" he does the kneeling lark!  He has always been fantastic mates with my Yorkies, and has always played with them.

Yep thats our story too except the kneeling. He just lays down as usual while she crawls all over him or uses him as a step ladder