My 7-month old bitch has had her first season - we saw the first blood 25 days ago, so I have been assuming it's all over now. But yesterday she was running on the beach off the lead when she met up with a dog - they ran and chased a lot then he kept trying to mount her - succeeded a couple of times but for just a few seconds before they were running and playing again. I couldn't get her to come so this went on for a while before I finally caught her. The dog's owner - who was watching someone windsurfing and totally oblivious - told me the dog hadn't been "done".   I am fairly sure this isn't a problem, but kept worrying about it last night.  I's really welcome any comments/input.

Have you bathed her and washed her bedding since she finished, to remove any lingering scent of her season?

I have an almost 4 year old Elkhound [Happy Birthday for next Monday Heidi :-)] entire bitch and she's practically the first I've had so I'm definitely no expert.  As I watch her and ask questions I'm beginning to realise that: she seems to bleed for a long time - at least 3 weeks; after that she gets VERY interested in our neutered bitch[I don't allow her access to any other dogs for at least a month] - she shows off her behind and leans her tail to one side - flirting like mad.  I was beginning to think she had the longest season in dogdom!  But maybe not; yours may be the same, poor you.

Thank you both for replies - oh dear - what I'm really worried about is could she have got pregnant?  She didn't bleed for that long - just about 8 days before it went clear, and there's been no discharge at all for a good few days.  I have washed all her bedding and wiped her down with a dog wipe, but not actually bathed her. If it's just the scent that is still hanging around no problem - just is there any danger?!!

> just is there any danger?!!

There is always a danger, and not all bitches have text book seasons, and finish on day 21.

One of my girls allowed a male to tie on day 28.  So it's daft to assume no danger!  :-)

well yes, but there must be a point beyond which the danger is past!

Yes of course there is but to be on the safe side its advisable to keep her away from other free running males until you 100% sure, which as it seems you were not. I'd spay her in 3 months time if you have no intentions of breeding?

Without being too graphic were you able to ascertain if there was penetration, or was he just humping the air.

Had the dog ever sired a litter, or was he just a hopeful , it smells nice so I'll try my luck.

I have here a bitch, and she was mated on days 20 -22, last time it was days 18 - 20.  My bitches usually been fertile from matings at days 13 to 18, and that seems average for the breed.

Have you contacted the bitches breeder to find our when her mother and female relatives was fertile, though this doesn't guaranteer, as my late ovulater is daughter to an average one, and her litter sister was same as Mum the more usual 14 to 18 days.

If you think there was any chance that a mating took place (penetration, you don't need a tie) then I would wait 28 days from when this happened, have her scanned by a vet experienced in pregnancy diagnosis, and have the Alizin injection to terminate the pregnancy if she is pregnant.

You could of course  have the injection sooner, but some vets do not like giving them if there was no proven mating.

As for gauging when the season has finished, again without being too graphic, her girlie bits will never be as small as before puberty, but there is a definite look and feel of them when they are not in season.  Things will look closed, smooth and full pigmentation (black) will have returned, rat her than the slightly brown/violet look that they can have when swollen.

> I'd spay her in 3 months time if you have no intentions of breeding?

That would be rather too early for the maturity level of this breed, and would almost certainly negatively affect mental maturity.

Your breed barbara, you know best.

Just be more careful next time

That would be rather too early for the maturity level of this breed, and would almost certainly negatively affect mental maturity.

I was going to say the same Brainless!  Ours is a very slow maturing breed, and ten months would be really early to spay.

Edited to say: With our bitches, I would give four weeks from first sight of blood before I even thought of letting them off lead again.  Brainless is correct in her observations about optimum mating times in elkhounds - many, but not all, bitches seem to be ready rather later than the text books state, and days 15 - 18 seem to be the norm these days.  My bitch was successfully mated on day 18 for her last litter, but she was always very attractive to males for at least another week after that.

I would guess if the pair kept playing and running without a break that he was just jumping on and off her, but it would be worth doing as Brainless suggests and getting a scan done to be sure.  If they were standing still while he mounted her, then I definitely would.

If Alizin wasn't so effective I'd agree with you in this instance, but spaying under a year in my breed is not something I would advise, they really are slow to grow up.

Well, many thanks for all the comments and input, especially the friendly and informative ones (: