Hi , I thought I would update anyone who is interested in Ella's litter of 8 puppies. Ella is a patterdale(fell terrrier) and she had 8 puppies 5 1/2 months ago. This webb site was incredibly helpful with a number queries I had. I am in touch with 7 of the litter, they have all gone to homes as pets. I did stress to all thier new parents they were bred as working dogs originally and need and like to be busy. In retospect I didn't know enough before I bred her, but it has been one of the most joyous things I have ever done in my life. The puppies have brought so much pleasure to so many people. They have all gone to classes, many are the stars, they are very clever little dogs and one class introduced all the puppies to sheep ( how brave?stupid I thought) the patterdale just licked its ear! We are now all discussing whether and when to get the puppies 'done' - fors and againsts, searching this site has again been really helpful. My daughter and her boyfriend kept one puppy, they live at home so Ella and Charlie are now really good friends. ( he is getting snipped in the morning) They get on really well with one of the cats who likes sleeping by the fire between them. The other cat is less keen but does at least stand her ground now. As many of you told me patterdales can make good pets.

I know they arn't 'there' yet, 6 months isnt very old, but i am slightly reassured?!.....

And now for the question! Ella looks as if she will come on heat in the next couple of weeks, we are going away for New Year, (Charlie too as my daughter is abroad for a month) can you give me any advice as to how to manage this (including her blood loss ) as we will be in someone elses house?
Thanks

Roma

Hi Roma.
Congratulations on the pups and doing such a fine job with them. A bitch in season can be a problem in some one elses house, its not that nice !! Maybe this time you could get the "Delvosteron" (i think) injection which will stop this season. Short of shutting her away, I can't see another option.
Dawn.

Hi Dawn, I take that as real praise!! I did ask the vet about an injection to delay her coming on heat, he was very disouraging saying it could lead to uterine infections and needing a hysterectomey. Whats your view, are there any alternatives?

Depends how clean your bitch is, and whether she looses much. Most of my girls have to be checked for colour as they loose little/or are very good at cleaning up. If you keep her in a room with a washable floor, and or in her crate when she can't be suprvised, then you are unlikely to have a problem, unless their carpets are a light colour, and even then if you wash it off qwuickly it shouldn't stain.

Hi Roma.
I don't know of any other options, unless you board her, how do the house owners feel? I have not seen any adverse reactions to delvosteron, but that is not to say there aren't any. I will consider it for my own bitch.
Dawn.

You could try using sanitary underwear for her during the heat cycle. I used them everytime mine came into heat and they work like a charm, of course u will need more then 1 pair. It's just like changing pads and make sure she is always dry (I used panty liners on mine). They even have a place for the tail, and mine were valcro. I washed and dried them and they are still in good shape.
ttfn :)

Roma,

I remember your original post and its lovely to hear that the pups are doing so well, it sounds like they have done you proud.

6 of us are renting the house at new year so i dont know the owner, he just knows we are taking two 'small' dogs. Thank you for all the suggestions, I'll mull them over, i wonder if Ella will tolerate the panties, she's rather a butch sort of bitch - if you know what I mean!

Thanks moo, its lovely to have a place where I can go on about them a bit!

Charlie had the snip today, he is looking rather sorry for himself tonight, I'm hoping he'll bounce back tomorrow. The vet said he had given him pain relief but he looks rather uncomfortable to me.

roma