Moose is now just 8 1/2 months still no sign of her coming into heat.

What exactly should I be watching for so I no she is coming into heat?
I have to make sure I separate her and Junior don't want any accidents so both will be kenneled when I am not here,
rather then that Junior will be leashed to me for the entire time. How long should I expect her heat to last before I can trust
the two together again?
I am having her spayed but want to allow her to fully mature 1st, should I be worried about Pyro?

What are the chances that Junior would still be fertile he is 12 years and 4 months?

Thanks :-)

When was he neutered?

Often the first sign is increased frequency of urination when out on walks - like a dog's marking, little wees much more often rather than one decent bladder-emptying. This can begin about a month before the season actually starts.

I gather Junior's entire? It's possible that he's fertile, although not very likely. But you wouldn't want to take a chance.

my River still hasnt come into season,and shes a year old on saturday!no doubt she ll wait till im away,the week after.I didnt know about the increased urination,so thanks.Just out of interest,Is there some rule of thumb that smaller dogs come into season earlier or later,or is it roughly the same for all sizes?

One of my males alerts me by tasting the bitches wee about 7-10days before the season starts, I then start checking the girls with a tissue each morning before they have a wee, they tend to come into season within days of each other.

Entire males of any age can sire pups, there may not be as many sperm as when he was younger but you only need one sperm per egg for her to get pregnant, oldest sire in my breed I remember hearing about was 14yrs old.

The first season is Mother Natures way of saying the bitch is physically old enough to produce pups[in the wild she would have a phantom and produce milk for the alpha females pups whilst she goes out hunting], we wait till they are mentally mature before breeding from them. Is your girl mature physically, this happens earlier in smaller breeds[mine have been 8 months when they have their first, full sized but needing to fill out a bit] and much later in the bigger ones.

Be patient, it will happen eventually.

> my River still hasnt come into season,and shes a year old on saturday!

How bizarre, I was just going to say that my River was a very late starter lol!  Must be the name :-P  She was 14 months when she started - perfect timing for her, she came in a few days before I went to bring her home from her old owners!

No Junior is not fixed still intact- he's been fine with his lil man hoods lol so seen no reason to do it.

I am hoping Moose waits until she is 18 months lol would be nice. Is it best to spay after one heat, 2 or 3. Or at 2 yrs old?

I no my tiva was 8 months when she came into heat but she was a boston terrier, spayed her at 4yrs who we just lost in December my old girl 12yrs to young :-(.
Moose being a great dane/pitt  a large breed just not sure when to expect it and what to watch for.

Will keep an eye for potting while out on walks and for Junior acting any different. I will def
make sure the two are always separate during her time- just don't want to chance any slip ups.

Thanks :-)

yep,nikita,has to be the name!

Thanks Rhodach,She seems mature,just smaller than my other two collies!Im in no rush,because when she comes in I ll be counting the weeks to have her speyed,and Im already dreading that!,all the keeping them quiet,etc!I can worry for england!