Hi,
I added to my dogs with a 3 1/2 year old Rottweiler Tara at end November, bringing her into my other dogs, a 11 year old Neutered Am cocker Beano and my 8yo speyed Rottweiler Ebba.
Tara came into season on Wednesday 23rd January, and started flagging about Sunday.
Its Ebbas behaviour I am wondering what it means.
Ebba is constantly licking up the blood on the floor, and since Tara has been flagging Ebba has been licking Taras Vulva :(
Why is this?? And how long does it go on for??
(When I am out I seperate Tara from Ebba and Beano due to Beano being deaf and blind and dont want him to get hurt by her being boisterous)
Also I was walking her up until he started flagging (I live in the middle of nowhere and stayed away from the local villages) but now she is flagging I am not even taking the chance, how long before I can take her out again?
I am planning on getting her speyed but probably after her next season as she came to me over weight and unfit, she has lost weight and her coat now shines, but would rather get her even more fit than I so far.
Any advice appreciated :)
Lea :)

I've got the same thing in my house at the minute only both of the girls are in season!  They are taking turns as to who is the giver and who is the receiver! I'm going mad!!
My bitches 'practise' flagging and mating for about 3/4 days before their actual date when they would stand for a male.  I don't separate them or anything as I figured it's normal pack behaviour.  I think they lick the blood up to 'read' the scent?  My bitches lick their own and other bitches(in the house).  I know when I had entire males, they would taste the urine at this time to and grind their teeth scenting.

I don't normally spay bitches unless for medical reasons but after having these 2 (who won't be breeding) in season at the same time, I think I'll be doing it! It's just such a messy, annoying time.  I took mine out yesterday and 'forgot' about them being in season!!  Luckilly for me, they are very obedient! but I wouldn't take the chance next week!!

Thankyou, pleased to know its normal LOL
Lea :)

Okay so we are now 2 and half weeks in from when i first noticed the blood.
She has now stopped flagging for the last 4 or 5 days. I havent walked her at all while she has been flagging.
How long does the season last? And now she isn't flagging do you think she is over?
We were going to start walking her again this weekend on the quiet roads where hopefully there will be no dogs.
Lea :-)

I lead walk mine on lead around the streets throughout their seasons (we don't have loose dogs around here anymore, due to fines by dog warden).

As for flagging, some of mine never do it, though still been mated.  Bitches that have had litters often do, but it seems to have no bearing on when they would allow a male to mate them, as they are all girls and some like to play sillies from start to well past the  end of their seasons.

I would certainly keep her on lead to 3 to 3 1/2 weeks and after that be very careful if an entire male approaches her right up to 4 weeks.

Seasons normally last 21days but can be longer [first one especially] or shorter.

My younger bitches have been conceiving from mating at 18 - 22 days so I would always consider 4 weeks as the safest no male dog contact time.

Thank you,
This bitch has never had puppies. but have an awful feeling she has phantoms, as when she came to us at the end of November her teats were huge, but they have gone down alot, I dont know if thats from loosing the excess weight and getting trimmed up or if she was coming out of a phantom.
I will start lead walking again today as think she is going stir crazy being stuck in (she was being so much of a Tart from day 6 or 7 I didnt dare LOL
She is on about day 17.
Lea :)

What's your male like if he goes near her? Not saying out them together but say she's in a crate and let him go past.
Often this is the optimum time for bitches and when I wouldn't be going out, or would do it when dark in the early morning or late evening on lead when people are less likely to be around, or walk her around a local village on lead.

Beano was castrated when he was 2, and hasn't even looked at Tara, but he is deaf and blind and sleeps all day now, so dont think he has the energy to worry about a bitch in season LOL
At the begining I walked her later at night, and our roads are completely unlit so we are the only daft people to walk down them in the dark :)
Lea :)

I don't know if others have found the same but I don't find flagging a good indication at all of whether a bitch is receptive.

I have a bitch here who flags and finished her season over a month ago.

I'd say if she's on day 17 its probably too early for general circulation. Probably at least another week.

> I don't know if others have found the same but I don't find flagging a good indication at all of whether a bitch is receptive.
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That's exactly what I have found.

Give her another week before taking her anywhere she might meet another dog, particularly an offlead one. An average season is 3 weeks, she might go 3 1/2 or even 4 weeks. Give her some training including brainwork of some type to keep her occupied. Nearly over now!

Couldt take her out tonight as my eldest is out for the night, so no babysitter for my 5 year old, but will take her out tomorrow night in the dark after everyone has shut themselves up for the night.
Thanks everyone :)
Lea :)

If you are expecting a phantom, start dealing with it straight away.  I would cut the food right down and take away any toys and stuff for the next few weeks.  If she starts producing milk, up the exercise.  If this fails, I get the meds from the vet sooner rather than later.