Hi all,

My bitch is having her first season.  She's currently on day 17 and has a very, very light, slightly brown discharge for the last 3 days (blood before).  I separated her from my entire boy on day 12, they were never left unsupervised even for a second before this, but he wasn't particularly fussed until day 12.  She is now at my Mum's house.  From my googling, I assume she is ovulating now.  I just want to know how I might be able to tell that she's 'safe' to bring home.  Some people say she will start bleeding again after ovulating, others say she won't.  Is there anything I should look for?  How long is a sensible amount of time to keep them apart? 

I'm feeling quite ill-prepared for this as all her relatives have been much older for their first season, so I thought I had some time!  I never had to worry about it quite so much with my older bitch because I didn't have any entire dogs.

Thanks,

Clare

Not all bitches will stop bleeding when ready to mate.  Others will bleed all the way through, including during mating, and continue until the end of a normal season.

Rule of thumb is a minimum of 21 days.  Remember that bitches have mated on day 21 and conceived.

Thanks!  I thought they always stopped bleeding - I have no idea then! Maybe she did ovulate on day 12 or 13 after all. 

I might bring her back on day 22, and continue supervising and never ever leaving them together for another week and see how it goes.  I hadn't factored in the uncertainty to it all when I got my bitch, I just thought it would be fine because she could go to my Mum's!

My most recent bitches have been ready and receptive days 18 - 22.  I would not even contemplate bringing her home until day 28 (and even then take care, watch reactions and check that everything seems to have subsided and closed down 'below'.

Thanks, I should have said that I would only bring her home at day 22 if things seemed normal-ish down 'below'.. but I was worried that this might not be a very good indicator of what's going on anyway.  I'll err on the side of caution then.  I want her back home though :-( but I know that's silly! 

I have found first seasons have lasted longer than normal. I had one bitch who ovulated on day 8 so without hygiene pants for the girls under close supervision,I keep one sex crated up of the ground unless sat on my lap.

Same as Brainless, I suppose because I have a breed that mate quite late on.  I would not contemplate it until 28 days at least.  Did have a Pomeranian put back with the boys on day 30 many years ago.  Never saw a mating but 9 weeks later had a litter of 3 pups......

I count at least 28 days before allowing my girls to mix with the boys here. We got caught out a couple of years ago with a girl who was mated on day 22/23 . Also, my girls bleed/show colour throughout the season -never seen this 'straw colour' discharge -it gets a bit lighter in colour , that's all.

> -never seen this 'straw colour' discharge

:-)  Me neither!  Not ever in almost 40 years.  I note that newbies often mention it, because "the book" says!  Again, never had a bitch that read the book.  :-)

I know that Barbara has bitches that, like mine, bleed all through the season, and still bleeding during and after mating.  Perfectly normal litters born.  So I guess it's like humans.  One rule don't fit all!  :-)

I usually say 3 weeks, but given that first seasons can be weird/prolonged (as other posters have pointed out) I would give this one an extra week. Watch out for a split heat - coming back into season again very quickly; and don't assume that the next season is 6 months away.

Thanks all. There is definitely discharge but it's not red as it was before and in fact now it is totally clear. I assumed that was to be expected (because of the books!) but judging by your experiences I have no idea what that means!

> I assumed that was to be expected (because of the books!) but judging by your experiences I have no idea what that means!

Sounds like you have a bitch who has read the books, LOL

Well I always thought she was clever :-) :-) :-)

I'd also advise giving her a bath before you bring her home, specially if she is a coated breed, as the lingering smell can still be interesting. My neutered boy isn't much interested in my girls, but he completely loses interest once they have been bathed afterwards.

Well had entered Inka for Windsor and East of England her first two champ shows since her pups in January, so first ones since SWKA last October, so of course she comes in season (had a whole month between Windsor and Southern Counties where she was shown without CC's).

Technically I should have been able to take her to the show today as by dates she should have been finished, but she was still somewhat soft and swollen and there was still some light bloody discharge when dabbed with clean tissue.

I would have been very unpopular at ringside had I brought her, even though no rules would have been broken had I taken her when in season.