I know what everyone will say but im not stupid just in a inpossible  mess I have a 4yr old intact gsd who is a great house dog and I love very much I have just lost my mum and have got her little gsd/staffy bitch everything was ok for about 10 days max did try to mount her but we stopped him and he didn't bother her any more going out for walks and even sleeping together but we think she may have come in to season it will be her first time if she as ? we was going to get her seen to asap but as where both not working at moment due to my husbands illness and a year of stress (none I know is the dogs faults) the funds are very low she is only around 5months old so we thought we would have  little more time to save up there is no where I can send either of them and we are keeping them apart but its difficult im upstairs with the dog and my husband is downstairs with the bitch I cant put either of them outside as they bark and bark but once I have max upstairs with me he will lay down when my husband takes poppy out of the front door I come down with max and let him in the garden I know we may have to do this for 3weeks but is there anything else we can use to help both animals they are both loved and I would hate to send one away as poppy as been though a stressful time already and max hates been left luckly we don't mind having seprate rooms and sleeping arrangement at least I can watch what I like on tv lol we just want to do the best we can in the inpossible situation we find where in any helpful advice would be gratefully excepted thank you in advance x

Just to warn you it may well be longer than 3 weeks.
You seem to have found yourself in an extreamly difficult situation! This is not one that you will get out of very easily as you have no funds.
My first suggestion would have been kennel one of them whilst she is in season but I know you say your short of money.

The worst time for your male will be when she is ready to mate, this will most probably be very telling on him & yourself. This is most likely to be from day 10 for a number of days. He will most likely howl & loose weight.

thank you but there both lovely animals and we will do what ever we can to get them though this if seprate living then so be it ! xx unless I win lottery lol x

You may be able to get help to get one of the dogs castrated or spayed. The RSPCA, PDSA, DOG TRUST and some vets have schemes for people who are on low incomes.
Have a look in Yellow Pages for organisations in your area.

thank you been in touch with the dogs trust they are going to get back to me will do all we can could even get use living upstairs every 6months if my husband learns to use the washing mc and vac lol!!!! could be worse at least we are keeping them apart a litter of puppys would be the last straw this year roll on next year ...... x

>You may be able to get help to get one of the dogs castrated or spayed. The RSPCA, PDSA, DOG TRUST

but it wont help for this season. A castrated male stays fertile for some time after the op and vets wont spay an in season bitch. Unfortunately the only answer for this season is to keep them separate. Not easy but it can be done,

Try some of the local animal charities, we have a Friends Of The Animals here in the midlands who have a voucher scheme for neutering both males and females. Are you sure she is in season though? Some males will hump both dogs and bitches when they get excited at meeting a new dog.

thank you its hard work max is a great dog and at the moment very quiet when with me gone off his food a bit but happy to stay up stairs with me but also missing my husband poppy is just a very upset little girl but seems really taken with my husband and( we have been together long enough to weather the storm lol) got to have a laugh or I think I would sit and cry .....xx

So sorry to hear of the loss of your mum, you're a wonderful daughter to have her dog and you are doing your very best. :-)

You can make this work, many people with mixed sexes, do have to juggle at some time as it is not fair to neuter either dog or bitch until fully mature, so many have or will be in this situation, it is best to send the dog off to a family member/friend etc as it is worse on the dog he will become quite frantic once she reaches her peak the average time is approx 14 days in and for approx 3 days but that can vary so much from bitch to bitch and the timing of her ovulation, so do not trust them at any time throughout the season. At her peak things will go up a notch, he may make noise, his heart rate will excel and he will pant and go off his food not to mention looking for every opportunity to get to her, it can make some male dogs lose weight and they get very stressed.

There is not much you can do to stop this if in the same house, apart from what you are doing at the moment, keeping him upstairs and her down is the best thing and it is lovely that the two of you are staying with each dog, you're both a credit to your dogs. :-)

You may find that your GSD does not wish to leave the house for walks, especially once she hits her peak time,  if he does great, as it will take his mind off it, but watch out for him running back, he won't want any other dogs to get to his potential mate, so be aware that the bitch will probably take over his every thought.  I never walk a bitch in season, I know some do but it is asking for trouble so keep her in and also look out for any neighbourhood dogs who may jump your fence to get to her, her scent will be picked up for miles and it is amazing how houdini's suddenly appear.

Continue as you are, you'll get through this, so will your GSD.......... if however an accident does happen, you can take her to your vet within the first 6 weeks for an injection to take the pregnancy away, so if the worst should accidently happen you do not need to cope with pups. Lets just hope that it doesn't.......

Good luck and you should spay her 3 months after this season if you can...... once again sorry for your loss. x

thank you so much its good too hear all your advice its getting madder by the minute just keeping going on keep telling myself it wont last forever but do wonder how they will be when they can be back together do you think it would be better to take them separtley to the park then meet and walk them back  together and when will we know when to allow them back together as yet we have seen no spotting and this is all new to us as we have only ever had male dogs god I thought the kids where bad enough im sure I would sooner be doing nightley feeds lol thank you all for your support xx

are you sure she is actually in season, are her lady parts swollen, if a silent season, otherwise there should be some blood if you wipe with a tissue (it may vary from tan to Red to Pink). 

Five months seems very young even for smaller breeds.

Your boy may just be over excited about a dog in his house that he isn't allowed to be with?

A vet will be able to tell you fi she is in season, and you can then arrange the timing of a spay.

PDSA/Dogs Trust will normally allow for two pets in a household to be treated at reduced rates, for those on qualifying benefit (normally housing benefit).

no not sure and both have been fine together for the last two weeks even sleeping together in our room with no bother it was good to see poppy relaxed and eating again which they also did together yes she is a little swollen but not sure of her exact age as my mum took her in as a stray so the poor little thing as had a tough life from early on she was just settling with mum when we lost mum very sudden so all new to us but we are willing to stick it out and see them through this it's 2.45am and I have just got max to settle so sharing my bed with a great big bear of a shepherd but he's lovely and warm and no cold feet !!!! lol and he dunt snore ! xxxxxx

Why not crate them?  That way, you won't need to be so 'separate' for the entire time and my males settled better if they could see the in-season bitch as it meant they weren't worrying about other males getting to her.  I also used onsies!lol  Sounds silly but if they are both covered, head to toe, no-ones having any accidents!lol  Just make sure they are constantly supervised as my boy tried to eat the onsie to get if off(pardon the pun!!lol).
I would maybe nip her to the vet to check if she is actually in season and if not, I would get an emergency appointment to have her spayed before she comes in.  I'm sure if you explain your circumstances to the Dogs Trust, they would fit you in quickly.

only have the one crate and max would not fit in now we tried polly in but max nearly tipped the cage trying to get to her this way is working at the moment if not ideal it as it's perks I get to read in peace and my husband brings me coffee up just given him the instructions for the washer!!!! lol last time I had this much to myself I had flu so could not enjoy it lol good  job we can still laugh and I don't think I have ever had so many texts off my husband thank you all once again xx

I have 2 entire males and 2 females - one spayed, one entire. When the bitch comes into season I crate them all. The bitch is at one end of the living room and the boys in their separate crates at the other end. They can see one another all the time. I also have a crate in my bedroom for the bitch at night. They all get time outside of the crate, but obviously not at the same time ;-) The boys get walked first, purely because I would never get their noses off the ground otherwise. I do live in the countryside so easy for me to walk the girls without meeting anyone. I have done this regime for years and not had a problem. It is so much easier than trying to find someone to take the boys (sorry but I won't trust anyone with a bitch in season :-) ) or putting them into kennels.

just a up date our local vet as been in touch he works closely with the dogs trust max will be going in next week then  in 3months  poppy will be done and it will not cost us too much  so we can keep them both and enjoy them which I know mum would have wanted thank you all so much for the support and help x PS not sure about letting my husband back up here max's is much warmer to sleep with LOL XXX

> just a up date our local vet as been in touch he works closely with the dogs trust max will be going in next week

Just remember that even once castrated he may still want to mount her AND may still be fertile for 4-6 weeks afterwards, so if she does come into season now, you will still need to be extra careful.

>They all get time outside of the crate, but obviously not at the same time

This has worked for me for years.  Like you I don't fancy anyone else being responsible for managing things.