Can someone just remind me of the timescale for each stage?  Willow is a little over 2 weeks in (started on the 5th), just started standing properly today.  Been bleeding for 5 or 6 days now.  I just need to check when it should be safe to start walking her again.

It's been a few years since I've had an in-season bitch and about 7 since I had one go through her very first so I'm a bit rusty!

I would be interested to know too as it's been a very long time since I have had an in season dog. She started bleeding on the 15th and doesn't appear to be standing yet (I've been rubbing her back near her tail).

I dont know the stages but for me I allways take extra precautions for 4 weeks from when it starts.

Yes, I want to be absolutely sure she's safe to go out hence me asking!  She's had several bad experiences with strange dogs lately so is very scared of them at the moment, so the last I want to do is encourage any to come over by taking her out too early.  The moment she started swelling up she was in and that was that!

I usually leave mine about 3.5 weeks and bath them thoroughly to remove lingering smells before we go out and about. :-)

Yep I leave 4 weeks too

Yep I leave 4 weeks too

I agree that 4 weeks isn't being too careful

I had a bitch mated on day 28 - not planned.  My vet said Alizin wasn't needed as she couldn't be pregnant.

She had 5 pups.  :-(

I normally bath them at 4 wks and then road walk for a week just to be on the safe side and take a brolly with me as to many owners walk there dogs off lead by roads. The brolly is a button activated so pops up gives them a slight start as owners really don't have control of their off lead dogs where i am hth.

Nessa

Out of respect for any local entire males, I didn't ever 'walk' a bitch in season.   But I had enough land that this wasn't necessary.   I also preferred not to walk in-season bitches off my property because of the risk of them picking up an infection - relevant with my low to ground hounds.   Being 'open' at the time, it was all too possible they'd squat in the wrong place.   I was also lucky enough to have a small kennel with entire males, and THEY told me when it was all over!!!

My suggestion is you don't take her out off your property for the entire 21+ days of her season.  And if that's a problem, get her spayed, 2 months from now.    If you have to take her out, take her off in your car to somewhere quiet - if you walk from the house, she's going to lay a trail for any roaming male to follow back to your door.   And he will!