Hi everyone, I'm not sure if this should be in the behaviour or breeding section!
I have an entire mini dachshund bitch, age 3 1/2. Her last season was 4 months ago. Since her last season I bought 2 puppy brothers, now almost 5 months old.
The last few days the pups have spent their waking time either trying to suckle from her, which she flops over and allows; or hump her, which she's bizarrely standing and flagging even though she's no way in season and nowhere near due!
So my question is, what's with the sudden suckling and her allowing it? And why on earth is she 'acting' in season for them to practice? Could this behaviour bring her into season early?
I've never come across either before so any insights would be great.
Ps, one of the boys is getting neutered at 6 months. All kc registered and health checked etc, other boy will be checked for IVDD when old enough and before he's bred.

I would be discouraging the boys from 'humping' her. You don't want an unplanned litter.

she's no way in season
Famous last words

She could well be having a silent season.

Castrating one at 6 months really ?? Way too young are you not aware that the growth plates need testosterone to close & that they need two surges to do so ?? My vet never neuters a dog unless he has Xray proof the growth plates have closed completely. As it is HIS choice so to do he doesn't charge for the Xray & this is done just prior to neutering(same GA)

How often does she cycle because fact is she just might be coming into season again.   I had one who cycled every 5 months (mine generally came in every 8 months, and she was 'family' so this was abnormal) and as she wasn't really up to standard anyway, I had her spayed to stop all that.

The male puppies won't normally be viable much before 7 months, but again, each is different.  What ISn't a good idea is to castrate before a year, by which time the growth plates should have closed.   And why have 2 male brothers in any case.   With an entire bitch on the property, you could end up with some fighting when she does come into season, unless you make arrangements for her, or the boys to be elsewhere during her season.  Hardly ideal.  

Lastly, if these boys are only puppies, with some developing yet to happen, how do you know that by the time they are mature and ready to mate, they will still be 'right' for your bitch, bloodlines and common faults?   I think, if breeding is on your agenda, you'd have been far better advised to use a suitable outside stud dog.  So now you have 3 dogs, and a rapidly expanding number of dogs if you intend to keep something from any planned litter!

I have no idea why what's going on otherwise, is going on, but YOU need to be in charge of their activities and prevent/avoid.

Thank you for the replies.
She is usually bang on 6 months cycle, that's why I'm confused and wondering if their influence could bring her on early.
With regards to ending up with the two brothers, it's a very long story and probably best on another thread, but basically one needs open heart surgery so when he was going to be pts we took him on with his brother, hence why we've considered early neutering but I will relook/reconsider that on your advice.
And the healthy pup isn't intended to breed with our bitch, she'll be too old by the time he's over two and we mainly got him for showing but if hes up to scratch when he's old enough possibly stud. We have a very secure set up to keep them apart, which after these replies I will do just in case it is a silent season or she's coming on early. I'm not irresponsible and after years of rescuing bull breeds with aggression issues, I'm very good at keeping animals apart when needed!

If the boy is due to have surgery I wouldn't be considering neuter.i know the two army connected but apart from his very young age personally I would t want to change anything in his body until he is for and well.
Could she be having a phantom?

Thanks.
I don't know, day one of her last season was exactly 4 months tomorrow. I didn't have the pups then and she was nowhere near a male, castrated or entire. My other dogs are spayed, elderly rescue girls. From what I've read it doesn't seem to fit with a phantom?

Any chance she has a uti? That can sometimes confuse male dogs that she might be in season

> Any chance she has a uti?

Indeed - and ditto with an anal gland problem .... that will interest a male - or other dogs!

I would take her for a vet check as pyo could also make her interesting to the boys .better safe than sorry

> I would take her for a vet check as pyo could also make her interesting to the boys .better safe than sorry

Agreed, although if it was an open Pyo, there'd be a discharge and if a closed one, she'd be quite ill (not that she'd not be with an open one!).

True  in last cases given other suggestions I would ask for a urine sample to be tested as well as check for pyo.

Neutering will greatly increase the dachshund's risk of disc disease:

https://cgejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40575-018-0067-7

https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/lifestyle-advice/neutering/

> Neutering will greatly increase the dachshund's risk of disc disease:<br />

Note ........IF DONE BEFORE THE GROWTH PLATES HAVE CLOSED.   Please read ALL that's written in these two articles - especially the end of the second link posted.

>day one of her last season was exactly 4 months tomorrow. I didn't have the pups then and she was nowhere near a male, castrated or entire

Phantoms are usually roughly when a bitch would whelp if she'd been mated, so the timing's not that far off. And they happen regardless of whether a bitch has been near any other dogs.

I would definitely not be thinking about neutering a dog of this breed early/at all if you don’t have to. His musculoskeletal system and associated tissues will be better for having his hormones! Hope all settles down for them all