Hi was wondering if someone can help?

We noticed our 5 year old female gundog began to bleed on Sunday 2 August. I suspected she had came in to heat a few days earlier and she was very flirty with our male from the Friday/Saturday but it wasn’t till the Sunday that we began to notice drops of blood. Usually our Male isn’t that interested, he is 8. This cycle he has been like a sexual predator so we decided to see what happens and let them get on with it.

From about day 4 after noticing the bleeding she has been standing and flagging her tail. On day 7 after noticed the bleeding we had a tie and again on day 9 but since then despite his work exhausting efforts and her flirting he hasn’t managed to get the job done again. 

Long story short would she stand and flag is she is not ready to breed?? If he has tied at days 7 and 9 from noticing the bleeding can she get pregnant?? It could also be possible she is further on than we thought and we just haven’t noticed any bleeding. I’ve read lots of places that say days 10-14 is optimum timing etc. But I’ve also read that if she’s not ready or fertile she won’t stand and flag. Today is day 12 since she started to bleed and she is still as interested as she was on day 4.  We haven’t noticed any blood last couple of days either.

Thanks In advance

> I’ve read lots of places that say days 10-14 is optimum timing etc

But I've never met a bitch that read the book telling them 10-14 days is optimum (load of rubbish)

I've had a bitch ovulate on day 4, and another bitch that actually mated on day 28 and had a successful litter.

If she allowed him near her, and you got two ties, then just wait and hope!   There is no set time, just in general and for sure, the sperm will be around for some time so even if she's early, you'll still probably have a pregnant bitch.   Sadly most people lwill retire their bitches by around age 5 - 6 years not go for a first litter, and that worries me more than whether she's caught, or not.

Thanks for the reply the waiting is going to be a killer haha.

She’s not 5 till end of November. We spoke to our vet about her age and they didn’t raise any issues about her age

Thank you!

>Long story short would she stand and flag is she is not ready to breed??

Yes, some bitches are very happy to stand almost any time throughout heat. Most will only stand from the start of estrus itself (not pre-estrus).

>If he has tied at days 7 and 9 from noticing the bleeding can she get pregnant??

Yes of course. Bitches can ovulate from day 3 of their cycle until day 28. And semen will live for 4-ish days inside the bitch, waiting to fertilise the eggs.

>I’ve read lots of places that say days 10-14 is optimum timing etc.

That's just average. It's not much help if your girl isn't average...

>Today is day 12 since she started to bleed and she is still as interested as she was on day 4.  We haven’t noticed any blood last couple of days either.

I would continue to try them together, making sure you separate them in between attempts so there is some novelty factor every time they see each other.

> If he has tied at days 7 and 9 from noticing the bleeding can she get pregnant??

Yes, she could & personally I wouldn't let them together again!

> <br />I would continue to try them together, making sure you separate them in between attempts so there is some novelty factor every time they see each other

Why - if they have already tied twice, that should be plenty good enough - surely?

>Why - if they have already tied twice, that should be plenty good enough - surely?

Because accepting a male doesn't necessarily indicate fertility. Some bitches will stand from the start of heat. There is a risk the breedings have been too early, especially if she is still receptive now and if the bleeding has stopped temporarily...