Hi
I have a Great Dane and she is on day 8 or so of her first season. Can anyone give me an idea or reassurance of how much discharge to expect? For hours at a time there seems miminal amount, but then it gets quite heavy. I just took her for a walk and she galloped a bit - can that increase the flow?
My on call vet is not the most helpful, so just wondered if anyone can tell me that this is normal?

In a word, Yes! They can vary from a very slight discharge to a fair old drip depending on the dog.

As to taking her for a walk. I'd be very careful.
Never let her off the lead or she may well clear off looking for a mate.
Never take her out of the gate if you have other dog living anywhere close or you could be bothered by "Callers"
However trustworthy she is at coming when called, never trust a bitch in season! It's a totally different kettle of fish!

I put my bitches in the car and take them a way down the road before taking them out for a lead walk. That way I break any trail back to the house.

Regards, John

Never let her off the lead or she may well clear off looking for a mate.

in my experience my GSD has never ran off and we have a male collie cross that lives next door to us, they see each other a lot season or no season she wafts her bum in front of them and walks in. We walk to the local field off the lead which a lot of dog users use and walk back off the lead.

Yes, but not all dogs are the same, and its better not to take the risk.

Suit your self co28uk but for what it's worth I think you are being very irresponsible. Particularly in posting that to a novice owner. If you are prepared to take a chance with your dogs then thats your affair but most bitches are anything but reliable when in season.

As working gundogs, mine are rather better trained than the average pet dog but I would most certainly not chance it.

John

Mer neither. My first dog (not an elkhound) who has happily asleep nipped past me when I opened the front door for the Postman and was fone for several hours. I took her for a mismating jab. The vet asked how I could be sure she had mated, which of course I couldnt, but at that time there used to be a fair few loose dogs about, adn she was 13 days in her season.

Also going to the field where others excersise their dogs is hardly fair on the owners of male dogs.

I take mine out Road walking where any dogs we might encounter ought to be on lead.

well each to there own my bitch is highly trained as does not leave me side unless told to. I am not irresponsible i have trained my dog well.
And she rewards me with losts of love and affection as i do her.

Lucky you, co28uk, for having a bitch that can overcome her natural urges.

The rest of us don't want to take the chance of adding to the huge numbers of unwanted puppies.

co28uk, i don't care how well trained your bitch is . there is alway's a first time, and accident's can and do happen. Natures urges can be a lot stronger than the will to obey your commands at the optimal time in a season.

Thanks John - good advice!

Hello,

I also have great danes and when they have a season you'd swear blind that someone has cut a main artery !!! Their season starts off not too badly and then whoosh, but don't worry all perfectly normal. ANd before you know it is is all over but at the time seems like the longest 3 weeks of your life and I toytally agree with John please be very careful if letting her off the lead if a male dog is baout she might just give you the deaf ear syndrome and have a good time !!! Better to be safe than sorry and it's not that long to wait - honest.

Margaret

Margaret - thanks.. it's great to hear from another Dane owner. I appreciate all the advice about off lead walks so thanks - nice to be able to chat to friendly people who care so much about dogs!

Co28uk

As an owner of 3 males, one being only 7 month old I would hate to think that I followed you into that field where your bitch has left her scent.As an owner of 4 females I would hope that I could always avoid exercising them in a place used by the general public, what would happen if you came across an owner that did not have such good control over his males, and the dogs became agressive,with you, in trying to get to your bitch, nature and natural urges can be very strong in males, and could have dire consequense's for you both.Maybe you have complete control of your bitch, but that cannot be taken as read for all dog owners.

I remember a story about Police dogs that were sent on a search after a criminal. They idicated a particular house, and it turned out that the house had a bitch in season!!!

It is most unfair to take a bitch in season anywhere that dogs are likely to be off lead, as their owners will not be aware, adn the te3mptaion may be too much for a normally well trained dog.