I have a 10 month old lab (Jessie) who has just come into her first season. She is very bloody and not interested in cleaning herself (very out of character). I had throught that my 3 year Old Rott /Kelpy cross would help her as they do with their eyes and ears but Taz has been very stand-offish ever since the pup came into season. Because of this I am having alot of trouble in cleaning the blood from the carpets, soft furnishings and even walls. Is there anything I can do to encourage her to clean herself? I am very reluctant to enclose her in the kitchen area (easy to clean) as she normally has free reign of the house and she seems very down and dejected as it is.
My previous dogs have all kept themselves clean on their first season and have been newtered after it (as Jess will be) so I have never suffered this problem before - do you have any idea's?

Thanks
Hannah

Hi, my lab was also very messy when in season and what we used to do was put down old dust sheets on the carpets, and a vet bed with sheet underneath on "her chair" in the living room. I found that it was only for 5 or 6 days and then the loss decreased dramatically, but all bitches are different. I do spend most of the day in the kitchen ( poor me!!) when I am indoors, and she slept in the kitchen, so it was only for a few hours in the evening, that we had to "cover up". You can buy "padded pants" for bitches in season, I have never tried them, and I am sure she would have ripped them off in no time - but someone else on the board may have used them with success. Thank goodness its only twice a year!

Having had Alaskan Malamutes before I got my first GSP years ago, I was appalled at how messy she was when she came into season. I can remember walking into the house and her wagging her tail with my walls covered! I resorted to using little boy jockey shorts (convenient hole for the tail!!!) and sanitary panti-liner pads. I used a nappy pin to take up the slack around her waist. She got very accustomed to them and would stand quietly to put them back on after we went outdoors. Luckily, none of my bitches since then has been quite so messy. Mara lays on a covered sofa and chair during the day and we have an old bedspread that we put over our bed at night. Of course, the border collie helps to keep Mara clean!

That poor dog. :D Sorry Sierra, but I'm sitting here laughing out loud at the thought of such a majestic dog being dressed up like that!!!

Still, I suppose needs must!! :D

Fiona

LOL... my ex-husband was a fanatic about "dirty dogs" add to that a cream colored carpet throughout the downstairs living areas and voila`!!! you learn to be inventive. At least I bought the little boy jockey shorts that were colored!!!