My sibie bitch is coming upto 11 months now and still hasn't had a season, (read about silent seasons on other post) but my main concern is that tonight at Ringcraft she was very moody with a friends dog that she plays with every week, she wasn't nasty but grumbled alot at her when she approached me, she has never been protective over me before and is very good and doesn't get too jealous. She also has been abit nervous and tends to shiver/shake not all the time but sometimes maybe two-three times a week. Is this Hormonal?

She is the first bitch i have ever owned, so im getting quite worried, will be booking her into vets tomorrow, or im i being over protective?.

Thank you.

Jenna.

It is nothing for a bitch to be 15 months before a season, toys are usually 6 months but I have got golden retrievers and they do not have a season as a rule until at least 9 months but quite often later.

If she is getting moody she probably wont be long, I have  found my girls definitely get pmt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My GSD bitch was 13 months old before her first season :-)

Stacey x x x

Cheers, i have heard of some not having one until 2 years, but the thing that worries me is the shivering she has been doing (hasn't done it for a while) and the mood swing she had at ringcraft on monday, any advice on that? Is it just her hormones?

Jenna

My Spanish haven't had their first ones until they were 2 and then every 7 months afterwards.  Briedog's SWD was slightly different she was 2 and then has just had 1 a year later.  All dogs are different and all breeds, could you not ask the breeder what the usual is for her lines?

Just to report:

Janska came into season today, she doesn't quite understand whats going off.

How do you exercise your girlies while they are in season? i was thinking extremly early 5.30-6.00am when no other dog walkers are about.

Jenna and Janska.

Never off the lead! You cannot trust even the most trustworthy bitch! I put them in the car and drive a short distance to break the scent trail home then take them for a walk around the industrial estate where I know there will be few dogs and certainly none off the lead. I know it's inconvenient but it is not for long.

Best wishes, John

Thanks John, i will take her out in the car for the first week like you said, then just do plenty of playing in the garden and house i think after that. Not to worry about the "off lead" she is a Siberian Husky anyway so she does not go off lead unless in a high fenched area.

Thank you.

Jenna and Janska

mines just come into her first season, we go out into the country in the car and exercise on a horses lead it gives her a little run capacity but we always make sure we can see for miles around and we have a tight hold on the lead, if any one is near it is back on short rein.  Also do road walking with her on a short lead ( it has helped us alot too no much pulling now!).  And lots of football play in the garden.  Cannot wait for the 4 weeks to be up though, we cannot go dog training classes etc while she is in season but do practice at home, but her mind is just not on it right now!!!

Apart from the very real risk of being mated the one thing to avoid is leaving a trail straight back to the house, hence the short car journey. Some bitches have a broody 60 days after the season when it's difficult to get their mind on work. My old Mandy was one of the worst!! WORK? Forget it! Beth seems to get over it quite quickly but with her it's the other way around, she is very slap dash in her work for about a month to six weeks before.

All bitches are different and part of their charm is getting to know their little foibles :)

Best wishes, John