1st Question. I am just about to post of a few entries for Tia and Baileys 1st shows, August & September as closing dates are all this week. It has just occurred to me that Tia will be 7 to 8 months old at these shows. And with my luck she will probably come into season just before the 1st show. I know there is an injection but not sure what it is or what it does. Does it delay a season and if so for how long. Are they safe, or would I be better taking my chances and just withdraw from the shows if her season starts.

2nd Question.  I would like to enter Tia and Bailey into Brace.  I have never seen Brace entries at a show. The schedule states that dogs must compliment each other and be of either sex or mixed. I get the either sex bit, but do the dogs have to match each other, ie: must be of the same colour. Both are labs, Bailey is yellow, Tia is black, both are same 23 weeks, 2 days between them. I have them running well together, they start off on the same leg and trot in unison, (most of the time :) )
Closing date is tomorrow, so if someone could please let me know so that I can fill in entry form tonight please.  Many thanks

Kay

Hi Kay. I can't answer your second question about the brace class, but regarding the first, I wouldn't mess around with your bitch's seasons. Do as most people do: enter the shows you want to enter, and if she's okay on the day, then go. If she isn't, then you've lost the entry fee. After all, you wouldn't go if she was ill, would you?
:)

Hi JG, thanks you are right, of course I wouldnt take her if she were ill, same thing applies, will enter her and withdraw if neccessary.

Kay

In brace classes the dogs are meant to look like a matched pair so they should be the same colour. I used to show a brother/sister brace with great success they were both brown beardies, Dogs of different colours would look very out of place.

I would personally never again use the injection to delay a season It coat a cross breed I had her life & there are instances of it permanently making bitches infertile(my friends Ch Afghan was one affected)

I used the injection to delay a season before and had no problems - best to talk to your vet about any potential problems. After all, wnough women mess around with their "seasons" and take the pill!! :)

There are of course side effects from the pill.for some women & the compositon of the injection is not like the pill

There was a help group founded by a Rottie owner who also lost his bitch from reaction to the injection

of course there may be side effects - there are side effects to all medication. I used it once and it was fine - I wouldn't use it again as there wasn't such bad press about it when I used it. Like i said - the VET is the best person to ask to get a balanced view.

Thanks Moonmaiden, guess they wont be going into Brace then.  And no, I am not going to mess around with Tia, I would rather not show her for a few weeks than mess with her health. It was just an annoying question that needed answered.

Thanks for all your replies.

Kay

Re: the injection

You will NOT be able to get the injection if your bitch has never had a season before.  Vets will not tamper with a first season I have been told, by my own vet when I asked.   Your bitch may not have a regular or early season cycle so she might not come into season until later in the year!!!!!  Every bitch is different even amongst family groups.

Secondly, I have had this injection done on rare occasions on all 3 of my bitches and I've never had one side effect yet, although my vets make me aware that there are side effects.      Modern veterinary medicine is pretty good & reliable these days! ;)  

You can enter brace, and if both dogs complement eachother then should do well in Brace BUT for some reason people seem to think they have to be the same colour and markings aswell, which is not true yet how people judge, shoudl be more judged on how well the dog compliment eachother, ie do they move together well and do they look good.

I would say, still don't enter as the judge will see different colours and you won't get anywhere!!!!  unfortantly :( 

As for the seasons, with all bitches we take our chance, sod law says she'll be in season if you enter, if you don't enter she wont!  Personly just cut your loses if she does come in....we are planning a weekend in scotland/north for a couple of shows later in the year thinking "will she won't she" and if she is, we'll save petrol money!!!!

Thanks everyone for replies, I am not going to let Tia have any injections, god forbid anything happened to her I could never forgive myself.  Have sent off entries this morning, not entered brace, although they do move really well together, I see the point of them being very different in colour. Probably just as well, the little bu**ers would probably tie me in knots on the day. lol. :)

Kay