My GSD pup has just come in to her first season. I have been told that I must keep her in for 3 weeks. How do you all cope, she is used to two walks per day and is not happy at being confined.

What you can do is put her in the car and drive her somewhere quiet and dogfree at quiet times. If you are careful there need not be any problems for either you or other dog-owners. Don't leave her unattended at all, even in your own garden.

My mum still walked her bitch in season (on lead) I suppose it depends where you live, she didnt have any problems with other dogs.

We live in a built up area in Liverpool. There are very few dogs roaming the area and most of them on leads. I worry about her leaving her scent on the path and attracting any dogs that do roam to our doorstep. What is the most potent time during the three weeks when she would be happy to stand for a male? Maybe I could walk her on lead at quiet times when not in this danger time?

Gaby,

It obviously doesn't take away any of the need for vigilance at all times, but I have found the veterinary tablets sold for this purpose (used to be Amplex, possibly Sherley's now?) very effective at masking the odour and stopping any disruption. 

Not mine, I hasten to add, but I have also seen a bitch dosed with these throughout her season on Day 11 and benched at a Champ show without any dogs turning a hair.

Marina

I didn't worry about dogs turning up on our doorstep as you never see dogs wandering around anymore like you used to years ago - however we do have one soppy GSD in our street that strolls around on the grassy area behind his house and I don't know whether its male or female so I suppose there was always a risk.

Anyway, I used to take Millie out at 11pm for a 'street walk' on the lead as it would be quiet, no other dogs around and at least she was getting out of the house.  We took her to the woods once, about 8.45pm and just walked the path to the closed overflow car park and into the actual woods rather than the country paths laid out and didn't meet a soul.  And we took her to the wasteground/beach in Whistable and my brother-in-law told me I was being paranoid and took her lead off, and whilst I was having palpitations, she kept close to us and my sisters dog anyway.  I wouldn't recommend you do that of course (I never took her back down to visit during her season after that!)

Late night walks on the lead, with lots of ball-chasing indoors for extra exercise is probably the best solution.  As for coping....we didn't!  She was stir-crazy, we were stir-crazy and it led to us deciding that we probably would get her spayed, especially as her next season is due at Christmas and we will all be housebound for at Christmas for the next 12 years if she's as regular as clockwork!  (once it was all over, it didn't seem so bad and we obviously didn't decide to get her spayed based just on that, but as she is now having a phantom pregnancy, its probably something we will do)

Be very careful!
I once took my girl out to an area i was sure was free of dog walkers and we were "accosted" by 2 very excited red setters, one of whom was an experienced stud, and the owner was half a mile away
I was able to get the stud on a lead and keep my girl busy with her Kong, the other setter wasn't so much of a problem but still interested. When at last the owner came, i apologised and explained and she kindly took her boys off - but lo and behold 15 minutes later, after i had walked quite a way, they were back....the owner had let go of them near to the car park and they had made a beeline for us, covering about a mile and a half.

Owners concerned got lots of exercise; I was thankful i was not going to have to deal with BSd x Setter pups, and my girl was pretty much oblivious!!
I had much more success with my previous 2, probably because  i used a bitch spray then and also kept to areas where owners tended to be closer to their dogs in terms of distance.  My male kept other dogs away, and I also got up very early :D

Lindsay
X

How about keeping her mentally stimulated rather than physically on top form for the three weeks - train her to do something new?

If you have good dog warden service and there aren't any latchkey dogs around then you can walk her as normal around the streets (where no dog has business bein off lead). 

Never ever let her off lead, the instincts can make them forget their training.

If you see a dog walker approaching from oppostie just cross over to the other side of the road.

I have five bitches and at tiomes have had at least 3 entire and coming in season together and have had no problems with dogs at my door or when out walking.

Be vigilant in the garden also.

As usual this has occured at the worst time. We go on holiday in 7 days time. Our daughter has volunteered to look after her. She has a bitch of her own who was spayed some time ago. Is it likely that her bitch will cause my pup or daughter any problems? I have lined up a standby dog sitter if she does. We will be away for 14 days (going to Spain with the caravan) we are so sad not being able to take our pup away with us but there was not enough time to have her passport completed.