Hi there..... new here so please bear with me.

We have two staffies...a 1 year old dog (Tyson) and a five and a half month old bitch (Cleo).  The dog belongs to my 21 year old son and the bitch to my 18 year old son.  They all live with me currently and both dogs get on really well together.  However, I have this ever looming problem....Cleo is going to come into season soon!

I know they need to be separated and that we must avoid a mating at all costs (understand that Cleo could die if allowed to have puppies).

How bad will Tyson get when Cleo comes into season?  Is it feasible to keep them in the same house, but separated (Cleo has a crate and they both sleep in their respective owners bedrooms)?

How will Cleo's temperment change when she has her first season and how many seasons will she have each year?

Is the only option to get Cleo spayed?  Anthony, my youngest son is hoping to let her have a litter in a few years time when she's old enough and when he has his own home so we were hoping not to go this route, but if it's the only sensible way to keep a happy household, then so be it!

Advice welcomed!  Clare

I have a bitch (1 year old tomorrow) When she came into season I sent her back to her breeder for most of it as I have a 3 year old male in the house. I would NEVER try to keep them in the same house.

Can you GUARANTEE that all doors will be closed, and that there is NO WAY that the dog can reach the bitch. Remember that sons do go out for a drink, and come home a bit worse for wear ;) Will they remember to keep the dogs apart? It only takes a moment for the dog to get out and find the bitch! Can you cope with the dog peeing in your house EVERYWHERE? Can you cope with him scratching the door to bits to get to the bitch? Can you cope with the howling, barking and screaming that will go on as they 'talk' to one another? Can you cope with a personality change in him as he will probably change while she is in season? If you can cope with all these things then good luck. If not then I would put him to a friend, or kennels for as long as she is in season.

Keeping them in the same house can work, but you have to be aware of the dangers that might occur. You also have to be very vigilant. Not just you, but every member of the family.

Ditto to the above post.

Just had my year old beagle bitch spayed today.  A hard decision to make as I own a two year old entire male too.

She came into season at six months and it was a nightmare, my poor bitch was moping and clingy and my dog could not be contained and was like a mad thing, all of the above, crying, whining, howling, nothing would pacify him; after a week of hell he went off to kennels very relunctantly, I was crying with relief when he had gone that we had peace back.  Missed him like mad, but it was like he had had a personality transplant and was'nt my laid back cuddly dog anymore!!

The dog DOES know when the bitch is in season believe me.  Anyone who can manage to keep the two seperate and manage it without any problems must be very lucky!!  I am sure that there will be others along with better advice, I thought it would be a situation that I could manage but it was not to be!

I would use kennels if you can or send him to a friend or his breeder.

It's hell; sheer living hell without a moments let-up.

My bitch has now been speyed.

Good luck, it isn't easy.