i  posted for help  on another  forum  but  my  posts were  deleted !

my  7  month german shappard bitch  is  having her  1st  season .  not  having had a bitch   (  plenty  of dogs  though)for many  years im a little rusty  on  " normal " behaviour  at this time .
  shes a little listless and off her  food and being sick . (  today only  )  shes been spotting now for almost  a week . , she seemed fine yesterday , (  appart  from  the fact  she ate a wicker  basket  this morning as youngsters do  ).  i  rang the vet   who  seemd to  think  she may   just  have a bit  of a tummy  upset  due to  having her  season .  please   if anyone can  tell me if this is normal  or  should i  continue to  worry  about  her  and seek more vetinary  advice .

  thank you  in advance  . 

Sounds very normal to me. My girls often feel a bit "off" during the first week of every season. They can also have loose stools for a day or two. Just keep observing her,to make sure she drinks and doesn't keep being sick. She will soon be her normal self, I'm sure :-) . I'm sure you know this, but don't forget a bitch that's not spotting any, or very little blood, is ready to be mated, not past her season. Sometimes you will hear people saying they haven't seen any blood for two days, so they are sure the season is over :-o  Just thought I'd mention it, this board being used by lots of people seeking info on all sorts of things. :-)
All the best to you and your girl :-)

My girl's first season was a bit of a worry too. She slept quite a bit more and was lethargic for about the first week.  Her behaviour wasn't bad or difficult but she wasn't quite herself however she soon returned to her loony self after :D

sounds pretty ok a wicker basket hey isnt it weird how dogs will eat the weirdest things but will turn their noses up at certain foods

when my girl has her seasons for the first week she doesnt want to do anything has had some were she had a little vomit and most had losse stools as RRFriend said keep an eye on her

thank you  everyone .  today  shes being  a little  aggressive to  everyone but  me (  shes a mummys girl)   and shes still off her  food  . wouldnt  even touch the chicken fillets  i  bought  for her .  did manage to  get  her to  eat  some plain bio  yoghurt .  she wont  leave my  side .  my  poor  rottie  boy  is so  upset  she wont  play  with him .  and she growls at  him every time he goes near  her  . (  hes a puppy) .

    i  hope this passes soon  as im  stil worried about  her  shes my  baby   really  having  no  children  my  dogs are my  family 

thanks for your  kinds replies

Didn't notice any difference in my girl but then she's your typical bombproof Cavalier! I know being clingy and a bit upset is a common thing though, I'm sure she'll be fine.

My girl's just finished her first season - is it just me, or just it feel like a major rite of passage for a new bitch owner?? :-D

Hi,
My bitch gets a little moody then moves onto being lethargic and quiet as her season progresses she usually ends up half way through becoming very clingy and affecionate wanting a cuddle and a bit of reassurance by the time were through all that ....its over ...then it takes a about a week or so to return to her normal friendly loving self.....us poor females!
Keep an eye on her being off her food and vomiting ...I've never experienced  that ...maybe she has a little bug.

Roni

This may be a silly question, but how long does a season last? Our last bitch, our beautiful collie cross Flicka (who lived to be 16, bless her), never spotted at all, so we were not able to tell if she was in season or not. She was never speyed. Now we have an adorable little Jack Russell cross and intend to have her speyed at 6 mths or after her first season as per the rescue centre agreement. Can anyone say what would be best? Thank you

Hi TansysMum,

Season lengths can vary from breed to breed and even within those breeds but is generally between 21-26 days.  I always keep my girls away from possible liaisons until day 28 as I have known someone whose bitch mated on day 26

It is a more widely held view these days that bitches are best allowed at least a first season before being neutered as the hormones removed by the op play an important role in both the physical and mental maturity of our dogs.  Generally a vet would recommend leaving approx 12 weeks after the season finished before surgery.

HTH, regards Teri :)

Thanks Teri :-)
I will leave her until well after her first season then. The rescue centre said that I had to send them proof when she had been done, and recommended having her neutered before her first season. I asked on here because I didn't really agree with that. If they contact me over it I shall tell them that I promise to have her done 12 weeks after her first season. I just want what is best for her. I welcome the advice given on here because it has all changed since I got my last pup!!
Best wishes
Wendy

Glad to help Wendy

regards, Teri :)