Hi My fourteen month old german spitz mittel has just started her second season,spotting noticed a week ago, (1st in Sept 05) I had entered her in shows in January and was wondering when it would be safe and couteous to other exhibitors to go along. Any advice appreciated
Angela

If its an open show id not bother, if a champion show then keep her away from the males so as not to upset any of them, but i think the 1st is manchester so wont she be over with it  by then ?

Thanks for the reply,
I am hoping to get to Manchester. How will I know when her season is over?
Thanks
Angela

if you are happy for a bad repuation then go, but personally I wouldn't go.  We have a bitch who's a week in season today and a show.  She will not be going.  With bitches you just have to write off the money you spent on entries.

Although there's no rules saying you can't take an in season bitch...

It can be a risky thing to do regardless of the lack of rules.  Do you really want to have to keep stopping the unwanted attentions of full males at the show you can also instigate a fight among them.  Just about all the males will be entire.

I saw a potentially dangerous situation break out when two large breed males took an interest in a bitch in season.  Both owners chatting happily not noticing or expecting an enticing bitch to walk past, and they were literally dragged along the walkways before they knew what was happening.

Don't risk it.

If you are entered in mixed sex classes then it really is not acceptable to show an in season bitch. If it is just a bitch class and provided you take every care to keep her away from dogs all day then it would be acceptable, but I doubt she will perform as well as when not in season.

Thanks for the reply
I certainly wasn't intending to show an in season bitch but how long after her 1st spotting will it be exceptable to show her? Do I wait for her swelling to go down??
thanks
Angela

When I was showing bitches I waited for at least 3 weeks after the first spotting before attending shows.

I don't show anymore but used to hate it when people took in season bitches to shows. It's something I've never done myself - no matter how much I knew the judge liked my bitch. It's very difficult, if not impossible to get a dog that has been used at stud to perform well in the ring with an 'interesting' bitch nearby. I remember one show where I won the dog c.c. and a bitch my boy had mated the year before won the bitch c.c. She was also in season and what a nightmare it was when we went in for BOB! It took all my strength just to hold him back, standing or moving where out of the question....needdless to say we didn't get BOB :D

Very 'cute' of the Bitch owner though eh??? :rolleyes: