Hi all

My 10 month old pup has come into season. I have suspected for a few days that it may be imminent but today I am sure. However, I am a bit confused as to how far along she actually is.

She has been off her food a bit for about 10 days and has been sleeping more over the past couple of days.I have been checking her with a tissue for several days but there has been no trace of blood. This morning, I noticed some spots of dried blood on the floor and checked her again but still nothing. She has been cleaning herself frequently but this in itself is not out of the ordainary as she is forever licking and cleaning herself. This evening, there was a tiny spot of fresh blood on the kitchen floor tiles after she'd got up. By my reckoning she is only a few days into her season at most but this afternoon OH was brushing her and as he brushed along her back, she moved her tail to the side. The 'Book of the Bitch' states that this would indicate that she is ready to be mated Could she be further along than I think? Also, last night she nearly bit the head of a friend's dog who sniffed her rear end but then this dog is somewhat of a sex pest and tries to hump everything that moves (including males :rolleyes: ). She definitely wasn't moving her tail aside for him! My (neutered) male hasn't shown the slightest bit of interest in her.

I really do think that she is only a few days in but the moving her tail aside thing today has really thrown me. This is my first experience of owning a bitch so it's a first for me as well as Lola. We have organised our work schedules so that someone can be at home with her as much as possible and she will be inside at times when we can't. Luckily, OH has been working from home more frequently of late so, even if she is further on than we think, there has been no opportunity for her to be 'caught'.

Lastly, if I am to have her spayed after this season do I count 3 months from the start or end the season?

Thanks in advance :)

Hi ShaynLola,

Bitches which are meticulously clean can catch us out - certainly for a day or two.  If in doubt I add a few days onto when I first see signs of blood but add a few extra days on at the end just in case :rolleyes:.

Moving her tail when brushing along her rump is not necessarily a sign she is ready - even my males do that when being groomed - they just like the feeling :D

Ideally I wouldn't recommed having a bitch neutered until she's had a second season - on the proviso of course that all of the household members can be relied upon to be vigilant (tall order sometimes ;) ).  Bitches' seasons can vary quite a lot whereby some will come in at regular 6 monthly intervals but others could be every 4 months or every 9/10 months etc.  Waiting until after a second season will IMO give a rough guide as to how long after the season has finished it is safest to have her spayed. 

If you decide to have her done after the first season only, 12 weeks after the season has finished is generally recognised to be the safest period.

HTH, regards Teri :)

  

Thank you so much Teri, you've helped set my mind at rest :) Dogs are just soooo much easier ;)

I'm not dead set on having her spayed after this season but I guess, like you say, it will come down to how well we 'manage' this one to determine if we can safely cope with another.

Yes, I'd read that moving their tail was a sign of being ready, but my bitch still does it when I stroke her, and she's 2 months out of season now!

My Springer is such a tart she moves her tail as well - and she's been spayed!

>Dogs are just soooo much easier

Preaching to the converted here!  :D

On the other hand my bitch is SO much easier to train and SO much quicker to respond to recalls and other commands than my 2 dogs - it evens out I guess! :-)