What are people's views on deferring or preventing seasons? Any suggestions as to which of the various shots are best?

My bitch (almost a year old) could have her second season any time from the next couple of weeks. I'll need to put my dog in kennels during her fertile period and know that my chances of finding a kennels with a vacancy at short notice during the holiday period will next to zero, so figured it might be the best option.

I'd strongly advise you not to give her this jab, which has been associated with many future problems in bitches - from pyometra, to irregular seasons, to infertility and more.  It's just not worth the risk.  Instead, why don't you focus on finding a kennel which will take her in season - some do.

leave the jab alone, for all the reasons 123 has stated. Its risky, causes to much hormone problems. Why does she have to go into kennels? If its because you have a male, couldnt he go instead? be wary of just the 'fertile' time, that is as long or as short as a piece of string! I prefer to err on the side of caution and say day 1 to day 31 is dangerous lol....bit OTT maybe, but I prefer to be safe. Contact the kennels that are local now, see what they say about a last min booking, if that is the only choice. If this is to be a regular thing, and you dont want to breed from her, maybe a spay after this season would be a good idea? or a snip snip of the boy? if done now, I think he should be 'safe' by the time the girl comes into season?

Of course, if you show yours, this post of mine is a bit pointless lol....so how about building a kennel outside, that way you have a secure enviroment for either, will work out cheaper than kenneling for the next 10 years, and whichever one goes in there, they stay with you, under your control for the length of the season, and much as Im not critising kennels, your dogs dont have a chance of catching anything from someone elses dog.

I'm hoping to breed from them both, probably at the season after this, subject to having her assessed by my mentor later in the year.

I'd love an outside kennel, but our garden just isn't big enough and slopes steeply, so it would be a hell of a job. I'd gladly move, but the OH flatly refuses!

I'd be happy to put her in kennels, although would perefer to put him in as he's happy wherever he is but she's a lot more inclined to pine, but I'm sure we'd have trouble finding a vacancy at short notice during the peak holiday period. Last year we had to find kennels just for one night in August and the only place we could get was 50 miles away and very much an unknown quantity. The one that's our usual one (if two nights a year can be regarded as usual lol) is booked solid until late September and has been since just after Easter.

It will only be her second season, so she hasn't had a chance to establish a pattern and we have no idea when she's likely to come in. Her dam was every 4.5 months though.

I know there were problems with these shots when they were first available, but had been led to believe they were much improved now.

I used the jab once, back in 1992 - my bitch got pyometra.  I also had to use the misalliance jab in 2001 (little hussy opened the door and let the boys out) and my bitch got pyometra.  I am now very anti interfering with their hormones, especially if you do want to breed.

my dobermann bitch became infertile after we gave the jab .........

ginastarr

Litle hussy opened the door.........:D

Is there any way you could seperate them in house? maybe a spare room with a huge crate? (to stop the door being eaten) I know its not ideal, and will take lots of 'little walks' but if you have pups you are going to have to think of somewhere to put her when she has them, away from him, so maybe now would be a time to arrange an 'indoor' type living accomadation for them?