now I'm getting worried !!!- I imported a  Groenendael bitch last June - she's just wonderful - good conformation, pretty head - most loving temperament - good hip and clear eye tests and carrying some of the best continental lines behind her  but at 20 months she has not yet come into season. I have never known this in a bitch before and wonder if anyone has had a bitch go this long before having their first season ?.

Part of the reason for importing her was to restart my breeding programme as I have epilepsy in my old lines cannot continue with them - of course I love her to bits but it would be pretty upsetting if I could not breed from her - should I be worried -? - is there anything a vet can do to induce her seasons

help !

Yvonne

Hi Yvonne,

Not having experience with your breed, not sure what they are like, but i experienced the same thing with my youngest girl who i also wanted to develop my lines with. My older bitch had her first season aged 5 months and with the yongest still no season at 12 months. She did however finally have her first at 16 months which is very late for my breed (happily now having her second). I like you was begining to think it would never happen and was considering going down the investigation route to see if there was a problem with her ( you could go down this route if neccassary ) .Let's hope it happens soon for you. Why is it always the way with these girls, they like to keep us on our toes i think.

P.s even now she is still very immature for her age compared with some in the breed, at 21months. It is a family joke that she will still be the baby even when she has pups of her own!!!!!!
Regards

Deb :)

Is it true that walking a bitch that hasn't had a season with an entire male will do the trick after a month or two? I had hear this from a spinger owner that her bitch at 4yrs old hadn't had a season and she was being walked by a lady that had an uncastrated dog and she come into season.

not sure if there is any truth behind the theory or just coincidence.

My friends Goldie bitch didn't come into season until she was 2 - they were beginning to get worried and had thyroid function tests done.  I shouldn't worry too much at the moment - I'm sure she'll come in soon - probably when you don't want it to!

Might be worth checking her thyroid, failing that finding someone with an in season bitch and keep them together as this often will bring a bitch in if on the verge.

Is there any possibility that they missed spotting she was in season before you got her?

One of my girls was 2 weeks off of being 2 before her first season arrived, we had lots of blood tests done, all came back clear, then 2 weeks after the tests she came in season.....typical hey!......lol.

It's now been 10 months since her first season and still no signs of No. 2, her mum is every 7 months to the day.  Even keeping her with my other girls who have been in season haven't prompted her and I've recently had 4 in season all together!!

hi Yvonne,

Could she have possibly had a silent season?

There is a clinic down south that specialise in this , will see if I can dig out the details.

On a positive note I am not sure what the affect factors really are I am told the cold has been an issue this year but it seems quite a number of bitches are late in season just now, not just my breed but quite a few others.  That may sound daft but I have had the conversation with a few people recently.

Just noticed your Moderator sign Barbara is that a new badge ;-)

Hi Yvonne,

If this was my breed I wouldn't be too worried.  Mine have been known to have their first season at 3 years of age.  Very slow maturers.

Have you asked her breeder when her line normally has their first season?

Debs

> Just noticed your Moderator sign Barbara is that a new badge ;-)

I see nothing other than the flag, but I did switch the stars off as ti was all on top of each toehr as I ahve the settings large and things like that then overlap.

It's not that new.

Hi Yvonne

two of my 3 girls were very late first season, Mayhem was 21.5 months and almost a year (later) before her second began.  During this time her mum was coming in regularly every 6 months so her cycle wasn't influenced/affected by another bitch :)

I asked around a lot when I was concerned and TBH have come to the conclusion that it's definitely NOT uncommon in our breed at all so please don't worry (easier said thane done of course!)

Good luck with her, Teri

:-))  I can see it :-) first time I noticed.

I had the same problem earlier this year, i bought a lovely lab bitch to breed from and expected her to have a season around 18 months as i didnt have her when she was at six or twelve months so wasnt sure what seasons she had had before, as someone else said she happened to come in season at 21 months when my other bitch was in season. ( i suspect this is her first season too).

one of my girls had her first season over Christmas (don't they always :/) and she was 18 months old at the time, am not familiar with your breed but from reading other comments doesn't look like you should worry :)

fingers crossed for you

Yvonne I was also going to mention silent season -my Rio's firsts season was , just ONE day of a little bit of blood and had it happened on a day when they weather was great and she was outside all day we'd probably never have noticed the blood.

thanks for all your replies folks - her breeder informs me that her mum had her first season at 18 months and her litter sister had her's at 16 months so it could be that the line is a late maturer. She lives with my pack of 3 spayed bitches and two entire dogs one of which has been used at stud before - the boys have not shown any sign of her having had a silent season ( and believe me they would let me know !!!).
I guess I'll just have to be a little more patient and keep my fingers crossed.

Teri and Marianne -  see you at Crufts on Saturday !

Yvonne

I'm sure she will be fine Yvonne (they do like to keep us on our toes!)

We'll be watching Crufts from the comfort of home this year - but good luck on the day!
Teri

Aha -there's your solution Yvonne! If you have her entered, you can be SURE she will start on FRIDAY!! ;) ;)