OK, just to put everyone at rest. First off, I am not going to breed my little bitch until she is 2 and a half to 3 years old. However I do have a question. She was allowed to play with and chase the cattle along side our male Aussie. I noticed this morning that she has a tiny bit of blood on her and she seems to be wet. What is this. Has she come into season for the first time already?? She has just turned 4 months on the 11th. Isn't she a little early? I was under the impression that the first season came when they were around 6 months old. As a precaution she will no longer be allowed to visit with our male dog and I go out with her when I let her out to play and potty so that I can keep an eye out for any males. I do NOT want her bred now!! We are getting started on her kennel so she will be able to move in by the end of the month. Is there anything that I need to do for her right now? Can she play with our male when she is not in heat, or is that (I think it may be) too risky. I figure it is best if she just not! Am I doing the right thing here?

Oh and to put all at ease, I am going to visit my bitches breeder for a few days to get some on hands 'classes' from her. She is expecting a litter during the time I will be visiting so she will show me the ropes. And I will be going there off and on till I am ready to breed my own dogs. Also I got a few more books and am studying like crazy and searching for a vet who is seasoned in rearing pups. Thank you all for the advice on my other posts.

QT

Hi QT!
I have a 3yr old blue merle bitch that I absolutely adore. She isn't a working aussie, only a much beloved family dog. :)

Four months does sound a bit young to me, but it's quite possible. Is her vulva swollen? Is she licking her bottom a lot? Is she peeing more often in a marking sort of way?

As for books, I think most people on this board will agree that The Book of the Bitch is an excellent resource. For aussies, do you have the "bible" All About Aussies? Another source of information is the Aussie-L. Have you signed up for that?

Finally, I'm glad you've come back to the board. There are many, many experienced dog owners, breeders, rescuers and trainers that log on here every day. I know a few of them personally and they are wonderful people with hearts of gold and a wealth of information. You will always find someone here who can either answer your question or point you in the right direction! :)

Kory

Hi QT
Welcome back. :)
First off, yes 4 mths is a bit young, but not impossible, particularly as she lives with a male as this sometimes can make bitches come in early (though not sure it would affect their 1st season).
Has he shown any interest in her?
Is her vulva swollen? Try wiping her gently with white tissue to see if there is any colour now.
Could she have hurt herself yesterday when she was out playing?
Let us know what happens. :)
Nicky

If there is no swelling I would be suspicious of Cystitis, as you say she is wet! If she were in season there would only be drops of blood coming from the vulva, perhaps a little mucussy at first or nearer the end, but I wouldn't describe it as wet, unless she was justlicking herself when you checked her.

I would take her to the Vet.

She is a little swollen. And she is urinating frequently. When I let her out she will walk around and squat like she wants to pee and then doesn't. This got me worried that maybe she could have some sort of infection. By chance she wasnt with the male the day before and she hasnt been allowed over to play with him since I noticed this. She doesnt seem wet anymore, just a few drops of red. Will be calling the vet this afternoon and taking her in just to make sure all is alright. I guess I am a little paranoid about my baby, dont want anything to happen to her.
Is it alright to allow her to play with the male when she is not in heat? I could bring some calves over for her to work so her training can continue... she just wouldnt have anyone to learn with. Just want to make sure about everything.
I do have the Aussie bible, the breeder sent it out with her papers. And The Book of the Bitch is on its way to me. I ordered that one last week. Looking forward to getting it!
Thank you all for the replies!
QT

Hi QT,
Sounds like cystitis to me. My aussie bitch puppy had a couple of bouts from being about 15 weeks old with similar symptoms. Antibiotics cleared it up fairly quickly and she is now 11 months old and hasn't had any cystitis for about 3 months. Her litter sister who is also with me, has just come into her first season at the age of 11 months, which I would have thought is a more realistic age.
HTH,
Gabrielle

hi QT
i have great admiration for you, on coming back, you did take a bit of a battering on your previous postings,as others have said they only want to protectthe breeds and also those getting into breeding as it is not always clean cut so to speak and sometimes heart breaking, you seem to be getting it together with the breeder, books etc, as others have said,there will always be someone to help, reg your bitch in season, my bitch came in at nine months, few spots of blood, not realy swollen, after couple of days stoped, three weeks later she came in properly, not much different to girls starting puberty and having false starts. all the very best to you regards tina

Well, I think it was just a false start. She is fine now. No discharge, no extra squating, shes acting perfectly normal again. Talked to vet over the phone and he said is probably just her hormones getting started. Since if she comes into full season next month (shell be 5m old then) it wouldnt be unusual. So I guess I got worried for nothing. She is Not being allowed with the male again though. I cant take that chance. Thank you all for the help and kind words. It is greatly appreciated!
QT

QT, I often find that my puppy bitches have "dummy runs"! They seem to have a slight discharge, and I think "She'll be in season tomorrow" then it clears. This can happen a few times before I am left in no doubt that she'a REALLY in season.

I'd agree that cystitis or some other urinary infection sounds likely - one of my girls did this last year - was expecting her in season and she was due for mating, but I phoned the stud dog owner and said that although I was giving her early warning I wasn't entirely sure she was in season as it didn't quite look right. Anyway, took her to the vet with a 'sample' and she did have an infection - she had antibiotics and cleared it, and she came into season approx. 4 months later with no further problems.

Hi, Glad that she has turned out to be fine. About whether or not to let her play with your male: If he is the only other dog of yours that she can play with - and he is kind with her- I think it would be a shame to deny her the pleasure of his company. You are obviously very observant and will know at once when she does come in season properly and could separate them then? As I am sure you know, when she does come in season he could/would not mate her for several days and he will probably be showing some signs of interest a day or two before you do, anyway, dogs noses being what they are!! I have a dog and young btch living together in the house and have just seperated them on day 1 of her season since she was a baby.

westie lover,
Thank you for the advice. He is the only other dog that she gets to play with. That is until early October when I am expecting my second bitch puppy to arrive. Then she will have a constant companion! I go over to my folks farm (where the male is) to milk every evening. He is always looking for her when I dont bring her and she destroys her crate because she has to stay home. Am glad she can visit him, they are really attatched to each other. Thanks again for putting my mind at ease!
QT