Hi

My sheltie Isla has today just started her first season at just over 12 months.  I realised at once as she is trying to hump our Jack Russell (neutered)!

Can someone tell me about how long a season lasts? Presumably I keep her in or at least out on the lead for just road walks?  Also, she is entered for the Windsor Dog show on 5 July but presumably she won't be able to enter.  It cost £33 to enter her so was wondering if one can get one's  money back!

Also how long does this flirty behaviour last?  At the moment it is not messy (first day) but does it become more so?  Should I get a spray - I have heard of them.

Questions questions!!  In all the years I have had dogs they have all been neutered so this is an unknown quantity.  Any advice gratefully received!!

Snowflake

12 month sis quite late for such a small breed, but it can last up to 3 weeks.

the humping is just her being randy (does she ever cock her leg?)

walk her on the lead, but try to take her out less, bitches pee alot in season to tell dogs where they are, you dont want to start attakting dogs to you frount dog.

she can go in to windsor dog show as long as the class is separate sex classes, you cant get your money back. (worn the judge if you like that she is coming in, never say that she is in, i wouldnt though)

i dont know what you mean by spray she cant help it, first seasons are usally the heaviest, and the worst she probably wont be like this the next time.

The average season lasts for 21 days, but some bitches will accept mating up to 23 or 24 days, so to play safe you need to keep her away from entire male dogs for 4 weeks. The flirting is usually only when she is ready to be mated, which normally is during the secodn week -but again it can vary a lot. Some bitches are ready at day 3, others day 12, others day 18 etc etc-it's individual and can also vary from season to season. You can't get the money back for show entries I'm afraid, it's just part of being a bitch owner -sod's law. :) The sprays really don't do much good -in fact one vet I had used to say he was sure all they did was tell male dogs even MORE that here is a bitch in season LOL.

A season will last aprox 21 days. Yes probably the messy bit will get worse up to day 12/13 then it will change to a more watery colour. Lead walks away from other dogs is a must and I think (Fingers and toes out) she will be on about day 12/13 for Windsor so right on her most flirty attractive stage so yes in my opinion a no go, however others I know show right through a season but I don't.
Depending on how it takes her be carefull she does not try to escape and go of hunting for a nice young man...I have had those who do and those who don't..Treacle would always need a leash as she was prone to leg it after any dog she saw for a little of what she most definatly fancied!!!!
Make sure she is not out in your garden unattendad as some lothario's are very clever at breaking in to get a a nice bitch!!
Oh and just as an afterthought (For those who may read this and not know) she will mate with ANY dog when her time is right, Father, Brother, Grandad etc... dogs have NO inhibitions in that respect and many an unwanted pup has been born as people thought they would not mate with a close relative!!!
Hope this helps..as regard to sprays..I find the magority of Dogs have worked out that a bitch that smells of anti-mate IS in season!!! They are not daft!!
Aileen

she can go in to windsor dog show as long as the class is separate sex classes

Very unfair -what about the poor male dogs scheduled to be judged in the next breed in the same ring? It will ruin it for them, and being on grass the smell will stay for ages. Or if the bitch takes BB and has to challenge for BOB -again very unfair to the dog's owner.

A season lasts on average 3 weeks, but it is best to be wary of mixing her with Male dogs for up to four.

As for the show there is no rule to prevent you from showing an in season bitch.  It seems to be more frowned upon in some breeds than others.

If there are no loose off lead dogs allowed to roam in your area you will be perfectly OK to Road walk her along the streets where dogs are no allowed off lead.  Of course it would be foolish and unfair on male dog owners to walk her anywhere where dogs are exercised off lead.

I know there are no rules for showing bitches in season but I personally wouldnt show a bitch in season.  6 weeks out of a year isnt that much.

I think its totally unfair on the males at the show especially as some of them will be experienced stud dogs and can smell a bitch a mile off.  I had a male who we should have called Dyson as if he got one wiff of a bitch in season his nose was on the floor and he wouldnt show at all. 

I too had paid my entry fee but stood no chance!!

> she can go in to windsor dog show as long as the class is separate sex classes
>
> Very unfair -what about the poor male dogs scheduled to be judged in the next breed in the same ring? It will ruin it for them, and being on grass the smell will stay for ages. Or if the bitch takes BB and has to challenge for BOB -again very unfair to the dog's owner

It is very unfair, i was at an open non group system show (1 judge 1 ring) last summer and all but the age classes were AV same sex and there was a bitch in season which i didn't find out till later that afternoon and my male who has never been studed out (& never will be) was sharing a cage with another male (they get on fine) but this COULD of caused a major fight, luckily it didn't but for the rest of the show he was desperate to get to her & just wouldn't show & wouldn't let the judge go over him, usually bomb proof!

This topic has been addressed on numerous occasions (showing in season bitches).

The fact is though that at any given show, especially championship shows, there will be in season bitches there, if not in your ring then in adjacent ones or on previous days.

In at least one short coated large guarding breed it seems to be perfectly usual practise, in other breeds it seems to go on on the quiet, with people claiming the bitch must have come in on the way to the show etc..

Thanks all, that is very helpful.  I think Windsor obviously is a no no! 

What a dull few weeks I will have now - no ringcraft and no obedience classes for the time being!  Still that's the downside of having a bitch.

Just one more thing - any idea when the next season may be - roughly?

Snowflake

Very unfair -what about the poor male dogs scheduled to be judged in the next breed in the same ring? It will ruin it for them, and being on grass the smell will stay for ages. Or if the bitch takes BB and has to challenge for BOB -again very unfair to the dog's owner.

tottally agree
when my girl is in season, we stay home
yes you do lose money but i think it is so selfish of people taking bitches in season to shows
pity the shows do not refund entry money then we may not get selfish people taking bitches in season

yes i know that, but it is ok in the kennel clubs eyes. to do it if it is seperate classes. i find that most dogs want to get my bitch whether she is in or not.

>pity the shows do not refund entry money then we may not get selfish people taking bitches in season

The pot hunters will still go though if there's a sniff at a CC.  I know someone who took her bitch in season to the show because she knew she had a very good shot at BOB and the group judge liked her bitch.  she got BOB, in the group between two male dogs and had to come out the ring and the bitch had two male dogs going crazy and at least two other people in the group becoming quite upset and annoyed that their dogs wern't concentrating on showing because they had a bitch in season next to them.

You enter a bitch, risking loosing that entry fee because bitches come in season or their coats drop out and look horrible etc. 

anyone who also has male dogs and has coped with a male in a ring with a bitch in season knows what it is like.