Hello my bitch has started her season and has been bleeding for 4 days am I right in thinking she needs to be covered when the bleeding stops a clear liquid is produced and her tail flags
Many thanks

I've had girls visiting my boys that never stopped bleeding and never produced the straw coloured discharge, they obviously never read the books. The tail flagging is a good guide though some bitches flag when they're not quite ready.

I usually go with an experienced stud dogs opinion, I've found it more reliable than progesterone testing even, how far away is the boy you want to use?

If you are not doing any timing (progesterone, cytology) at all and you have no access to experienced stud dogs to check, then the most common and popular days to breed are days 12 and 14. It has nothing much to do with bleeding going a different colour or tail flagging. But be warned that bitches don't read the books...

>But be warned that bitches don't read the books

Agreed, I've had one visiting girl ready on day 5 and one on day 26 (the whole family stayed here from the start of her season )

Labradors1:> Hello my bitch has started her season and has been bleeding for 4 days am I right in thinking she needs to be covered when the bleeding stops

Your girl could bleed throughout her season so I would start counting now as her 'optimum/receptive' time will be between days 9 & 14.
(it is relevant timing when the clear/straw coloured liquid is produced but not always the case).

Re flagging her tail:  She could do this days before being ready as her hormones dictate this playful action.  When there are no male dogs around, try tickling
the inside of her hind leg.  If she flags with this action then she is most likely ready.

Hope this helps and good luck with the mating X

You could also check back on her records from previous seasons to know what is 'normal' for her.

The 'norm' (and yes bitches don't read the books) is usually between days 9 and 14 and usually when the discharge has gone to a light straw colour.  I have never tested, but go by how both react when put together, especially if the male is a proven experienced stud dog.   Using a maiden bitch to an unproven male can make things less 'obvious'.    Most of mine tended to go by the book, but I had one whose discharge had gone light, and was bred twice, who then went back to a darker coloured discharge for some reason.  She had an uneventful pregnancy and produce 9 of probably the best puppies we'd ever had.

This is what makes breeding a challenge