could anyone advise when it will be safe for me to let my bc off the lead again following her first season. This is the end of her third week - she seems to have stopped bleeding but is still rather swollen underneath. Do we have to wait for this to go down or is she 'safe' now.
Many thanks.

Linda

Hi, I wouldn't let her off the lead for another week just to be safe. Her "bits" will stay a little larger now as she has had her first season, they will not return to the previous small size, so she may well have finished now but just looking larger as a more mature bitch does. Give her a bath or hind quarters only in a few days so the season smell wont stay on her to attract dogs.

Thanks for your advise - will probably keep her on the lead for another week to be safe.

The season tends to last 3 weeks + or minus a couple of days, your bitch would have been at her most receptive about 14/15 days, she should be relatively "safe" but dogs will still get the scent and pester her... our bitch doesn't appreciate a dogs attention at this stage and will let them know in no uncertain terms... she'll fire one across their bows! (we tend to keep her on the lead through out... ) There are some good "deodourant" sprays you can get from the pet shop/vets which will disguise the scent, but if you get one make sure you appreciate the "perfume"!!
Don't rely on the "Oh she's stopped bleeding" the discharge changes colour from blood, to pink then to clear.
To be safe you should wait for the vulva to revert to its normal size, and then she is definately inactive!, before you let her near other dogs and off the lead.
Some bitches can act uncharacteristically and wander off in search of a mate when they are in season so it is better to be SAFE than SORRY!