Hi, I wonder if anyone can help.  I have a gorgeous long haired Jack Russell Terrier and she's in her 1st and last season. She's been swelling gradually for about 2 weeks now and she's been bleeding for about 4 days.  What I want to know is-How long does the bleeding last?  She's coping ever so well, but going stir crazy at not being able to go out for her walks over the fields.  I know that a season lasts about 3 weeks, but how long after the bleeding has stopped does the season finish?  We have towels everywhere-bless her.  Thankgod I have laminate flooring!!  

You count 3 weeks from the start of bleeding, and for extra security add on a few more days to a week.  Some bitches bleed very slittle and only for a few days and others more and right the way through.  Lack of blood does not mean the season has finished as this is usually when they are most fertile.  The end of the season is when all the swelling has gone down to normal (though not as small as before a season) and all discharge has dried up (whether clear, straw or blood stained).

Thankyou so much for answering my questions so quickly.  I thought that I had about a week left before I could take her out again.

How sensible you are! Yesterday morning I was walking my lab bitch, when I came across a whippet and her owner. I made my dog sit and wait, and the other owner said " Oh, mine's OK" I replied that since many dogs around here aren't OK, I don't take chances anymore. She explained that she wasn't local, she was down from Blackpool to have her bitch mated - she'd been mated twice and would have one more opportunity. I pointed out to her that my entire male was being walked with my OH in the area - I could actually see them in the distance. Actually they were on their way home, so they didn't meet. BUT - lots of people let their dogs run free on these paths - surely it's not wise to be walking a bitch in season - particularly at this stage - where there are lots of other dogs? Somewhat unfair on the poor males, too?

Yes most unfair.  I walk my in season bitches but only where no off lead dogs have business being, the city streets, which thanks to pretty efficinet dog wardens are clear of latchkey dogs.

I agree.  I'm quite lucky here in sunny Deal, as we don't really see any dogs wandering around off the leash.  When I take Jess over the fields with my 2 boys we seem to be the only ones there.  It's lovely being able to let her off her lead to run and play with my boys.  I would never take Jess out whilst she's in season because it's not fair on the owners of male dogs and it's certainly not fair on the male dogs.