Regarding the walking issue - my dogwalker was taking lola out whilst she was in the first week of her season and she was running after male dogs. Problem was, we weren't aware she was in season until the following weekend when we noticed blood! I was really cross that she suspected this but kept walking her without telling us!! We have a huge garden and she could have been quite happy there for an hour of play as she has been since.
So in response to Rachel's point about walking 'in season' bitches, I can see that a problem could arise if the owner genuinely missed the signs and carried on without realising, which I have now seen can happen easily, even if it's not your first puppy. They are all different and the signs are not so clear in some bitches as they are in others!
I live in a very remote, quiet village. My house walks straight out onto fields.
We have a nature walk, which runs right past my fields but I have never, ever had a problem with my girls and their seasons.
No dogs at the door, no dogs following....I have an entire dog who lives next door. He doesn't seem to notice. No howling or undue stress....He does live with a hareem of his own girls, though
I agree Hayley but because most folks who read here do not have access to private ground or absolute seculsion, and we all know the quality of behaviour in the dogs one meets on a walk being so variable, advice has to be to err on the side of caution and good manners, I always feel.
Di
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Mia ´I WILL grow into Dads ears....!!´
Follow the Dog Blog on our website - last updated 28th July 10'
" A neighbour has a gorgeous little black bitch who they are sure (previous and current bitch owners of other breeds as well as labs) has not come into season yet, and she is just over 3.
Do you know if this is likely? If so, can this happen without there being something 'wrong' with the bitch? "
Sorry I missed this!
Ok well personally I feel not coming in until 3 years of age is not normal. It DOES *happen* but I very often wonder if infact a very slight season took place previously, OR even what we call a 'silent season' where the bitch has a full 'season' but loses no discharge of any sort, turns her tail and flirts VERY briefly when ovulating, and then comes out without the owners hardly noticing a thing unless knowledgeable to the 'tail turning' signs.
Bitches not having a first season until 3 are showing something is not quite right with their 'system'. It may be nothing, but it may well then lead to ongoing problems.
To give an idea this would be sort of equiavlent to a woman not starting her periods until she was probably about mid 20's. And that certainly would not be without concern. If you bear in mind, in the wild a bitch having her first season is the sign she is all good and ready physcially and hormonally to concieve. In the wild bitches do tend to have their first season later AND only cycle on a yearly basis not six monthly like our domestic dogs but all the same, I would be concerned about a 3 year old bitch not having had a season.
I would strongly suggest she has had a silent one previously. Which is showing problems immediately. However IF there was no previous silent one, yes I would be extremely concerned.
Di
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Mia ´I WILL grow into Dads ears....!!´
Follow the Dog Blog on our website - last updated 28th July 10'
Thanks Di for your very thorough reply. She's a sweet little thing, but not knowing her that well, its hard to tell her normal from possible flirting behaviour. She's one of those that approaches every other dog with her body crouched and half curled round, then when she's close enough she rolls on her back and widdles. Always get BJ very confused.
Right, Sweep has been in her first season since 19th March, well that was the first day I noticed blood. She bled lightly for almost 2 weeks becoming even lighter and paler towards the end of the second week when it stopped completely.
She has not bled for a week. Her 'bits' have gone back down to normal.
Because of this I was going to take her out today, but just realised we are only on day 20. Reading Di's post I am now unsure about taking her out.
To anyone with experience of bitches in season, does it sound like she has finished her season, or could she still be at risk?
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