first Heat-what do I need to know?

Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
I have some information from Dr Google...but this is the first time I've dealt with a bitch who's not spayed in time for Season.

What do I need to know?

Angel's back end is looking a little droopy, she's licking it often, and is very clingy with Shamas. Interestingly, he's more tolerant of her than normal, even coming to lay on the bed at the same time as her, and letting her rest her head on his haunches last night--which he's never let her do before. I'm pretty sure she's just going into her first heat. no sign of discharge, or distress, to indicate an infection. Just lots of whining to go out, and increased attention-seeking behavior.

Please treat me as though I know nothing...because all I know is what Google told me. anything you can tell me to prepare me for the next developmental stage would be great
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
Hmm yes..Took her out to pee and she's very interested at the sound of dogs barking a block over. I'm glad I re-enforced the one section of the fence that wasn't 6foot yet. I did that a few days ago, aso now I have 6foot fence all round the yard. I also have a baby gate on the porch, so no chance at a bolting out the back door into the yard.

I'll put Shamas out to pee first, just to be sure that no neighborhood dog is nearby when Angel goes out in the morning, and I'll go out with her too, and hold her on a leash instead of her standard 15foot tie-out. Shamas will tell me if there's a dog in the vicinity, before I even open the door
 
Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
Can't say I am the expert here, and I guess all bitches are different. Not to mention the dogs in the vicinity.
@Sophiedoodle knows much more about it than I do.
I just walk Oreo in places other dogs don't walk, and always on a lead, when she's in season, but I guess easier for us in a more rural setting. And pretty sure the few bits that are around here have all had the snip.
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
Jacqui-S said:
Can't say I am the expert here, and I guess all bitches are different. Not to mention the dogs in the vicinity.
@Sophiedoodle knows much more about it than I do.
I just walk Oreo in places other dogs don't walk, and always on a lead, when she's in season, but I guess easier for us in a more rural setting. And pretty sure the few bits that are around here have all had the snip.
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"I just walk Oreo in places other dogs don't walk, and always on a lead"-- I do that all the time, after years with Shamas lol.

We're Urban...but it's kind of standard where we are to do the neuter/spay. So not a lot of intact animals walking around. I already don't do parks/dog parks, so there's that risk gone. And I walk her on a 4 foot lead, with a Halti or front lead harness, so I have a good response time. I prefer the Halti, because she eats random stuff she finds and Halti lets me pick her head up.

Usually I have both, both with their leads held short, and clipped to their chins, so they don't pull me. . But Shamas roared and tried to go through my front screen door when another dog walked towards our house two days ago...so I'm not walking the TWO of them anywhere until Angel's season's over. She was sitting just outside the door at the time and I suspect Shamas was going to fight over her.
 
Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
Many owners reduce risks by not even having on lead walks, and exercising in yards, with enrichment.
It's not much fun to be the owner of a boy who is hot on the trail of an in season bitch who passes that way 3 hours ago :nerd:
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
Jacqui-S said:
Many owners reduce risks by not even having on lead walks, and exercising in yards, with enrichment.
It's not much fun to be the owner of a boy who is hot on the trail of an in season bitch who passes that way 3 hours ago :nerd:
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Being the owner of an 80lb male, I considered that too. Though mine pulls to get home.

So after securing the yard against amorous dogs, we've decided to focus on training for the next few weeks. She can join me while I work in the yard, and work on recall.

I've also warned the neighbors, who have small male dogs. I'll be checking that fenceline today. Probably use the plastic mesh I have to bury along the low edge and prevent digging under

Just in case.
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
Sounds sensible, and I wouldn't, under any circumstances, leave her unsupervised in the garden, however strong the fence.

Luna appeared totally unchanged behaviourally during her seasons, but Ginny turns into a complete flirt and pesters poor Shadow. Squidge was really messy during hers. She would sleep upside down, the blood would pool and then she'd get up and shake. Think Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Luckily, we have solid floors and leather sofas!
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Hope all is going well. Usually the three weeks pass pretty quickly with little fuss... Just be aware that when she stops showing red blood and the discharge is more watery, that the season has not stopped but rather that she is in the fertile phase!!!

Good luck!
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
MellowYellow said:
Hope all is going well. Usually the three weeks pass pretty quickly with little fuss... Just be aware that when she stops showing red blood and the discharge is more watery, that the season has not stopped but rather that she is in the fertile phase!!!

Good luck!
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Thankyou, that's especially useful to know. we've only been taking her in the back yard since being sure she was in season..or in the front(after ensuring the street is empty) if my eldest was in bed for a night shift(because the back door is adjacent to her bedroom door, and squeaks)

There was some fuss last night as we had the dogs out for last pee before bed, and someone stepped out with a buff male dog. Hubby was worried about Shamas going off, but I told him to get Angel inside because I'm far more concerned about that right now. Shamas I've been managing for years, and he barely reacted to the dog 50feet off...Angel was trying to haul hubby over there.

I'm considering putting up a little fence between the two houses, to make a tiny y ard accessible from the front of the house
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

We didn't have Poppy spayed for over four years, so I have been through several seasons with her. After the first time I found I got much more relaxed about the whole thing. Of course we were vigilant, but I found that it was much less problematic than I had expected. However, we did get followed a couple of times by VERY enthusiastic male dogs...

In an emergency, if a male dog is trying to mount her and you cannot keep them apart, as a last resort you can cup your hand over her vulva to stop the male penetrating. This sounds really yukky but once penetration occurs you cannot pull the male off without risk of injuring both dogs badly, so it is best to know what to do to prevent this happening! And the male dog wont bite you as he will be totally fixated on your dog. And then you yell as loud as you can for someone to come and take him away!!

Sorry if that is a bit gross and detailed...
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
MellowYellow said:
We didn't have Poppy spayed for over four years, so I have been through several seasons with her. After the first time I found I got much more relaxed about the whole thing. Of course we were vigilant, but I found that it was much less problematic than I had expected. However, we did get followed a couple of times by VERY enthusiastic male dogs...

In an emergency, if a male dog is trying to mount her and you cannot keep them apart, as a last resort you can cup your hand over her vulva to stop the male penetrating. This sounds really yukky but once penetration occurs you cannot pull the male off without risk of injuring both dogs badly, so it is best to know what to do to prevent this happening! And the male dog wont bite you as he will be totally fixated on your dog. And then you yell as loud as you can for someone to come and take him away!!

Sorry if that is a bit gross and detailed...
Click to expand...
I'd rather do that than risk puppies having puppies....

Perhaps we can have her wear a pretty skirt when she goes out to pee? LOL something long enough to cover her bits without getting in the way of her business:rofl:
 
Shamas mom

Shamas mom

Location
Canada
I put it on the day we bought it, and she tolerates it....but she got upset later, when she tried to clean herself and couldn't. SO I undid it and she washed herself and her daiper too. I decided I'd hold off using it unless she gets messy. I have it if it's needed. Today I washed all the bedding, dog and people alike.

If she's anything like Shamas, she will probably refuse to pee if she's wearing her daiper....so putting it on to leave the house would be redundant I think?

The only people we'd visit with her would be my dad...and he's got TOBY....so I'll keep her hee until she's done. she wasn't at all happy about staying home from tonight's walk, but Shamas liked the peace and quiet. We wandered over to Tim's, and he carried his egg home folded into a baggie and tucked into the opening at the front of his muzzle for him to hold. I brought Angel a tiny bit of hashbrown.
 
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