Female Puppy Heat?

[BethK]

she'll bleed when she comes on.

maybe you need to take her for a walk after eating or control the amount she drinks.

you can get toilet sheets to put on a floor, train her to pee on them

 

[biokid101]

we will try that as the winter comes..but im pretty sure that there r more signs to know she is having her period besides bleeding..i took her for a walk and a dog came out of HIS and i picked her up cause she was terrified and she peed and pooped her self then i put her down and she freaked out but the dog only got like 4 feet from her not bad but still it was like 3 feet tall

 

[Curiosity101]

I believe some of her 'fear' is being reinforced by your behaviour. It does seem like whenever you are in a situation where you deem it that she would/should be scared you act like she would/should be scared.

And as I mentioned earlier, if you really need to walk her outside in public whilst she's on heat then I suggest doggy diapers. And also apparently rubbing strong smelling things around the base of her tail (google 'Dealing with a dog on heat') helps to mask the scent from male dogs. Other than that just make sure you keep her on a tight short leash and that her collar is on securely.

The peeing you're seeing could be down to some sort of infection, so it may be worth getting her checked at the vets if it persists.

 

[nessar]

Dont pick her up unless you really need to, as in if shes being attacked. Otherwise let her deal with it, even if its a big dog. I know jack russels that will handle themselves around big dogs, but I know 'tough' dogs like staffies that will run and be defensive. The difference is that the scared ones usually have (or had as a puppy) someone who would pick them up, or be scared themselves by the situation. If you are tense so is your dog. If you are scared, your dog will be too. If you relax, eventually she will too.

I really would get her spayed or get the doggy diapers. Then all you have to worry about is her getting into fights. At the moment she cant socialise with other dogs, just because YOU may want to breed her. 4.5 million dogs and cats to die in local animal shelters each year due to a lack of space - there are way more pets than there are homes anyway, dont add to it.

By the way fights arent that bad when they do get into them. A lot of the time it is playing, or for dominance, and it is very rare that a dog will get seriously hurt. So you shouldnt worry about other dogs too much. Take mine for example - a german shepherd, so people think hes scary, vicious even. When he sees a dog he will strain at the lead, sometimes barking, trying to get over to them. It seems agressive, but when he gets over there all he does is sniff and want to play. If the dog gets freaked out however, normally by their screaming owner, it will snap at him and become aggressive, which is when fights will occur. If the dogs were left to themselves with no human interference, 90% of the time they will get along - IF they have been well socialised as young dogs.

Get a book. That is the best advice I can give you. Get a book that covers all aspects of dog keeping, preferably one specific to the breed. There is a lot you dont know, and you cant always rely on a fish forum for help. You need to do a lot of research.

I've only had a ***** have a season once after which she was spayed. From what little I remember she bled, although she licked it up straight away so you didnt see it much, and her genital area was swollen.

As for training, you can learn some useful tips from this guy http/www.cesarsway.com/ he has a tv show on sky and his shows always prove one thing - it is the handler's, not the dog's fault. Its got a lot in there about being assertive and how your own behaviour (e.g getting nervous or picking your dog up when another approaches) reinforces bad behaviour. He has his tv show, dvds and books. He really understands dogs and his methods WORK.

 

[biokid101]

well i didnt know that ill try to be more calm when a dog comes..its just that dog dashed towards her and as u may know im not that experienced and it just freaked me out how fast it was coming...i will not even take the chances of her getting hurt..it was hard to keep her next to me!
im still trying to find out if shes in heat or not cause i cant see her vulva because her hair is in the way. i dont know if they r swollen even if i do look at it cause i never looked at it before...
i watch the tv shows about dogs but i watch its me or the dog and victoria stilwel is rlly good at teaching dogs things..thats how i tought her all her comands that she knows...
well i read today that restlessness and increase in urination are 2 more signs of a dog in heat..so im guessing she is but im not positive until she bleeds..but ive heard they dont bleed sumtimes... i also heard that stray dogs will sumtimes hang around the house when shes in heat because they want to mate with her..thats wierd and just today 3 dogs went missing around here and we have pee marks on our shed from male dogs.
talked to my parents today and they said we have to get her used to other dogs well even tho i thot of that too but still...no doggy parks around here which stinks.. we r getting doggy diapers but we just gotta find them first. all our nieghbors have male dogs in every corner and 2 out of 6 of them get loose alot so its not safe for her to be outside alone.i rlly dont mind worrying about her getting pregnant..and she will never get near a male with me by her..im more worried about her getting into a fight because she lunges at dogs behind fences

 

[BethK]

how is she going to learn about other dogs and her own reactions, if you constantly pick her up or get in the way? Remember she is a dog and not a human, survival of the fittest is the key if she doesn't learn from an early age that a dog approaching only wants a friendly sniff, then she could in turn, lash out (eventually) and possibly cause damage.

Let other dogs sniff her, that is a natural thing.

No offense but if you can't handle something as simple as this, you won't be able to handle breeding. As said above, there are many dogs in shelters that need homing, don't add to it.

 

[biokid101]

guys if i decide to breed her thats my families decision..i dont like that u guys r talking us out of it..aggressive dogs can change and thats what im on here for too look around and get other ppl opinions not to make decisions for us

 

[BethK]

Hey, hold your horses, you've asked an opinion on a forum, you can take it as a slating or rise above and use the information you have been given to ensure you and your dog have the best start in life

 

[nessar]

If you dont trust our opinions and experience, then I would suggest that you buy a book written by a proffessional. I have chosen this one for you, because it is written by Cesar, who believes in correcting human behaviour in order to correct the dogs, and being calm and assertive. His book also has these sections which I think will be useful - How to avoid the most common mistakes owners’ make raising puppies and young dogs and How to correct any issue before it becomes a problem.

http/www.amazon.co.uk/How-Raise-Perfect-Dog-Puppyhood/dp/0340993057/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281902630&sr=1-1

it can be found on the american amazon if you live there.

I'm surprised you didnt buy a book prior to buying the dog, but its not too late. I suggest you research thoroughly by yourself if you will not listen to advice, because if you will not take it then it will stop being given.

 

[biokid101]

well my cousins have sum dogs as well and they didnt need to read any books..anyway i know its different but we have been doing everything right and shes just a little scared and over protective and jelous but that can be fixed..im just gonna say that we r not getting her spayed no matter what and breeding her is still a possibility and with us watching her she wont breed without us knowing.i came on here to find out things not for opinions but sumtimes its nice to get opinions from other ppl..sumtimes....im just getting started at taking care of her and as i get older ill get more experienced cause i dont have any right now..i have 3 books upstairs about puppy care and training and a dvd and i already saw the dvd and read 2 of the 3 books but the last book is about eating and i was told i dont need to read that one. anyway thx for the help but i still cud use help with her period and such

 

[VickiandKev]

Hi,

Well I am a slow reader and this post has taken me all night to read! (slightly exaggerated). But, biokid I really think you should take on board all of the comments added. In my experience the majority of people that post on topics like this are just looking out for you and your pets. Also in your first quotes you actually did say 'help' which I would interpret as someone wanting advice/opinions regarding your situation.

Everyone else tho lets not forget that biokid is a 15 year old kid so perhaps we should remember what we where like at that age (that's not meant to sound patronising in anyway biokid).

As for signs to see when your dog is in heat...

The two main signs are swollen teats and vaginal area, bloody discharge, increased temp and a very definite sign would be increased levels of certain hormones (but obviously you cant test for those! lol). But actually its more important to know what stage of season your ***** is in, as its only at the estrus stage that the ***** could get pregnant (actually they can get pregnant during any stage but they are considerably more fertile and receptive to males during estrus). The estrus stage can be recognised by the bloody discharge from her girly area turning a lighter colour (like watered down blood) and the ***** standing for males to mount her (a good trick is to scratch the top of her bum, if she is in estrus she will stand firm and lift her tail to one side, although this isn't by any means a definite sign as my spayed ***** still does this lol). During this stage and in fact throughout her season she can be walked but strictly on the lead. Other entire dogs will notice her but will get over it fairly quick and if off the lead should have a certain amount of training under their belt. You can also get a spray to hide shes in season if the nappies are a bit much, which I wouldn't blame you lol!

With regards to breeding her...

3-4 years is still too old for a first litter, the first should be on their second full season (as they can have phantom seasons), or around 21 months with a 3 month gestation (pregnancy) therefore their first litter born will be a 2 years old (approx). This gives them enough time to mature and develop correctly, litters before this are not a good idea as it takes a lot of energy into breeding and pregnancy that should be being used for growth, also would your dog be mentally ready for such a responsibility.

It is also equally, if not worse to wait past 2 years, with every season there is an increase risk of pyometra which is a very serious infection of the uterus that can KILL your ***** very quickly without any obvious symptoms. Not to mention other hormone imbalances that can occur due to being entire but not mated (These tho are NOT reasons to breed your dog quite the opposite) I think spaying your dog is a very good idea, based on the health implications mentioned. Also if you did want to breed your ***** you would need to get a few things checked out for example hips, elbows, possibly eyes and deafness all of which are genetic and therefore your dog may not suffer from but may genetically carry. Also there are other genetic conditions that will be breed specific to your ***** that you will need to check. Most of these can be carried out in the uk now but are still new and eyes and deafness I believe still has to be done in America which is VERY expensive we are talking 1000's of pounds!

I think its lovely that you want to breed dogs but please wait for the correct time for it, do some research talk to people and maybe when you are older you can breed another dog. (I don't think I need to mention possible costs if/when pregnancy goes wrong and I say when because many first litters do go wrong esp. if the ***** is 4+ years old.) Also are you prepared to lose you pet if it does all go wrong because that is also a common problem with older mums.

Well that's me done I think! I would like to mention that although I don't have any first hand experience with breeding dogs I am a fourth year veterinary student with lots of hours of lectures behind me and first hand experience of when it goes wrong! I have also carried out work experience at a number of shelters including the RSPCA and I would hate to see any more dogs in there unnecessarily.

Please don't think I am trying to scare or bully you into a decision because it is your family decisions after all, but maybe you should wait then the whole experience can be a happy one! If you would like any further information or advice please don't hesitate to pm me of post on here.

I hope that has helped you make the right decision. Oh and thanks for reading it took my just as long to type this as it did reading it back good old dyslexia! lol! x

 

[Tolak]

...thx for all the advice and feel free to tell me anything u want

guys if i decide to breed her thats my families decision..i dont like that u guys r talking us out of it..aggressive dogs can change and thats what im on here for too look around and get other ppl opinions not to make decisions for us

It's either one or the other. If you come here asking adults questions you will get treated like an adult, no matter what your age. You won't find that sort of equal treatment in too many places, use it to your advantage.

What works for your cousins may or may not work for you. It is good to learn what they do and how they do it, the more knowledge you can obtain the better. All dog training books are not created equal, over time training evolves. There are softer and harder methods of training, all of which are worth knowing, but not all are needed on a specific dog. A dog with fear related issues is one you would use a softer method on, an assertive headstrong "drivey" dog required a harder method.

"The Power Of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller is a really useful book on a softer method of training. Everyone who owns a dog should read "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson, this book will teach you how a dog thinks & why. Half of dog training, especially at the start is training the owner, Donaldson's book is a real eye opener for understanding why your dog behaves the way it does. These two books are way ahead of Cesar, whose books I have read. Amazon sucks me in every time, these books are easily available there, if I post a link I will end up spending money going there.

Avoid any hard method with this dog, these usually involve choke collars and various forms of punishment. You want to head the opposite way with a dog that has fear issues if you wish to resolve these.

If you are hard set on breeding nutrition is a very important issue. Check out http/www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ and don't settle for anything less than a 5 or 6 star dog food. Find a breed specific mentor for help with preparation for breeding, maternity care and so on. Your dog doen't deserve anything less than this.

 

[biokid101]

thank u tolak and vickiandkev!! i didnt know there were stages of periods but i think i saw that sumwhere while researching..i agree i am definetly going to breed a different dog when i get older..but i might probably get over not breeding her whens shes around 2 years old or on her second period but my parents and all the ppl that gave us their names and numbers just incase we wud want to breed her will probably not get over it..we got ppl numbers from the nighbor hood who r interested in taking a puppy from her if we do decide to breed her..once she has her first liter shes getting spayed no doubt..
vickiandkev i cant believe u read this whole thing! and that post u put was long and i thank u ..knowing that things go wrong when they r pregnant after 2 years old makes me think twice..but we will see what happens..i will post daily on here to tell u guys how shes doing and any change in behavior..im gonna start keeping track of how many hours she sleeps a day to see if she is having her first ))

 

[biokid101]

well nothing unusual yet about her behaviour except for one time she went pee 20 minutes after going outside..i saw her smelling the ground in the house and walking around and i thot oh boy not again but no problems with her and shes running around alot more she was born on 9-9-09 which is pretty cool so shes almost 1 ))

 

[Shelby]

Is this a serious thread? Did it not mention in the beginning of the thread that she is skittish and of an unstable temperament? Just what the world needs more unstable dogs. And on the first page you mention giving someone a couple pups because they have lots of spanish waterdogs? Are you contributing to a puppy mill?

1- the dog should not be bred if she's unstable or skittish around other dogs or surroundings. It's a temperament issue and temperament issues causes injuries, be it fear biting or aggression.

2- there are enough unwanted dogs in this world without inexperienced people breeding more. You have no idea when to breed a dog, you want no males which means you're not willing to keep a male pup if unable to find a home for it.

3- Are you prepared to keep the entire litter of pups if the economy crashes and/or you can't find good homes for them? Good homes requires research. Not just someone coming to your door from an ad in the local paper saying yeah I'll take one. It requires going to see their homes, questioning them about their habits and environment.

4- Do you plan on having hips and elbows x-rayed to check for any dysplasia? Dysplasia is hereditary.

5- There is NO money in breeding dogs. You pay more in vet fees and food before you can get rid of them than you make unless you are mass producing them.

I breed german shepherds. I breed 1 litter every year and a half maybe. I've personally kept every puppy I was unable to find homes for no matter the age or sex of the dog until I could find homes for them. If one was sold and the people couldn't keep it I've taken it back no questions asked and rehomed it. Breeding dogs is a HUGE responsibility and I don't think you are equipped to deal with it. Just as an FYI FEMALE DOGS ALSO MARK!!! Especially when in heat.

**EDIT** clicker training is extremely simple. I clicker train my pups at 6 weeks old. It works extremely well.