How long for a season?

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

DPup is having her first season. She started bleeding two weeks ago today, but I had commented to DH that she seemed swollen and was "marking" while out on walks a few days prior to that.
The last couple of days have been bedlam as she is clearly at her peak. Both boys will not eat, don't want to go for a walk, in fact don't want to do anything except, well, you get the picture
How much longer do we have to go? It will, I imagine, be fairly obvious once she goes off the boil but how long should we leave it after before normal service can be resumed? I have Googled extensively but cannot find a clear answer and I would just like to see the light at the end of the tunnel and for my ears to stop ringing to the sound of 24/7 whining

[crapcrapcrapcrap]

First seasons can be really varied. I advise people to give a full 3 weeks from the start of the bleeding, longer if male dogs are still showing interest.

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

Three weeks is what I was working on crap but the advice was so varied.
TBH once she's no longer "hot" and the boys have calmed down it will be ok. We knew it would be a testing time but thankfully it's only the past couple of days that have been a real pain. It's more the fact that they have to be separately crated and won't go for walks that is causing more angst. Given how they are reacting I wouldn't let them off their leads in the village anyway as I worry they would just peg it back home to the love nest Thankfully they are working on Saturday which should occupy them for the weekend as they recover, then we should be on the downhill stretch

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The most fertile time is after the bleeding stops and that risky period can be up to 21 days after bleeding stops. I have swabbed bitches for ovulation many times over the years and have had a couple of day 28 ovulators.

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

What....but.... Hang on a minute
lonecat are you suggesting that it could theoretically be another 3-4 weeks? Because if you are I may be forced to crack on with the Christmas sherry right now :o
Today seems a little less fraught, though it could simply be the combined effects of hunger and exhaustion from the many hours of wailing that's done it. I'm just off to knock on the neighbours door with a bottle of wine by way of an apology for being so hideous to live next door to. I'm devoutly hopeful that our thick stone walls have drowned out the worst of it but still........

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Fantastic has she stopped bleeding yet? Bitches are rarely fertile whilst still bleeding.
You can get split seasons too, it is very complicated, there are some bitches on heat for 6 to 7 weeks.

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

lonecat, she stopped bleeding (that we could see) 4-5 days ago, though has a light coloured discharge. Today is the third day that the boys are so frantic to get to her, though as I said before it seems less intense today.
I was really hoping the worst would be over by the start of next week, then she could be bathed, bedding changed and back to normal by next weekend. It will be three weeks since she started bleeding next Thursday (18th)