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Original poster

My dog has just started her first season…and we’re going away in 10 days

47 replies

MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 19:57

As the title says really. My dog has just turned one and bleeding started yesterday. She’s my first female dog but from what I’ve read online, the bleeding lasts 7-10 days ish, and then it’s after that the real danger time starts, with the possibility of her becoming pregnant.

I can’t believe the timing. I’m taking my DD to Badminton horse trials, we are due to leave on the 7th May and be there until the 13th, staying in our caravan. My initial plan was to take the dog but over the last few days I’d kinda talked myself out of that - she’s not allowed in the grandstand and 3 of the days are in the grandstand, so we’d have to watch on the big screen or take it in turns. Also she’s very small and it’s always packed there, I think she’d be a bit of a trip hazard and overall I think it would be far less stressful for everyone not to have her there.

I have a great dog sitter who she normally goes to, but dog sitter has a 6 month old male dog who still has his nuts, so that wouldn’t be ideal. I’m sure she’d still take her, she has said before it’s not a problem if she’s in season, but I’d be stressing the whole time that I was going to come home to a pregnant dog.

I don’t really have any other options, she’s not the easiest dog in the world in that she’s very needy and doesn’t like being left, add to that being in season and she wouldn’t be everyone’s dream. I can’t cancel Badminton, it’s non refundable and it cost me over £300 😫.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 19:58

Sorry to add to that, taking her to Badminton now would be a definite no, there’s gazillions of dogs there and it would be a nightmare having a bitch on heat.

OP posts:
Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday · 26/04/2024 20:04

I think you need to find someone else to look after the dog or someone else to take your ticket and go with DD or try to sell
your tickets?

you can’t take the dog or leave her somewhere with an intact male dog

MagicKittens · 26/04/2024 20:07

One thought -- could you pay for your dogsitter's intact dog to go into kennels for that week, if he's an easier dog to settle?

You'd be paying twice, but at least you'd get your holiday.

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Dogs
bingoringo4 · 26/04/2024 20:07

It's fine, just ask dog sitter to keep them separate by keeping her in a crate. I've 3 female dogs and two males, when the girls are in season they are crated and let out separately to the boys

Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday · 26/04/2024 20:17

In a crate for a week?

bluetopazlove · 26/04/2024 20:18

Forgive me but this is really stupid you knew the dog was young and due on , you'll just have to cancel .

bingoringo4 · 26/04/2024 20:21

Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday · 26/04/2024 20:17

In a crate for a week?

Well obviously come out for breaks when the other dogs put away.

Op the other thing to do is put a dog nappy on her so her bits are covered and dog can't get to her.

Youdontknowmedoyou · 26/04/2024 20:24

Dog nappies, bitch spray, and crate/separate room for the dogs. We have both bitches and dogs here and we use separate rooms and crates/pens as necessary.
If your dog sitter can be trusted and has said they can handle then I'd let them go ahead.

Original poster
MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 20:26

@bluetopazlove not that stupid - a first season can be anywhere from 6-24 months, was I just supposed to not plan anything over that 18 month period? Also I’d kind of thought maybe she’d already had a season, she went to the groomers in February, the groomer has 2 male dogs who are always there and they wouldn’t leave her alone, and the groomer said my dogs bits looked swollen and she thought she must be on heat judging by that and her dogs behaviour. But there was no bleeding, however that can sometimes happen so I assumed that was it and it was done and dusted for a few months.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 20:28

She’s never been crated, so not sure she’d go a bundle on that idea. I’ve messaged the dog sitter anyway to see if she thinks she can manage it.

OP posts:
bingoringo4 · 26/04/2024 20:34

MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 20:28

She’s never been crated, so not sure she’d go a bundle on that idea. I’ve messaged the dog sitter anyway to see if she thinks she can manage it.

This is why it's in the best interest for a dog to be crate trained from the very beginning for instances like this. People bang on about crates being cruel but they are needed for lots of different reasons, this being one of them.

Original poster
MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 20:37

It’s ok, I messaged the dog sitter and all sorted 😅. She said hers is still a baby and wouldn’t have a clue what he was doing, but she’ll put pants on mine just to be on the safe side.

OP posts:
LayllasBees · 26/04/2024 20:42

If you don’t want her to get pregnant why hasn’t she been spayed?

Woahtherehoney · 26/04/2024 20:45

Yeah I’m confused as to why you haven’t spayed her if you don’t want her to get pregnant?

Janiie · 26/04/2024 20:46

MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 20:37

It’s ok, I messaged the dog sitter and all sorted 😅. She said hers is still a baby and wouldn’t have a clue what he was doing, but she’ll put pants on mine just to be on the safe side.

Why does she think an intact male dog wouldn't know what to do?! It's natural instinct, they don't get sex education classes.

I think it's cruel (and asking for trouble tbh) for the sitter's male dog to be in a highly stressful situation and unfair on the sitter even if they think all is fine.

If I were you I'd cancel, get your dog spayed and go next year.

MuttsNutts · 26/04/2024 20:49

Make dogs can sire puppies from 6 months of age. So unfair to both dogs to leave a bitch in heat with a male intact dog. As you know, it will be at her most fertile time as well.

In my opinion you need to either find someone else to look after her or cancel your trip. Any other option is irresponsible.

And no, you couldn’t have predicted when she would come into season but it’s tough, sometimes owning a dog is inconvenient.

Ihatemondays1962 · 26/04/2024 20:49

I wouldn't risk it at the dog sitters either, of course the male dog will know what to do.

Dearg · 26/04/2024 20:49

Woahtherehoney · 26/04/2024 20:45

Yeah I’m confused as to why you haven’t spayed her if you don’t want her to get pregnant?

Because it’s her first season? No idea the breed, but you want her to be mature before depriving her of the hormones.

Not sure about the dog sitters intact male, though OP. They figure it out fairly fast, and at 9 months I would guess they’d know what to do. Does your dog sitter have experience of this sort of issue?

Iamtheoneinten · 26/04/2024 20:49

LayllasBees · 26/04/2024 20:42

If you don’t want her to get pregnant why hasn’t she been spayed?

tbf some dogs/breeds might be advised to spay after the first full season....but

think it's cruel (and asking for trouble tbh) for the sitter's male dog to be in a highly stressful situation and unfair on the sitter even if they think all is fine

Yes, I agree, it's going to be highly stressful for both dogs. Even if the sitter thinks they can handle it - and it's a BIG if - something can easily go wrong between two dogs who will have a biological imperative to breed.

InTropicalTrumpsLand · 26/04/2024 20:50

Pants will not stop dogs mating! I'd ask two closed doors at all times (if one of the dogs go through the door, there's a second one stopping them meeting).
I'd make sure the sitter keeps them separated.

Iamtheoneinten · 26/04/2024 20:52

Ihatemondays1962 · 26/04/2024 20:49

I wouldn't risk it at the dog sitters either, of course the male dog will know what to do.

I mean, yeah, either the sitter is highly experienced in this area and is joking about the not knowing what to do thing, or they aren't and they really believe it. In which case, no way are they qualified to manage the situation.

MuscariFan · 26/04/2024 20:54

MoonCircles · 26/04/2024 20:37

It’s ok, I messaged the dog sitter and all sorted 😅. She said hers is still a baby and wouldn’t have a clue what he was doing, but she’ll put pants on mine just to be on the safe side.

Yeah, I would trust a sensible dog sitter - but I would not for a minute trust one that thought 6 month old males can’t sire pups, or that pants will stop them.🙄

Andthereyougo · 26/04/2024 20:55

A 6 month old male dog will definitely know what to do.
IF there is an accidental mating there is a morning after injection the vet can give. She may well attract other dogs to the dog sitter’s too.
Look into having her spayed. Pyometra is horrible and can kill.

gamerchick · 26/04/2024 20:57

The sitter might be fine about it now, but her dog will drive her nuts with a female in heat in the house. Nuts

Misthios · 26/04/2024 20:58

Sounds like you need to prepare yourself for a litter of unwanted puppies.

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