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

[MoonCircles]

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 😫.

No, why should a 6 month old pup be put into kennels.

@MoonCircles If the dog sitter is happy and she is used to dealing with entire males and females I would let your dog go there. As long as the dog walker is sensible to know you do not walk an in season bitch in the middle of a busy dog walking areas when everyone else is there!

Off topic, but I had to google what Badminton horse trials were! I assumed badminton on horseback! 😆

This. Can't believe PP are suggesting the male dog goes to kennels either. I've always walked my bitches in heat in an enclosed field without a problem.

Is there definitely no friends/ family that have dog experience? Or eg rspca kennels or something? My lifelong dream is to go see Badminton so I feel your pain op but just to let you know your dog sitter’s dog will know what to do- my dog was humping pillows at that age!!!

Dog pants absolutely will not stop a mating.

OP may well have not spayed yet because of breed, certain breeds should not be spayed or neuteured early as it can effect growth plates.

She seemed very confident that it would be fine, she has been dog sitting for years and also has the mum of the pup, neither of which are spayed/neutered so this is something she’s obviously dealt with before and thought through.

From what I remember from having a female dog , there's an injection that can be given to stop their heat I'm sure. Might be worth talking to your vet

You’re clearly believing what you are choosing to believe and ignoring everything to the contrary 🙄

I hope the dog sitter ( who thinks six month olds don’t know what to do and pants will stop them 🙄) has understanding neighbours as her dog howls the house down and strong doors esp as your dog hasn’t been crate trained.

Your dog sitter sounds like a right numpty , and the fact that she has bred a litter before doesn’t necessarily mean she’s competent - any idiot can breed dogs .

It is perfectly acceptable to have dogs and bitches in the same house, when the bitch is in season BUT it takes a lot of organisation and planning to ensure neither can get to eachother plus are never left alone together.

Yes any fool can breed a litter, but there are also people who are not fools, some of which do have in season bitches when there are entire males.

I have no idea if the dog sitter is sensible or capable enough for this situation other than the info the OP gives, but it is a better option than taking the dog to Badminton, sending it to kennels ( or anyone elses dogs to kennels), getting friends or family to look after it - the dog sitter should be more capable.

I am not sure how long you are away from, but is the sensible option to go away for the horse trials and no longer to mitigate how long your dog is with the dog sitter?

Jesus, please don't leave your in-heat bitch with a sitter who also owns an intact male dog. Especially one who thinks her dog won't know what to do because of his age - it's just asking for trouble 😬

Either someone else needs to go with DD while you stay at home, or you need to find a sitter who can have the dog as a solo sit in your own home.

It was a confident yes from her and I do trust her - she pretty much always has dogs staying with her and she’s had her own bitch for several years, so she’ll have dealt with this situation before. We don’t live that far from the horse trials so if for any reason it’s not working I can come back.

Dealing with your own dogs is very different from dealing with someone else's - especially considering yours isn't crate trained.

Is this boarder licensed by the council like she's supposed to be?

Because you shouldn't spay a bitch until she's had a season!

That is incredibly bad advice.

One of my current dogs is from an oops litter- lady had four dogs- none neutered/spayed- she went into hospital and came home weeks later to two litters of puppies….

I can’t believe people routinely crate their dogs in season?! That’s not right, crate trained or not, to deprive them of their freedom for two weeks. I’m shocked some people think it is normal. “Oh I let them out sometimes to play” 😡😡
OP your dog sitter is not sensible, in fact she sounds a bit like a backyard breeder. Clearly she has no actual knowledge about dog behaviour and dog development.

I would never routinely crate any dog for two weeks 🙄🙄 It is used as a tool to keep them safe and settled. For a few hours at a time. Swopping the dogs in/out is a sensible way of handling two dogs with one in season. Is the sitter going to literally spend every min with the two dogs stopping them from mounting? Not go to toilet? Not sleep?? I doubt it…

@Potentialmadcatlady but that is not how people were describing they used the crates. Anyhow this crate as a “tool to keep them safe and settled” is all a bit 🤔🤔 I have had dogs for more than 30 years and never needed to lock them in a crate. These days it’s crates everywhere and owners say “oh my dog loves being in the crate”. Really? No they don’t, that’s why people lock the door of the crate. Just because the dog sometimes sits in the crate with the door open, that doesn’t mean the dog loves being locked in the crate and unable to leave.

That's great for you but my bitches will rip each other apart when they are in season so they are not just kept apart from the boys they are kept separately from everyone, so yep crates are needed.

Going to disagree on that one. One of my dogs does love his crate, uses it as his bedroom and rest area during the day with door open- he can come in and out whenever he feels like it. The door is never closed and he uses it daily. My other dog doesn’t like it so he doesn’t have one but he is crate trained in case of emergencies etc.
Crate training is an important skill for a dog to have. Grooming/vets etc all use them and if a dog is crate trained then it doesn’t cause them any further distress. It is no different than having to learn to walk on a lead. Any puppies that come to me for day care are crate trained by myself and their owners.