Pupplies first heat...2 days before holiday!

[sam1256]

Hi, after some advice. Our 7 month old puppy has just started her first heat. And we're going on holiday in 2 days. We're staying in a holiday cottage, but it's in a place with about 15 other cottages. They are dog friendly so likely to be other dogs there. We obviously planned to go out with the dog most days and I'm guessing this won't be possible now. Probably at least a 5 hour drive there and back too with stops.

Do we go and leave her in a cage when we go out (she is used to a cage at home when we're out) and then she has a limited area when we're around? Maybe walking her early in the morning or in the evening. Or do we cancel our holiday but risk losing a lot of money for what we paid for it.

Not sure if it makes any difference but she is a smaller dog - a KC spaniel.

Any advice/experience welcome. Thanks

Take her but expect her to be a bit more clingy and cuddly than usual, they usually keep themselves very clean. The vet said they don't experience pain during a season but ours was definitely 'off' for a couple of days. If she doesn't want to eat that's normal.

She'll be happy in the crate on your trips out. The other dogs will be able to smell her so keep her on a lead and go for walks early door and wees when it's quiet. Poor baby.

Keep an eye out for a phantom pregnancy and don't remove any 'puppies' she starts caring for ie socks or teddies. My dads dog started carrying a ball round after her season and he took it off her and threw it for her and the noise from the dog was heart breaking. She thought that was her baby and in her eyes he's just killed it.

It's why we got her spayed after her second one as she started producing milk

You can get an injection from the vet that stops it. Or at least you could before. Might be worth a call to the vet to ask.

Lots of cottages won't allow you to leave the dog unattended, even if they're in a crate.

Most dog friendly places will allow you to reschedule without penalty if you have an in season bitch. If there are other dog owners there you risk ruining their holidays not just your own. In season bitches can upset other bitches and neutered dogs.