Think my pup is about to have her first season, what do I need to know?

[IGotMyEyeOnYou]

Hi I think my pup is approaching her first season , she has a sudden interest in other dogs (trying to hump them ) and her bits look quite swollen. so what do I need to know? I've never had a female dog before.
I was assuming I will need to keep her on a lead when out walking (if so how long do I need to do this for?) but a few dog owners I have spoken to have said I just need to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't get too close to a male dog.
we are getting her spayed asap but vet advised us to wait until after her first season. She is 7 months.
Thought I was pretty clued up until this.

It will last for approx 28 days and you shouldn't take her out during that time if there are other dogs about, her being on a lead won't protect you from an amorous dog, nor will it protect you from dogs following a scent trail back to your house. Walk her late at night or early morning when no-one else is around.

It is utterly unreasonable to take an in season bitch out as normal - it causes severe behavioural reactions in many dogs as well as vastly increasing the chance of an accidental, unwanted mating.

The time for peak fertility varies, but it is broadly during days 12 - 20 - many bitches actively seek a shagging partner during this time. Often the bleeding changes to a straw colour discharge at this point before starting again, but not always.

Thanks for the advise.
stupid question but is she in season now with the signs being swollen bits and an interest in other dogs or will I know she is in season when she starts bleeding?

It's not stupid. I put a white sheet or towel where mine sleep so I can spot the bleeding easily. Blotting her vulva with a tissue might also give you a clue.

It does sound as though she has already started, tbh - do her bits look massively swollen? Some bitches are very clean, some don't bleed much at all and some bleed a lot. The white sheet will really help work out what's going on. If the discharge is more clear and straw coloured, that will also help guard where she actually is in her cycle.

Personally as soon as her bits swell, I'd only walk either v early in the morning or v late at night and on lead pounding the streets. You don't want the attention of off lead entire males who will not tolerate a human trying to intervene and stop him from performing his manly duties. It's not worth the risk to yourself or your dog.

I met a woman once who I could clearly SEE her dog was in season and she was very carefree about the fact and it was off lead in a popular dog walking spot. Silly silly selfish woman.

Our dog when really in season used to drip blood. Sorry if TMI! Fortunately we have laminate so easy to clean up after.

thanks I think she is definitely in season. her bits are very swollen and she is licking herself a lot.
My friend has got a boy pup and they were together yesterday before she was showing any signs. They were off lead but close to us luckily so I'd have seen if anything had happened.
She seems very fed up, keeps cuddling right up to us and has gone off her food, poor thing

Don't let her off the lead at all, even if you can't see any other dogs she will find a way... This is how my friend now has 5 puppies with father unknown!

she has just been running around in the garden today, no long walks but she seems happy enough with that, I do not want puppies.

At the very least keep her on the lead! We once encountered an idiot dog walker who had an in-season bitch off lead, she was about 5 times as big as my entire boy, no way could he reach, so she promptly crouched down for him!

Fortunately I got there before he worked out what to do and was able to whisk him away, while giving the dog walker an earful! StaffyxAffenpinscher would not have been pretty!