Pup on heat! Is this all ‘normal’?

[3AndADog]

My 10 month old cockapoo, quite highly strung anyway, is on heat. Blood started 2 weeks ago, last few days has been pale pink and watery. The first two weeks she just was really sleepy and whined at night (she was never left alone as we can’t bear to hear her cry). This week she has become really barky, jumping up and howling and barking at any sound. Really restless and if she hears the quietest, tiniest dog bark in the distance or on the tv, or anything similar (bowser from mario kart!!) she jumps up from sleep and barks the house down.
I have been waking her on lead and have encountered 3 dogs - 2 males and even today they didn’t seem that bothered by her although she tried to stick her bum out at them (I immediately picked her up). But there does seem to be a lot of searching out on her part.

I guess the increased barking is the thing that’s bothering me - I was hoping she was beginning to calm down as she’s been quite anxious and we move been working with a behaviourist on her separation anxiety but haven’t really got anywhere as I didn’t want to start the training while she was feeling so vulnerable during her season.

any thoughts and also how long might this go on for? She’s due to go into boarding for 2 nights in 12 days and obvs they won’t have her if still on heat!

Progesterone levels in bitches will stay high for at least 65 days after the season. The levels of progesterone will be higher than in a bitch that is pregnant.

So depending on how your dog is reacting to progesterone go easy on her for the next couple of months.

Progesterone does affect dogs in different ways as it does in humans .

It is pretty normal to see alert barking increasing, resource guarding can become an issue, they can have increased hunger and thirst, they can become more "reactive" and on edge and see an increase of worsening of SA.

If any of these issues already exist a bitch can become worse. However the good news is that as the hormones lower things will become easier, if the dog has been allowed to chill and relax during this period.

Your behaviourist should acknowledge all of the above and make a plan to consider the situation.

Progesterone is a bugger for some bitches and a very good reason to consider spaying. Dogs as in human males get the easier deal with the male hormone having a positive effect not negative effect on them!

We are definitely going to spay after this. My main worry is that this season will change her personality for good, and this nervousness and SA is so hard to live with.
We are very much encouraging her to chill and relax but its hard when she is so jumpy. I don't think she's resource guarding in terms of food or possessions but definitely alert barking and possibly a sense of guarding the home - she keeps running to the back door barking and growling.
I'll get back in touch with the behaviourist. I was waiting until the season was over but maybe I shouldn't. She gave us lots to do with impulse control, games to play with her when she's hyper and in a grabby/stealing mood - my main annoyance - and how to handle visitors as she was getting quite anxious, and these things definitely seem to be helping, but the work around her SA revolved around leaving the room under threshold for seconds at a time, but she's so clinging at the moment she literally jumps up and legs it to the door if she thinks I'm getting up to leave. I can't even go upstairs at the moment, it's so hard.

Unfortunately we have two trips away planned at the end of May without her - one of 2 days and one of 7 - she adores the boarders and they love her, she goes once a week for day care, but there will be lots of other dogs around as they are groomers day to day, and I obviously don't want her to get too stressed. Not sure what to do about that. Maybe I could ask my mum to have her during the daytime while they're busy with their day care dogs, and then she could go to sleep at the boarders in the evening? My mum can't really handle her all day and night.