First heat!

[MaloneMeadow]

Our golden retriever is nearly 9 months old and has just began her first heat today. To be honest I wasn’t expecting it so soon so a bit unprepared and shocked!

Any tips/tricks to survive the next few weeks? I’m most concerned with how I’m going to exercise her and keep her entertained and stimulated. She’s a very energetic pup and really needs her walks. She adores being off lead at the dog park/beach etc and playing with the other dogs so this will be a big adjustment for her. I’m planning on hiring a private dog park for her to let off steam in a few times a week. Would it be ok to take her for short walks around our area on lead early in the morning/late at night when there aren’t many other dogs on the streets? Or would this cause trouble? Obviously I’d keep away from other dogs etc and warn people.

TIA from a stressed dog mum!! Only ever had males before so this is a new one for me!!

Hopeful bump..!

I'm in the same position as you, only had boys before! My 10 month old lab is in the middle of her first season... she's just finished bleeding now so I know we're at the most "dangerous" time. We've been hiring a secure field 3 times a week for the last couple of weeks and will continue until it's over. I haven't risked any other walks to be honest as we live in a very dog heavy area and I didn't want to take the risk. We've been doing a lot of playing indoors, scent games, food puzzles etc on the days we haven't gone to the field. She's pretty good at missing the odd day's walk anyway... I've always done this so she doesn't expect or demand it every single day like clockwork!

I still walk mine when in heat, just on the lead and stick to main roads so I can see any other dogs approaching.

We also have private dog fields for hire, so I paid for half hour sessions and invited one or two dog friends along to play.

Yep, we have two bitches and they had their first at about 8 months, a couple of weeks apart 🙄 We used a private dog field for exercise, I wasn't taking any chances! They went through a humping each other phase as well.

One of the weirdest things that happened alongside it - I am menopausal, and had my first period in 9 months when they did. So apparently it's not only humans that get in sync!

@NormaLouiseBates This madam is my fourth golden retriever and absolutely nuts compared to the others, really dreading the next few weeks to be honest as without a good walk every day she goes from bad to worse! She has a very ‘busy’ brain so puzzles, snuffle mats etc last her 5 mins max 🤦‍♀️ I have ordered a spray that is meant to reduce the scent and keep male dogs away so that we can hopefully get out on a few street walks without any trouble. Will update in due course!

@ComeOnThenFanny My DD has also come on her period today and I told her not to be so silly that she’s syncing cycles with the dog! Come to think of it she might be right…

We've a seven month bitch. Have had dogs the last 20 odd years. I'm not looking forward to it 🙈

I walked mine as normal but on a harness and long line and we drove out to places we know are deserted. In a month we met one dog! The town where I live often has offlead dogs walking the pavements with their owners so it's safer to go out of town. We hired a field a couple of times so she could have a run but it really wasn't too bad.

I walk in season bitches in remote-ish places at odd hours. For a chunk of each season they're not that interesting to intact males IME, and they're not interested either, which makes it easier. Once the bleed goes light and clear, though, I'm really careful with them: obscure locations, longline etc.

We've never had a problem in about 8 seasons.

Can I please ask that you walk in season dog on lead in places where other off lead dogs do not go not matter what time you walK them?

We have a male dog who is not neutered and will follow the female scent regardless of when they were walked. If we encounter this in a place he can’t be off lead- all is fine. If it’s a place dogs are off lead (beach or woods) it’s nightmare of him running off for miles

I just walk my bitch off lead - she still has recall. I keep her close and in sight though.

@solvendie Within reason this is possible, we are avoiding the beach and busy walking spots but really if you are out in public then your dog should not be off lead full stop if he doesn’t have stellar recall and will run off like that, both for his safety and that of other people + dogs.

Today we have had her at a quiet park (on lead of course) where the rules are that all dogs must be on lead no matter what. Despite this I had to avoid multiple dogs running around out of control with absolutely zero recall and careless owners not even attempting to get them back. It works both ways! There is no way that I can just not walk her for weeks, she would go nuts and it’s not fair on her. These days off lead dogs seem to be absolutely everywhere, even where they’re not allowed so there’s no avoiding it no matter where I walk her

We have a male dog who is not neutered and will follow the female scent regardless of when they were walked. If we encounter this in a place he can’t be off lead- all is fine. If it’s a place dogs are off lead (beach or woods) it’s nightmare of him running off for miles

That's your problem to (easily) solve.

Even neutered males will go after bitches in heat.

It's all very well saying the dogs should be on lead if they don't have recall but you can't override their hormones.

Update!

Now on day 11, bleeding stopped yesterday so we’re on the home straight thank goodness! She’s coping really well with everything, a bit more tired and clingy than usual but that’s all.

Exercise wise she’s still getting her daily walk, just in quieter places and earlier/later in the day in order to avoid as many other dogs as possible. We’ve also hired out our local private dog park a few times for a good off lead run. We haven’t had any real issues at all with the few males that we’ve met being particularly attracted to her, I’ve been using an anti-mate spray on her which is meant to deter them so that could maybe be helping!

In general things haven’t been as bad as I was expecting whatsoever. She’s been (unusually!!) very well behaved and calm. Just can’t wait to get the next week over and done with so she can go and play with her friends again! She’s such a social dog so really missing that element of her life, poor thing!