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Female in 'season '

(6 Posts)
farview Sun 16-Jul-23 21:13:32

My beautiful cocker spaniel, 1yr old this week, I rehomed her two months ago...is on heat...I've no experience of this...she keeps being very distressed, I.e jumping off the sofa and turning around in circles..looking so upset and stressed...very needy...
Going to get her spayed...but at the moment it's just so difficult...I'd just got her recall working...was hard work...now,obviously, shes back on lead,...will I be back to stage one with this?...how do I reassure her with her obvious stress re being on heat...I'm loving her...praising her,...giving treats...but shes sorting 'distant'...always had Male dogs except for one female rescue dog who was already spayed....finding this very distressing and so is she...advice please ..

farview Sun 16-Jul-23 21:14:41

Sort of ..not sorting..

Georgesgran Mon 17-Jul-23 03:54:06

It is still important to give your dog some exercise. In an enclosed garden is fine, but supervised and be on your guard for her trying to escape, or male dogs getting in. Walks on leads should avoid other dogs, so early morning or late at night is best, perhaps in an area you know to be little used. A bit of extra attention or a new toy at home might help, but beware of giving extra treats because of weight gain. Obviously recall training will have to stop, unless you can pursue this in a confined space - even indoors, but you could occupy your dog with other things like sit, stay, lie down, or hiding a toy for her to find and retrieve etc - little and often is the key. Your girl will try to keep herself clean, which is how some owners are caught out, but you should cover her favourite resting places, as blood is difficult to remove. Also once the bleeding has dried up, although around day 10 from the first blood is the optimum time to mate her, she may still be receptive and fertile, so allow 28 days from start to finish. Modern thinking is to have had the dog spayed before its first season and as she could come into season again in as little as 3 months, I’d get her booked into the Vet sooner rather than later.
We only ever had 2 bitches, loved them to bits, but a nightmare to manage in kennels. Both had litters, then were spayed.

sodapop Mon 17-Jul-23 09:18:22

Think you are doing all the right things farview but don't overdo it, she still needs boundaries as well as love. George'sgranhad some good ideas. Don't stress over this as she will pick up on your feelings, it's all quite natural.

Georgesgran Mon 17-Jul-23 09:34:00

I’ve just read the OP‘s post on the good morning thread. You are going through a difficult time farview with your DH and I hope you have some support in dealing with his illness. Your young dog may well be bewildered by her first season, conflicting with her new loving home, yet feeling a need to find a mate and produce a litter and she could be picking up some ‘anxiety’ vibes from what’s going on with you and your DH - very intuitive are some breeds. I do hope you can take some time out with her – we dog lovers know of our pets’ therapeutic properties.

farview Mon 17-Jul-23 09:55:08

Thank you both for the very welcome advice...going to have her spayed asap...
Georgesgran..yes all made harder re H....no help,H started to refuse medication so has been discharged by the memory clinic..(long story)...