Best time to Spey.

TheresaW

TheresaW

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Luna is now 5 months old. Our plan is/was to get her speyed at around 18 months.
Is this about the right time in some of your more experienced opinions?

The reason I’m asking, this morning, when out on our morning walk, a dog came from nowhere (out of a garden), and although the owner was quick to come out and grab him, I noticed he had his bits, and I’m now worried about how quickly she could get “caught”. The dog had jumped all over her before the owner grabbed him. How quick does it happen, do I not walk her when she’s in season, which seems a little unfair?
 
I would always let a bitch mature before spaying - so 18-24 months would be about right. Is there anywhere you can walk her away from heavily dog populated areas when in season? Dogs have to "tie" for a successful mating, but it can happen remarkably quickly if you don't have your wits about you, so better to be safe than sorry.
 
I don't usually have un-neutered bitches as I have rescues - having said that, my latest rescue was given to me 'entire' and I had to book her in for her spay! I nearly had hysterics :D :D

i booked her in mid-cycle - e.g. 3 months after her last season - she was done with no problems, phew!

She was estimated as being between 12 and 18 months, based on the fact that she had had a season (her first?) when she was in rescue kennels in June 2017 - I wanted her done ASAP I must admit
 
My bitch got caught right after her first season (similar story, dog jumped the fence into yard and despite only barely touching her, she had 12 puppies!!) only 4 lived, and the bitch never bred again, he must have ruined her which is a shame as she was a good working lab bitch.

Id keep her locked and inside if you are not around, and not walk her near where any other dogs may be because if they tie you literally can't rip them apart - but im sure they can have a morning after injection type thing i believe.
 
Thanks guys. Most mornings we rarely see anyone, the odd other dogs on leads also maybe. Evening walks we tend to go off road where we know we may meet other dogs, and had already planned in advance for when she has her first season. Just got me thinking about thinking of the unexpected. Glad I was on the right track about when to do it. Will have spoken to our vet as well. Have already briefly touched on it when she had her jabs.

Our garden is very secure thankfully, but will make sure she isn’t unattended when she does have her first season.
 
I had an entire bitch growing up. She was confined to barracks when in season and didn't suffer for it. Plenty of mental stimulation and training kept her tired and happy. A few good games of tug can do wonders!

I have entire dogs now and do appreciate bitch owners who don't bring their bitches out in season as, although my two have showed no real interest in sex (would have had them done if they were at all unmanageable) they can still get a bit distracted when a bitch in season has been around. I have called them away from bitches in season before which owners have been walking off lead in doggy areas and only thought to shout put that they were in season when my boys were already sniffing butts. Don't do that! :lol: not everyone's boy dogs are as clueless as my doofs.
 
Daisy (bichon) was done three months after her first season. She was just over a year old.

I did walk her when she was in season, but in quiet places and kept her on the lead.
 
To be honest if a dog can jump all over yours you have way worse problems than it getting pregnant - just been (not) watching a horrible video of a little hound being walked by a dog walker getting mauled to death. In approx 30 seconds apparently.

I walk an entire little dog and that is certainly more of a concern for me than when we see bitches in season. Mind you - Luna is a husky or something that might find defending herself easier?

You can get chastity pants for bitches (yes, really, in a particularly dog-friendly place we visit some locals use them as there is little chance to keep completely away from others there) which would probably at least slow things down a fair bit and give you a chance to separate... so, walks on lead and with pants on her/really brave face on you for when strangers ask about them? ;-)

ETA: Why someone was videoing the dog fight as opposed to helping I have no idea (I mean logically I get it, right thing to do to avoid injury to themselves, but emotionally, not so much)... but at least it seems to have helped identify the owner of the out of control animals
 
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I like my bitches to have at least two seasons before spaying and then have them done half way to the next one. It is good if the bitch is fully mature before spaying especially in a slow maturing breed like my flatcoats. It also means their coat doesn’t change.
Luckily I have private land to exercise on but you could car travel to somewhere that was not dog populated.
 
Chiffy said:
I like my bitches to have at least two seasons before spaying and then have them done half way to the next one. It is good if the bitch is fully mature before spaying especially in a slow maturing breed like my flatcoats. It also means their coat doesn’t change.
Luckily I have private land to exercise on but you could car travel to somewhere that was not dog populated.
Click to expand...

That is interesting to note. We have ours done after one season and Brandy, the eldest, has a poor coat now. May try two then. Pen is 10 months now and no signs.
TW - you will know she is in season, and they are not fertile until the end (usually after you think it is all over) generally while bleeding you are safe it is when that stops and the vulva starts to look less swollen that you can get caught. Their tail also gets a big kink in it and if you run your hand down their back they stand for you. Having said all that from the first spot of blood ours are never outside unattanded, I know I am neurotic but there you are! So from spot of blood to relaxing is about 28 days. Also remember she is as rampant as a dog and will escape for a quickie if she can when peaking!
 
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