Luna is in season.

[TheresaW]

She is exactly 6 months and 2 days old.

I have to say, I was hoping she would be a bit older when she had her first, as we would like to spay her at around 18 months. Never mind.

Apart from the obvious of keeping her on a very tight leash, anything else to do? So far, no behaviour changes at all. I found a few blood spots on kitchen floor yesterday morning, checked both dogs for any injuries but found nothing. Wondered if she could be coming in, but had a little look and her bits all looked normal. Just seen some more spots, and when I looked at her again, a bit dripped out. (Sorry if TMI).

 

[Clodagh]

So is Pen, at 11 months. Pen has gone all clingy, and has been for a week now, although no blood yet just a bit of swelling and a lot of rummaging!
As Pen is younger than a year I will lwt her have two seasons now and spay after the next one.
You need eyes like a hawk and a spare lead so you can drag loose male dogs off if you venture out!

 

[TheresaW]

We will probably end up with her having 3 seasons I guess, although if she has her next at a year old, we can spay her around 15 months?

Morning walks, we rarely see anyone, and now avoid the street where the loose dog got out. It’s more afternoons/evenings, but will be on guard and avoid the woods for a few weeks.

She is quite swollen this morning. Walk this morning, she was stopping and sniffing more than usual, but that was all.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

In Sweden it is still not that common to spay bitches until they're older, and none of the 7 bitches I've owned/owns, have been much different from their usual selves during seasons. They've stopped to sniff, and pee some more out on walks, also cleaned themselves some more, and about 2 months after the period they've started to dig more in their beds, but that is basically what my bitches periods have been like.

One year, one of my bitches collected some gnaw bones one day, and started to guard them a little, and another bitch, besides the digging in her bed after around 2 months, also used to get a bit of fake milk, but both those problems was solved with a bit less food, and a bit more exercise.

Other than that, just be sensible, a bit vigilant, don't leave her outside alone, and don't trust male dogs.

I live in a big city, have owned bitches for around 27 or 28 years, they've all spent most of their lives unspayed, and the closest I've been to have an accident is that is has happened that I've sometimes have gone out on a dog walk with 3 dogs, and came home with 4. And my bitches haven't even always been in season, when that have happened.


P.s. I think that I've only needed to put a lead on one of those male dogs, there was a Lagotto once who was a bit too focused, so I put 2 of my bitches on the same lead, and used Jonna's lead on the Lagotto, but the other ones have as I recall only sort of just followed us on a few metres distance.