Seasons

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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17 August 2005
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Spanner is one on the 22nd November and has not yet had a season. There was a tiny bit of blood on Monday but now nothing, and she still looks quite normal from behind. I am not used to hairy dogs but I assume if it was really happening things would be a lot more obvious? I don't have a handy male dog to ask!
 
Not necessarily - bitches can show colour initially then the discharge goes colourless when they are at their most fertile. But if you turn her upside down you could easily see the signs of her being in season, much better than trying to look from the top/behind
 
I have been fossicking with her upside down, she is not at all swollen, but a bit pink. There is no dignity for me nor her! It is easy with labs it is just... out there!
 
If you can't tell it by looking at her vulva, could you put pants on her, with a pad, so that you could perhaps see on the pad if there is any almost colourless discharge?

On other hand, I've heard that it happens that some bitches have their first season very late. The latest I've heard about, was a Swedish racing Greyhound who didn't have her first season until she was well over 7 years old. But I presume that she was very unusual.
 
FinnishLapphund said:
If you can't tell it by looking at her vulva, could you put pants on her, with a pad, so that you could perhaps see on the pad if there is any almost colourless discharge?

On other hand, I've heard that it happens that some bitches have their first season very late. The latest I've heard about, was a Swedish racing Greyhound who didn't have her first season until she was well over 7 years old. But I presume that she was very unusual.
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Wow that is a total athlete! I know the same can happen with humans too
 
Check for swelling. On the backs usually easier if you can get her to roll over. Running a damp cotton bud/poofy thingy over the lips and checking that for blood spotting is also handy if you have a less complient hairy girl.
 
I wouldn't automatically assume season if only a spot of blood and no swelling - going (way) past 12 months isnt uncommon in some bitches.

Are you wanting to know for keeping her out of the way of males when out or for predicting when best to spey? If the former I would just be cautious to be on the safe side, and if the latter I wouldn't worry much at all as she may come in obviously in next few weeks/months anyway and you can plan from there
 
It could either have been a very light first season or nothing. One bitch I had didn’t have a full season until 15 months and only once a year until she was spayed.
 
Normally it would not matter but we are rehoming her, after much thought, and she was meant to go to her new home this week.
I will take her to see a male dog and check she is really not, then she can head off to her new life.
She is going to a retired man who works his dogs and also wants a friend and companion. We have never rehomed a dog before so it is odd, but we have done our best to find her the best home possible.
Spaneisl, sadly, are not for us.
 
Sounds like you've found a lovely home for her.
I must say that I don't understand those who seems to think that only because you're a good dog owner, you should be able to make it work with owning any breed of dog. But it's a pity that sometimes you don't find out that you're not suitable together, until after you've bought them.
 
Clodagh said:
Normally it would not matter but we are rehoming her, after much thought, and she was meant to go to her new home this week.
I will take her to see a male dog and check she is really not, then she can head off to her new life.
She is going to a retired man who works his dogs and also wants a friend and companion. We have never rehomed a dog before so it is odd, but we have done our best to find her the best home possible.
Spaneisl, sadly, are not for us.
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A male dog should defintely be able to tell for you! Our young male tells us about a week before the girls actually come in - despite only having just turned 12months old and never having been used at stud (or allowed to get close to an in season girly!)

Nothing wrong with finding a home that suits the dog more so than your own situation, dont beat yourself up about that!

Hope she settles well to her new life
 
FinnishLapphund said:
Sounds like you've found a lovely home for her.
I must say that I don't understand those who seems to think that only because you're a good dog owner, you should be able to make it work with owning any breed of dog. But it's a pity that sometimes you don't find out that you're not suitable together, until after you've bought them.
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Ouch!
 
Clodagh said:
Ouch!
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Maybe people doesn't read my reply as I intended it. I was just thinking about how some people tell me that I'm a good dog owner, and that my bitches are so wellbehaved, and talks as if that means I could own any type of dog, but I'm sure I would be a lousy owner to e.g. a Border Collie, or a Shar Pei.
And you said that sadly, Spaniels wasn't for you, so I tried saying that it is a pity, but sometimes you don't find that out until after you've bought them.
 
FinnishLapphund said:
Maybe people doesn't read my reply as I intended it. I was just thinking about how some people tell me that I'm a good dog owner, and that my bitches are so wellbehaved, and talks as if that means I could own any type of dog, but I'm sure I would be a lousy owner to e.g. a Border Collie, or a Shar Pei.
And you said that sadly, Spaniels wasn't for you, so I tried saying that it is a pity, but sometimes you don't find that out until after you've bought them.
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I did wonder if I was being overly touchy!
 
Don’t be touchy about it Clodagh, you are doing the right thing. You have tried so hard. Much better she goes elsewhere, you will both be happier. Sounds as if you have found the ideal home.
I understood what FL meant and do agree with her, most dogs come round to your lifestyle and you bond together but it is perfectly possible to have one you just don’t get on with.
Hope you sort the in season business and she has a happy future with a spaniel person!
 
If you had a horse that didn't suit you then you would sell/loan/rehome so both you and the horse would be happier.

One of the main reasons I'm involved with rescue and rehoming is exactly the reason you've found a more suitable home for your spaniel.

They really are not suited to everyone, it's just as much about meeting the dogs needs as ours. The dog needs to have the best and most suitable home for it's type and personality and to be with the right person to bring this out.

Often the pups first home doesn't work out for whatever reason and as long as the dog is rehomed carefully and responsibly then that's often the best option for the dog.
 
Please be responsible and spay her before rehoming to avoid her becoming a puppy machine - no matter how well a new home is chosen these dogs are high risk for being used to churn out more puppies that are unwanted :(
 
She's a little young to spay though, and no vet will spay a dog that's likely to be coming into season soon. I believe that Clodagh may know the person who is having her so hopefully she can agree a contract to have her spayed and not be used for breeding. If her papers are with held then any potential pups would be of less value, so that's always a possibility.
 
Clodagh said:
Normally it would not matter but we are rehoming her, after much thought, and she was meant to go to her new home this week.
I will take her to see a male dog and check she is really not, then she can head off to her new life.
She is going to a retired man who works his dogs and also wants a friend and companion. We have never rehomed a dog before so it is odd, but we have done our best to find her the best home possible.
Spaneisl, sadly, are not for us.
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Aw sorry to hear this. It sounds like she’ll have the ideal home though. Will you be able to keep in touch?
 
I hesitated to comment because you didn't ask for, and probably don't need, other people's opinions.

However, I do feel that rehoming Smut is the best option for both of you.

You have been realistic and recognised things weren't working out between you and have very responsibly found her a good home.

Dogs are very intuitive and she would sense your frustration and disappointment.

Don't be hard on yourself, Clodagh. You would have both been miserable if she had stayed with you.

I hope Smut goes on to shine with her new owner.
 
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skinnydipper said:
I hesitated to comment because you didn't ask for, and probably don't need, other people's opinions.

However, I do feel that rehoming Smut is the best option for both of you.

You have been realistic and recognised things weren't working out between you and have very responsibly found her a good home.

Dogs are very intuitive and she would sense your frustration and disappointment.

Don't be hard on yourself, Clodagh. You would have both been miserable if she had stayed with you.

I hope Smut goes on to shine with her new owner.
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Thank you.
 
Aww C, am sorry it didn’t work out, but it’s great you’ve found her a new home where she will probably shine. As Thistle said above, no one would think twice if she’d been a horse you hadn’t gelled with and so sold on.

I ageee with what FL said and think you were maybe a little over sensitive. I know if I wanted dog advice, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask you for help. Your labs are amazing, and I would have thought you could train any dog, just goes to show, they are all different, and we are all human. Maybe another spanner would have been completely different and you’d have clicked from the off?

Keep us updated as you get updates please. Will she keep her name? Not going to lie, if I adopted her, I would change it 😂
 
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