Does anyone have any experience regarding a puppy coming into heat when you have an older dog in the house? Poppy is five months old, so will be coming into heat sometime in the next three months. I have never had a bitch before so dont really know what to expect. Our old boy, Bones, is 13 and a half, and I thought he might be past bothering about all that sort of thing :, but yesterday on our walk he sniffed out the scent of a dog on heat and starting RUNNING after her - havent seen him move that fast for MONTHS!!! ;D He was very keen - life in the old dog yet! Anyway, I am now worried about the consequences, and am thinking about whether I should see if he can stay with friends during the most critical period of her heat - or has anyone got any other suggestions? I dont really want to spay Poppy (certainly not before she is a year old), but am not completely decided yet what we will do in the future. Any helpful comments would be gratefully received.
Re: Coming into heat Hi Karen , it will be very difficult having them both in the same house because believe me , bitches often act like shameless hussies when on heat , she will be just as eager as your old lad : The first signs of season is that her vulva will swell , there may be little or even no visible blood on the first season, but she may become clingy and also may lose her appetite , all quite normal . The season lasts for about 4 weeks , danger time being from the end of the first week but to be really safe, I would part them for the entire four weeks as the last thing you want is for her to get pregnant at such a young age . If she did happen to get caught , you can get an injection from the Vets to end the pregnancy, the problem being that the season would start all over again from scratch so really, the only solution is to keep them apart, sorry x
Re: Coming into heat Oh dear, that's kind of what I was afraid of... Poor old Bones, he wont be happy at all, being farmed out somewhere else - always supposing I can find someone to take him for four weeks! But I dont know what else to do... We do have quite a large house, with a back and front yard that can be split. The back door on the bottom floor opens into the garden, while the front door opens into the front yard (the garden is on a slope). Perhaps with a bit of careful planning we can keep them separate but in the same house? The problem is we live abroad, so I cant really ask a family member to take one or other of the dogs. Oh dear, this may turn out to be more of a problem that I had foreseen. I cant put poor old Bones into kennels for that amount of time... :'(
Re: Coming into heat Are you with them for most of the day Karen ? If so , then as you have a house that can be split, it might not be too bad . I dont blame you for not wanting to kennel your old lad , I wouldnt either so maybe if you are around to supervise, it can be done . I know that dogs get less able to sire as they get older but I wouldnt want to risk it even though Bones is elderly , just try to plan ahead and try different options within the house and garden , you probably have a few months before the event but better to be prepared, good luck x
Re: Coming into heat I am at work during the day Kate, but there is often someone around. And I could probably take vacation for at least a week of the time during Poppy's season... I think we'll just have to play it by ear. :-\ And of course Bones is getting older all the time, he had his last visit to the retirement home today to visit the old people, because it is just getting too much for him. Lots of tears all round...
Re: Coming into heat Oh bless him I bet he will be sooo missed . I`m sure you will be able to work things out Karen , its just a damn good job Bones isnt a 2 year old
Re: Coming into heat Thanks Kate, I'll let you know how it goes. And haha, yes you are right! I can just imagine the howling that would have gone on with a two-year old boy dog in the house!! ;D
