Well, I'm sure it won't come to that, but if it does, could you rent a second house in Cornwall? Or even keep Betsy and Charlie separated for a few days by having them in different rooms/pens/crate? Plenty of people do manage with entire dogs of different sexes in the same house. As long as Charlie doesn't get too distressed about not being able to get to her.
It would be ok to keep them safely separated, I do have good spaces with a couple of lockable doors in between and separate exits/entrances to get in and out the house. It does depend on how upset Charlie becomes, yes.
Which, if it happens at Christmas, is probably a bit last minute for finding alternative options if he can't cope!
Well, it'll be ok, I suppose. The worst that can happen is that Betsy and I have a bit of a boring Christmas! In the grand scheme of things, that's not so terrible.
You know, it really only is a week where you would need to keep them separated. But it's a bit tricky to begin with, working out when exactly the fertile period is...
That is comforting, Karen. The gundog trainer I was with a couple of weeks back had a girl in season and an entire male. I asked her how she managed, and she said 'well, you just manage'. I'm hoping it's not going to be too bad. Anyway, I have to get through one season even if Betsy is later spayed, because I'm not having her spayed when she is very young, anyway. I'll just have to see how it goes! I'm worrying about it so much, it's practically guaranteed not to be as bad as I'm imagining!
I know a breeder who has four bitches and an entire male. She lets them all run around together, and only during the fertile period are they kept separate. But he is an experienced stud dog, and knows when the bitches are on point and when not, so leaves them alone otherwise. He's not allowed to breed with them, as they are all related. She says he knows they are out of bounds... Not sure I'd rely on that, though! You could also ask Heidrun, who has Ziggy together with her girls. I know Alice and Caddie are spayed now, but for a long time they were entire. If you have Betsy spayed, will you be looking into the mini-spay?
I haven't really researched it yet, but I'll have to look into it. My vet (the one that doesn't really mind that I don't neuter my dogs at 6 months) says he thinks after the first season is best, anyway - I know that's up for debate, but I'll go with the advice of my vet that I trust for want of a better thing to do! I'm still sort of hoping that I can cope somehow. I guess I'll find that out!
Well I think I might hire a motorhome over Christmas..just in case, and if the worst happens, will just disappear over the horizon with Benson! Any other time and Bramble goes to our dog walker or my mum or to @Naya only I haven't mentioned it yet!
I don't have anywhere to send Betsy. And OH won't give Charlie up to look after Betsy, no way he'd do that.
