Just acquired a new puppy, updated with pics and new Qs!

elsien

When I got mutt she was aged 1-2, and completely untrained in any way. And she was a nervous wreck who was appalling around dogs, people and children.

I went to a local training group and did the canine good citizen awards
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining which I found really useful and can thoroughly recommend - it helped her get used to other dogs, but more importantly gave me the confidence to manage her better. We only managed bronze though, looked at the silver but some things were never going to happen. :rotfl:

I think yours sounds to be generally a much calmer dog with far less "issues." So don't let me put you off (- if I'd known at the time what I was taking on, I'd probably have got professional help from the start.)
Mutt is now a 12 year old nervous wreck (I think too much happened before I got her) and is fine with people she knows but can't be off lead at all as I've never managed to train her out of jumping and nipping at people when she's scared. I use a halti as she's 22kg and I'm also a size 6 weakling and I spent a lot of time out around dogs and people from a safe distance, getting closer as she got more used to being out and about. We used a muzzle for a bit but dispensed with it as soon as possible as it made her worse when she knew she couldn't defend herself. And if off lead dogs approach, I tell the owner to call them away or their dog will get hurt. (It won't as mutt is a wuss, but it's the quickest and easiest way to get them to back off without mutt getting silly.)

Basically, training, time and patience and putting safeguards in place while you get the training sorted.
She's a pain in the !!!! and I wouldn't be without her.:D

jackieglasgow

Talk about in at the deep end! This is getting ridiculous. She has just come into season. We only have experience of male dogs, so here are my questions:

1. How heavy does this usually get, and what's the normal length of time for this to last, and is there anything in particular I need to do?
2. Is it possible this is why she's been like this with other dogs? Today she was trying to get through the livingroom window at dogs going past in the street (not barking just whining.)
3. Could this explain how much she has been sleeping?
4. How soon after this can I arrange to get her neutered? I discussed it briefly with the vet the other night, but it was, if she has a period in the next six to eight months we'll know for definite that she still needs to be "done", not that her period is due, and this is what you'll need to do!

So, OH wasn't ready to share his life with another woman yet, never mind another pre menstrual one, he can't believe his luck!

All advice, tips and help gratefully accepted/ invited!

Jackie X

hethmar

Hi, well seasons usually last about 3 weeks. And they do change during and just before, so hopefully that may be why she has been doing all the whining and so on. My last girl used to poo in the house before she came into season.

You need to speak to your vet about best time to get her spayed but Id have thought the sooner the better! For gawds sake keep an eye on her as you dont want the extra prob of a pregnant dog! Dont even let her in the garden without supervision as its amazing how far they and local dogs will go to mate.

Its not like humans (obviously, as this is the time they can conceive, not the other way round), there isnt a lot of blood, just trickles and they clean themselves a lot. You can get an antimate spray which will cover the scent a bit, to avoid every dog in a ten mile radius sitting outside your door.

Ring the vet to let them know she will need spaying and they can book her in.

candygirl

Think you have to wait a bit after the season to have her spayed, so the hormones die down.Otherwise they say they can keep getting phantom pregnancies:(That's what my vet advised anyway;)
My 2 are both well socialised with other dogs,but still get v over excited and bark like mad when they see other dogs while on walks:o:o

UKTigerlily

They can be Spayed three months after their season but some Vets will do it before so it's worth calling to ask about, please remember not to leave her in the garden alone or take her on walks right now! It's been known for 'accidents' to happen while the female is in the garden supposedly safe lol

~Chameleon~

Ideally you will need to book her in around 3-4mths from now. This will be mid-cycle and when there is least risk of complications occuring. Any sooner than that and there's a risk of bleeding during the op and hormonal side effects.

As others have said, please take extra care not to let her out of your sight for even a moment and make sure she stays on a lead whenever you are out. This won't stop other (male) dog's approaching you and if they're not on a lead they will mount your b!tch so beware. Some people carry a large stick when walking a b!tch in season

Oh, and as this is your first season you won't know what to expect. The bleeding will last approx 7-10 days and you might think it's all over but it's not! It's during this next phase that she is at highest risk of becoming pregnant as ovulation occurs approx 10-17 days after bleeding starts. The whole season lasts up to 3 weeks so you need to keep her away from dogs for that entire period.

It's quite possible this can be attributable to her change in behavior, especially if this is her first season which it certainly sounds as though it is if she's around 8mths old. In a month's time you might see a completely different dog behaviour wise

jackieglasgow

Thanks. The garden should be fine as we have a 6m fence around it, and she won't stay out anyway because of the snow. OH will do the walking thing but not too far, and see how it goes. Anyway, he has her out at 6.30am, not a lot of people about then here, never mind dogs!

All of this in one week, it certainly hasn't been dull!

~Chameleon~

Trust me, a 6m fence will be no deterrent to a determined dog. Make sure she remains on the lead in the garden also


Actually, just read that again and did you mean 6m or 6ft? I can't imagine any garden having a 20ft fence around it :rotfl:

jackieglasgow

LOL you're right, 6feet, but then again, maybe I should put OH to work this weekend, that would work. Can't explain the geography very well, but there's no way another dog can get to my back garden, unless it can build a tunnel!