Advice from dog owners please

Jobseeeker

I am looking after a female dog for relative that is in hospital. Could be for quite a while. Know nothing about dogs so please help.

The dog is unneutered and for the last 10 days or so has been trying to mate with toys/objects etc. My concern is for taking dog for walk could another dog get to her and impregnate her. What if I couldn't stop them? Another dog walker said to me you only have to worry about this for a few weeks every year. Is that right? theres only a few weeks she could get pregnant?

JencParker

As a general rule !!!!!es come in season twice a year. They bleed for around 3 -- 4 weeks and are ready to be mated some time during the middle of the season. However, this is an average and most !!!!!es will vary to some degree (and if she IS in season, then keep her in and also don't leave her unattended in the garden).

Can you find out from the owner when she was last in season and when she is next due? It is possible to get a 'silent season' when there are no outward signs that she is in season, however, these aren't that common.

Having said all that, humping alone is not always a sexual act. In fact, more often it is an expression of excitement or can be an expression of dominance. Is she is season now? How much exercise is she getting?

ameliarate

If you are walking a dog that is not yours and you don't know that well I would suggest you keep her on a lead at all times anyway. In that case you should be pretty safe from dogs wanting a bit of Christmas nooky.

Jobseeeker

Thanks. I don't know if she's in season I really don't know how to tell, I was going by the humping thing but yes that might just be general excitement.

I always keep her on lead apart from back garden which is secure

lostinrates

Is she or has she been spotting blood?

This might only be noticeable during the early days in some girls.

nickcc

Our dog has been spayed and humps anything in sight when she becomes excited (as post#2). One of the reasons we had her spayed was due to the bleed when she came into season, having to cover all the furnishings and carpets plus not wanting an unwanted pregnancy really made our mind up.
She also gets walked every day but is never let off the lead.

meritaten

this may be a bit graphic (sensitive people stop reading now). the usual way to tell if a dog is in season is if its reproductive 'bits' are swollen and leaking. and tbh - some female dogs don't do this - they 'hide' their seasons and even experienced owners wouldn't know! assume unless proved otherwise its in season and be careful not to let it out, or other dogs to 'access' her.
The humping could be because the dog is missing her owner and feels scared/insecure - like masturbation is 'comforting' to humans.