The Dogs Bol**cks

[ed champ]

Can anyone help me with a problem about my dogs balls.

Me and my partner will be flying out to Perth the end of this month the dog (male Labrador 3) fly’s out tomorrow.

The only problem is that we will all be staying with my brother who has a bitch golden retriever 8 months old, and he want us to get out dog castrated just in case she gets pregnant, but I don’t want to put my dog through that as he would have been through enough on his trip out there.

My brother seems to think that she could get pregnant at anytime even when she is not in season and I have heard different, that a bitch only comes into season 2 times a year and that she can only get pregnant on the second week of her being on heat.

can anyone tell us what their thoughts are on the matter, and give us any advice or if anyone has had experience in mixing male and female dogs together and how you would avoid the unfortunate happening. as my brother is driving me mad

[Ripha]

We used to breed dogs, so here goes.....

Bitches come into season usually every six or nine months and can bleed for anything up to about 3 weeks. They can start to come into their first season at 9 months of age, but it's more likely that she wont have her first season until at least 12 month and certainly should not be mated until at least 18 months of age.

The height of their season is when mating takes place and this varies from bitch to bitch. Mine have varied from day 9 to day 19 of their season.

When a bitch is in season, she will only be interested in the dog when she is at her height, he however will be very interested in her throughout it all !!

Having him neutered is a very severe solution IMHO, especially when your brother can go to the vets and get some pills that will stop his bitch from coming into season whilst you are staying with them.

Should your dog cover his bitch and she falls into whelp, well there is only one solution that I can see......CHARGE HIM for the privilege !!

PM me if you are really worried.

Ripha.

[RVN]

Hi Ed...hope this helps you.
Firstly a bitch at 8 months of age could come into season anytime now...Most bitches will have two seasons a year (spring and autumn usually). Seasons last approx 3 weeks, during that time the bitch will bleed. During the later weeks is the time she can get pregnant. I usually tell people to be ultra careful for the whole duration of the season.
As for your boy...as he is flying out tomorrow he will be going into quarantine for 30 days...yes?? so how long you are staying with your brother?
As for getting him castrated..I would definately wait until he is settled into his new environment as it will no doubt be stressful to him moving house, and there is a chance that (depending on the nature of the dog) castration can make a nervous dog worse. Having said that it is a relatively quick procedure (half hour or so depending on the vet of course!) and recovery is good, (rest period approx 7-14 days).
Depending on your situation, if you have to all be under the same roof together, you MUST keep the two dogs separate and watch them carefully, as dogs can smell bitchs in heat from miles away and will try to get to them at all costs..any other info...feel free to ask..

Helen (veterinary nurse):)

[Ripha]

Oh and by the way - when your brothers bitch IS in season and ready for mating, she will want a dog just as much as a dog will want her, so she will try anything to get out and find one !!

If he's not prepared for that, maybe he should have her spayed....

Ripha.

[becky c]

Hi Ed,

A couple of years ago I got landed with my mums big soft golden lab for 6 months. He had all his bits, and lo and behold whilst he was with us our border terrier bitch came in to her first season. It was fairly easy to manage, we kept our dog in the porch whilst he was in the house, and swapped them round regularly through the day so they both had some time in doors with us. Our bitch wasn't too bothered but the labrador was 'like a dog on heat'. It was a bit of a pain keeping them apart, but not impossible. It was the labrador I felt sorry for, he kept taking his frustrations out on our scatter cushions....eeeugh.

I'm sure it will be manageable, just keep them apart,

Good Luck with it,

Bec x