Golden Retrievers

[Old Man River]

I thought for sure there was info on TV about Golden's with their first periods (perhaps called something different for dogs), but I can't find it. My Golden, at 17 months, is having her first period. While I am happy with this as we will let her have one litter of pups during her next period, never having gone through this, is there anything I should know to do? My maids think it is funny, watching the male soi dogs gather at the gates (my dog is well protected from them, and even if not, is so strong she would tear their heads off anyway).

Right now, we are not doing anything different with her. She is eating the same foods and with the same routine. Is there anything I should be doing differently during this time?

Thanks.

[bina]

bitches in heat (the proper terms), will do anything to get ot a male, so they learn to jump out windows, run past maids, and males can do it thru a fence... while she is bleeding red fresh blood, she wont accept males; when she starts to spot (brownish, old blood), she will be receptive and can get pregnant... count 9 to 12 days from the brownish spotting .... keep her safe at least two weeks... and shower her after very very well, as her scent will still attract the males... as will the scent on you, on your kids, etc.... so u may be approached by many males also...

when touched on the base of her tail, she will move it sideways and this means TODAY IS THE DAY ...

the male dogs outside can be dangerous to passersby, and will keep u awake all night, my bitch used to howl at the door for hours, usually nothing else changes... they lick themselves much more, and are 'nervous' and more active as they want to get to the males even if they wont stand for any male (she stands still when a male mounts her).... she may want to pee much more, as this is the way she broadcasts her 'readiness'....

the other thread was about breeding goldens... mating.... cant remember who but it was a recent thread so check it out also....

my bitch leapt over my head (i'm short) to get out the door to her suitors, we let her have her run and fun and we spayed her a week after .... too many strays and i didnt want any mixed boxer/anydog pups with no one who would want them either.

good luck

[Old Man River]

bitches in heat (the proper terms), will do anything to get ot a male, so they learn to jump out windows, run past maids, and males can do it thru a fence... while she is bleeding red fresh blood, she wont accept males; when she starts to spot (brownish, old blood), she will be receptive and can get pregnant... count 9 to 12 days from the brownish spotting .... keep her safe at least two weeks... and shower her after very very well, as her scent will still attract the males... as will the scent on you, on your kids, etc.... so u may be approached by many males also...

when touched on the base of her tail, she will move it sideways and this means TODAY IS THE DAY ...

the male dogs outside can be dangerous to passersby, and will keep u awake all night, my bitch used to howl at the door for hours, usually nothing else changes... they lick themselves much more, and are 'nervous' and more active as they want to get to the males even if they wont stand for any male (she stands still when a male mounts her).... she may want to pee much more, as this is the way she broadcasts her 'readiness'....

the other thread was about breeding goldens... mating.... cant remember who but it was a recent thread so check it out also....

my bitch leapt over my head (i'm short) to get out the door to her suitors, we let her have her run and fun and we spayed her a week after .... too many strays and i didnt want any mixed boxer/anydog pups with no one who would want them either.

good luck

Bina, thanks very much for the info. She is double gated, but I didn't think about them doing it through the gate should a soi dog get through. Since I am in a family compound and can't control all the gates, that would be a possbility. Hence, we will keep a much closer eye on her. She is a pedigree and it is our intent to mate her with another pedigree in about 6 months, and then have her spayed after that.

Again, thanks.

[Mobi]

Hi OMR and fellow golden lover,

There was a couple of threads on this a few months ago, and I remember finding loads of links on the web that give you very good info on Goldens in heat etc.

It was reading these, and some books that I bought, that convinced me for health reasons the best thing I could do was to have Cookie spayed, and we did this when she was around six months. She was a bit sorry for herself for a week or so, but now she's fine and happy.

Apparently stories that speyed bitches have personality changes or put on weight are just 'old wives' tales'

Good luck with your dog's heat cycle - let's hope some miniature pooch doesn't squeeze in between the bars.

[Old Man River]

Hi OMR and fellow golden lover,

There was a couple of threads on this a few months ago, and I remember finding loads of links on the web that give you very good info on Goldens in heat etc.

It was reading these, and some books that I bought, that convinced me for health reasons the best thing I could do was to have Cookie spayed, and we did this when she was around six months. She was a bit sorry for herself for a week or so, but now she's fine and happy.

Apparently stories that speyed bitches have personality changes or put on weight are just 'old wives' tales'

Good luck with your dog's heat cycle - let's hope some miniature pooch doesn't squeeze in between the bars.

I had my other dog spayed early on, but we thought since this one is a pedigree that we would keep the bloodlines going and let her have one litter. So now, I am walking around trying to figure out the color of her discharges and slapping her on her rear to see which way her tail wags. Mobi, see what you are missing?

[bina]

just tickle her above her tail; youll see, she'll swing it side wise and stand... and then what are u gonna do????????

i also would suggest a spay, pedigree shmedigree, if u dont follow really good bloodlines, and want to add to the breed, u should just do it.... no one makes money off a one time breeding unless your bitch has some amazing bloodlines... and she wont know what she's missing (although the thai seem to think this is cruel, they'd rather have the pups and turn them loose to fend for them selves if not sold)... although she may be a bit more obsessive about collecting socks and putting them in her bed... u have no worries about marauding males, puppy pee, vet bills etc... and u prevent her from getting some cancers and some uterine problems... when u start feeling broody again, u can always adopt an other cutey....for her to play with...

bina

[Old Man River]

just tickle her above her tail; youll see, she'll swing it side wise and stand... and then what are u gonna do????????

i also would suggest a spay, pedigree shmedigree, if u dont follow really good bloodlines, and want to add to the breed, u should just do it.... no one makes money off a one time breeding unless your bitch has some amazing bloodlines... and she wont know what she's missing (although the thai seem to think this is cruel, they'd rather have the pups and turn them loose to fend for them selves if not sold)... although she may be a bit more obsessive about collecting socks and putting them in her bed... u have no worries about marauding males, puppy pee, vet bills etc... and u prevent her from getting some cancers and some uterine problems... when u start feeling broody again, u can always adopt an other cutey....for her to play with...

bina

I don't know about really amazing bloodlines, but about half the dogs listed on her papers carry champion designations (from the US) and a few are pictured on the internet. Perhaps this is the same for all pedigrees, but in any event, the people with the other dog are friends with a lot of experience in this. None of us are in it for the money. We just love Goldens. We will keep some, they will keep some and there is always a waiting list of others willing to give homes to well bred Goldens. We all can afford the upkeep for these dogs and have space for them. We won't do this until 6 months from now and after her first litter, we will have her spayed. Hopefully, she won't have a record number of puppies, but if she does, they all will be well taken care of.

Bina, I really do appreciate all your advice and understand the warning.

Best regards,

OMR

[bina]

no prob. good luck

[Old Man River]

no prob. good luck

Bina, nothing to do with dogs. I remember that you are Israeli and living on a kibbutz. Our prayers are with you and your family.

[bina]

thank u for your kind thoughts;

we are in jerusalem area so we are hosts to those families that have been getting hit by missiles at the moment...

two years ago we were the ones in the midst of it all....

if its not one war its an other........