Will I know when my little one is on her heat cycle? Male boxer in the house!

[cybie]

Selene is now 8 months old and I've been monitoring her closely since she was 6 to see if she has any sign of heat cycle... Cybe (19month male) is always with her and I don't want any sexual abuse in my house!
But I'm so anxious! Is there a chance I won't see it? How does it start? Is there a possibility there's no blood at all? Or any brown stuff? How many days should they be seperated for? What if I can't give one of them away for some days, would closed doors in seperate rooms be enough to keep them apart?
I'll spay Selene after her first cycle (this is what my dock insists on here) and now I just jump up every time I hear the little one bark (just to find out she wants bored Cybe to play with her!)
Any information would be helpfull...
Thanks!

 

[boxer]

Well, it's probably better for your bitch's health if you spay her before the first heat. That cuts the risk of mammary cancer to 0.05% - it will be an 8% risk if she has one cycle. 8% may not be a huge risk - but it is 16 times the risk if she is simply spayed before she cycles.

Another thought - how about neutering the male? It's substantially better for his health too, and brings the risk of pregnancy down to zero just the same as if the bitch is sterilized

As for recognising the heat cycle - usually it is obvious. Most bitches will become very swollen around the vaginal area, and will also bleed. She would need to be kept well away from the male dog for at least three weeks. But yes, there is such a thing as a "silent heat" where there are few or no outward signs. It isn't that common, but it does happen. In that instance, the only way available to you to know she's in heat would be her behaviour or that of the male. Unfortunately, it might then be too late for avoidance of sexual activities...

 

[ant49ers]

So how did it go for Selene and Cybe? Im wondering because Im going thru the same thing. And my little boy is not eating at all and Im afraid hes going to get sick. What did u do? How did they act?

 

[cybie]

Finally...

Its 8 days now (finally!) selene is on her heat cycle. They both look OK though I'm monitoring them closely to see for any diferense in their behaviour. The first day Cybe was smelling her constantly and he had saliva falling from his mouth. I seperated them immediately by putting Selene in her crate. I'm sure he smells her but he seems ok by this time. Both of them behave normally. I don't know... It will be difficult to totally seperate them as Selene has a seperation anxiety problem towards Cybe which I haven't solved yet as I couldn't really seperate them for a long time untill now... Actually she has never stayed alone in her life before... so now that she's in this situation I feel really bad to seperate them totally. I just hope Cybe is stupid enough that he wont recognise his need as he has never been with a female before... I don't know what I'm hoping for... I'm just waiting to see...

 

[Dempseysmama]

Why not nueter the male when the female is fixed? That would solve any problems what so ever. Most likely he isn't "stupid" enough... if he's a boxer he's probablly very smart and either way- he can't ignore the instinct.

 

[boxer]

I seperated them immediately by putting Selene in her crate. I'm sure he smells her but he seems ok by this time.

I'm sorry, but putting her in her crate is nowhere near enough. You need them in separate rooms at very least. Dogs are perfectly capable of mating through the bars of a crate and it happens frequently. Keep them in separate parts of the house, or you are certain to have an unplanned litter on your hands (and your puppy bitch is far too young and physically immature to cope with that).

I just hope Cybe is stupid enough that he wont recognise his need as he has never been with a female before... I don't know what I'm hoping for... I'm just waiting to see...

Not a hope in hell LOL
Sorry, but there is absolutely no way he won't "recognise the need". He's smelling her rear end and salivating already, and she's not even at ovulation yet. Again - you need to keep them separated. And separated means at minimum in different parts of the house. A crate is useless as a birth control measure. Having them loose together is suicidal. If he mounts her, they can tie within moments. And then you've got to face either risking the life of your puppy in having her carry a litter, or else have the litter aborted (the latter being the better option).

Is there anyone you could send him to stay with for a couple of weeks?

 

[cybie]

I'll do my best

...as I always do...
for the meantime I'll just have to wait...
I don't like to go against the nature as much as I can ofcourse...

I'll check everything out with my holistic vet and more... and I'll deside...
thanks

 

[cybie]

sorry I just read your post boxer

Ok, seperate rooms it will be... when is this period you said? I mean that ovulation??

 

[boxer]

...as I always do...
for the meantime I'll just have to wait...
I don't like to go against the nature as much as I can ofcourse...

I'll check everything out with my holistic vet and more... and I'll deside...
thanks

Then decide? You're not seriously considering breeding an 8 month old puppy, are you? That would be irresponsible in the extreme. It could kill her and would certainly damage her.

Dogs "in nature" do not breed at that age - they do not even come into heat that early. That is a phenomena that occurs only in unnatural environments, like dogs living with humans - not in dog pack environments. The presence of a heat does NOT make it a good idea to breed a puppy (any more than it would be a good idea for a 10 year old human girl to breed). You're responsible for putting these two dogs together, not "nature". You're also responsible for their health and welfare - and that means keeping them apart.

 

[cybie]

Hey Debbie!

Thanks! But now please tell me when this period is... Selene is 11 by now. from today they 're gonna be seperated. I won't breed them at all. I'm just not sure by now which one I will spay or nuter or even both... I will wait untill she finishes with her cycle... I'll call my vet today and ask for more but I'm going home I wish I know the more I can...