when will shelties have first heat
- Thread starter Sofa Lei
- Start date
How do you know when a dog comes into heat?? I have been wondering this ever since Domino's breeder mentioned that she had 3 females in heat a few weeks ago when she looked after him for us for the weekend.
It may be a naive question but as Domino is male I have never experienced this!
It may be a naive question but as Domino is male I have never experienced this!
Justicemom
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The first sign is spotting of blood around the vulva, then the vuvla begins to swell and enlarge(it's obvious very large and swollen). I noticed a swelling/firmness in the upper vaginal area(level of cervix the week prior) when you felt the area(you can feel it though the skin, might be more obvious to me a veterinarian). Whenever, I have felt this firmness around the cervix area, the season followed within 7 days. If you have an intact male around he will notice before you.
Although an experience male won't get to excited until she is ready. Bloody discharge continue for 1 week sometimes more and then changes to straw color and then clear in color. The female will flirt with the male, flag her tail, and stand for mounting when she is in standing heat(sometime between the 8th and 19th day usually 11-16 on avg) signs start to disappear around 21 days. Mind you not all girls read the book. 
Both of my girls have had behavior changes about going into season. They just seem more distracted when working. Ember was crabby and aggressive.
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