Zastava's first heat has arrived.

[Katyusharocket]

So she started on February 20th, correct? It hasn't been quite a month yet. Has she stopped bleeding? I thought that last week out of the month that Annie started I was told was the most receptive? I was a little surprised at that actually. It was when she had slowed down and was barely bleeding. I didn't write anything down but I know she started right after Thanksgiving and ended before Christmas because I was very happy it wasn't during the holidays! I guess that makes her 26 days.

Yep! February 20th she started. Her discharge became less red and more clear over the few days before Toby flagged her as a mate, which was March 5th, looking back here, but she was still swelled up. Toby slowed down targeting her gradually starting on March 9th, and stopped altogether on the overnight of March 10th, and today is the 14th, so just over 3 weeks. But I also would never take her to the dog park yet, because as her swelling is going down, I don't think its gone yet (unless her size gets permanently changed during first heat cycle ), and I just don't want to risk anything for probably another week or so? Just trying to be safe than sorry in that regard, I just can't make myself believe it's quite finished yet, completely, even though I don't notice any discharge at all by now.

 

[JanS]

I forgot that I never posted Olive's cycles. As stated, they can all vary and hers aren't super long, even though they seem that way with an intact boy in the house.

 

[Katyusharocket]

hers aren't super long,

seems like she is start to finish in the 3 week area, which is what it has been this time for Z too, if she is technically done now.

 

[Ravenbird]

seems like she is start to finish in the 3 week area, which is what it has been this time for Z too, if she is technically done now.

Some other thread/discussion on heat cycles I'm sure we stated that the average is 21 days start to finish, so looks like she's spot on. (no pun intended)

 

[Katyusharocket]

Some other thread/discussion on heat cycles I'm sure we stated that the average is 21 days start to finish, so looks like she's spot on. (no pun intended)

Love the pun, even if not intended!

 

[MyBuddy]

Some other thread/discussion on heat cycles I'm sure we stated that the average is 21 days start to finish, so looks like she's spot on. (no pun intended)

I thought someone told me that it was 30 days? And that the last week, when she practically was done bleeding, was when she was most "receptive "? I'm confused. I should go back to my thread and check.

 

[MichiH]

I thought someone told me that it was 30 days? And that the last week, when she practically was done bleeding, was when she was most "receptive "? I'm confused. I should go back to my thread and check.

30 Days to be safe was what I had been told. I don’t know the the proper medical reason why , but I waited 30 days. Peppers first heat though so I was a bit more intense. I wasn’t as strict on the second heat at the end. Although, we were home no travel no other dogs to really worry about.

 

[Katyusharocket]

30 Days to be safe was what I had been told. I don’t know the the proper medical reason why , but I waited 30 days. Peppers first heat though so I was a bit more intense. I wasn’t as strict on the second heat at the end. Although, we were home no travel no other dogs to really worry about.

I had read the 30 days to be safe rule, too. It's possible it even was written by you in another thread. That's actually the number I am comfortable with and will use, too. I don't need an unplanned litter. She was sold to me with the intention (of both the breeder and me) of keeping her in the breeders breeding program, so an unplanned litter would be a little more than unpleasant, it would blow up some meticulous planning.

 

[JanS]

I'm lucky enough (if you want to call it that LOL) to have an intact male so they let me know every step of the way where she is in the cycle. Olive will try to rip his head off when she's past the receptive period so I give it a couple more days after that. You can also have progesterone testing done but that's kind of a waste of money unless you're planning to breed and want to get an idea of when the best time is.

 

[MyBuddy]

Olive will try to rip his head off when she's past the receptive period so I give it a couple more days after that.

Sorry I've been outside and didn't look at my own thread but if I remember correctly, I was told that that last week, even though she was barely bleeding, was her most receptive time. I remember it so well because I was thinking I was in the clear because she had stopped bleeding. But then when I was told that, I panicked! Thinking, holy crap, I was way off! So is the receptive period always at the end when they stop bleeding? Or is it different all the time?

 

[JanS]

So is the receptive period always at the end when they stop bleeding?

As a rule it is or right after the blood starts turning a straw or light color. Of course all dogs are different so I just go by what ours are doing.

 

[Katyusharocket]

I'm lucky enough (if you want to call it that LOL) to have an intact male

Even though Toby is not intact, he sure knew those fertile days. Not risky, though, like you have.

I just go by what ours are doing.

It sure does help to observe.

 

[Katyusharocket]

View attachment 153163

Yep, yours says exactly the same as Katyusha's. Exact same test. Did you mean to put this in the spay and heat cycles thread, though?

 

[MichiH]

Yep, yours says exactly the same as Katyusha's. Exact same test. Did you mean to put this in the spay and heat cycles thread, though?

I did darn it sorry!

 

[Katyusharocket]

I did darn it sorry!

Haha no worries. Glad Pepper's numbers are better than Katyusha's and that's the only test difference.

 

[MichiH]

Haha no worries. Glad Pepper's numbers are better than Katyusha's and that's the only test difference.

Aww I know this while thing is a lot to take in.