Hi I am totally inexperienced with bitches that are due in season.Our 2 yr collie x we took on 6 weeks ago had not been done & we knew this but the previous owners could not tell us when she last had a season ,all she said was sometime earlier this year.

I registered Flo with our local vets & they said they would not operate on her until after she had been in season so we would have to wait.I really need to know what signs we should look for as I want to walk her still not coup her up for this 3 week thing I have read about but I have no clue.This past week she has had runny poo on & off so I was wondering if hormones do this ???

Any advice that may be recognised signs of it coming as she is really not keen on me lifting her tail to look & tries to nip me.

Thanks in advance for any advice

She may start to go a wee more on walks and start to clean herself more

My boy dogs will tell me when they are coming into season... so you may find dogs in your park start to take some more interest in her

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A bitch usually has a season every six months and lasts three weeks but this can vary as my bitch has gone five months then had another season , the signs are as said before increased frequency of urination also isnt there anyone who can help you check i use a piece of tissue and just wipe her ,

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http://www.weynoakebordercollies.co.uk/

If you cannot check her vulva the lay a White sheet on her bed. Some bitches keep themselves very clean so you don't see any mess but you should notice even a tiny amount of blood loss on a White sheet.
Now would also be a good time to train her to accept have her body looked at - not just rear ends but ears teeth etc. Click and treat should work a treat

you say you still want to walk her but you shouldn't be taking an in season bitch out. If you must then take her out in the car to an area where dogs are not walked and keep her on lead. I go to a local industrial estate where there are no dogs around however they are restricted to my garden (and never left unattended in the garden) during ovulation.

If she's over 6 months and likely to be coming into season you could get into the habit of pressing a piece of tissue paper against her vulva each morning - this will warn you of any colour change and the start of her season - some bitches can get a bit more clingly or grumpier than usual prior to a season before any physical signs.

I am lucky enough to live in a very rural area & can take her out into the fields where I can sometimes not see anyone for an hours walk & the others I do see I know who they are & can speak to them,most of the dogs that walk round there are bitches anyway & only a couple of dogs are walked there.

The weeing thing sonunds about right as she has suddenly started to do a lot more & she has been clingy the last week & quite grumpy.

I will also start t try & get her used to being handled via her rear end then (she really is not at all keen,the paws being wiped is a treat job)

Thanks for all the advice,at least I now have some idea what I can look out for but it does sound like it is beginning,god help me