My 9 month old cocker spaniel has just gone on heat and we are due to go on holiday abroad in 2 weeks time. Will the kennels still accept her?

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Kizzi's Mum

Totally depends on the kennel - some do but loads don't.

Maybe this was a problem you could have foreseen? I was going away at a time when I knew it was possible my bitch would have been in heat so I made sure the kennels would still take her.

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To be fair, the first season isn't predictable - 6-9 months could mean not doing anything for 3 months on a what if... Very much depends on how much notice for holiday you have to give for work etc.

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Best thing would be to ring the kennels today and let them know. They will then be able to tell you whether they will take her or not. You may have to make alternative arrangements for her.

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Harvey - Beagle 4.5 years old
Willow - Old English Sheepdog x - 2.5 years old
Merlin - African Grey Parrot - 6 years old

RIP our Beautiful Girl : Zoe (Collie x) 1992 - 2006....Gone but never forgotten xx

RIng the kennels and explain. The Kennels we use have a seperate 'isolation Kennel' block. Its seperate formt he main block and houses 4 dogs, its a quiet zone for older / nervous dogs as well as for bitches on heat.

As well as asking them about would they take her also visit them and check the facilities for a Bitch on heat. Its no good if she is going to be stuck in a block with 50 other dogs!!

Its so hard to know when they are going to have their first season so try not to feel bad - It's one of those things. I would get on the phone first thing this moorning though as if you need to find another kennel your goingt o be busy finding a good one for less than 2 weeks time.

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I know the first season isn't predictable, but I still think it's an entirely avoidable problem. You KNOW the bitch will come into heat at some point, and you know it will likely be between 6 and 9 months, therefore if you book a holiday during this time you know there is a possibility the bitch will come into season. If you think about it there's a one in three chance that the bitch WILL be in season if you're away for 2 weeks between 6 and 9 months (and the bitch has her season during that time).

It's not hard if you're a bitch owner to make sure that your chosen kennels accept bitches in heat which is why I say this problem is completely avoidable.

To the poster - sorry I'm not intending to have a go at you here. You could have been better prepared but what's done is done. I hope your kennel will still take her or you find another that will, and enjoy your holiday

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If your kennel doesnt take her i know MYPETSTOP will. There are centres in Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds. Bit of a distance I know but at least you could enjoy your holiday. They dont have traditional "kennels" more like apartments, so she will be totally seperate from other dogs.


mypetstop – Dog boarding | Cat boarding | Dog training | Grooming | Hydrotherapy | Expert pet care

i thought the first season was anytime between 6-18months?? at least that`s what i`ve always been told and i know a westie who didn`t get hers till 13 months and also my banjo never had a season and was pts at almost 1 year old. that`s a bit of a huge time gap not to make any plans for just in case the bitch comes into season! i think they 6-9months is a guidline for small breed dogs but cockers would fall under medium along with springers and i know they`re known for not having the first season till nearer 12months......

i don`t know much about kennels as i`ve never use them but if i`m being 100% honest i`m not sure i`d trust leaving my bitch with them if she were in season after hearing horror stories about them getting caught in the past. it`s just something that petrifies me. i do hope someone on here can help but as others have said, the only people who can say for sure are the kennels

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owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx

But how difficult is it, when phoning up kennels, to say "my bitch is x months old and hasn't had her season. Will you still take her if she comes into season while I am away?" If the answer is yes you book her in. If the answer is no you phone another kennel.

It's not rocket science.

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no i know but it`s something a lot of people don`t think of, especially first time dog owners or first time unspayed bitch owners. like i said i don`t know much about kennels as i don`t use them anyway but i know i have the worst memory ever and i`d be the first to forget to ask if i`ve got other things on my mind

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owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx