How do you guys that have intact dogs manage males during your females heat cycles? How far apart do you have to keep them for the male to chill? Do you have to keep them completely separated for the entire month or are the males mostly just interested for the week when the female is flagging? Any difference with younger males or are they pretty much the same if they're mature enough to notice?

Rogue is 7 months now so I'm starting to keep a close eye on her. I'd like my 9 month old heeler to finish growing before I neuter him. He's got that long legged gangly look to him right now.

I have a small 1 bedroom shotgun style apartment so he'll be in close quarters to her at night although he can go to work with me during the day. I'm hoping that she goes into heat a little older so I can just neuter him before she does but given how small she is I think she might be a little earlier than the 9 month average for AmBulls.

I'd ask locally but the spay/neuter fanatics are everywhere. even pointing them to papers like this doesn't change their zeal to spay/ neuter every dog as early as possible. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/1/5/3/1/15319800/spay_neuter_considerations_2013.pdf&ved=0CDMQFjAHahUKEwiIuvn01fzGAhWDqB4KHUqzAKw&usg=AFQjCNFNpV95MOJ9lbpMKspiHyu5augQ5Q

The last time I had two intact males and one intact female they were all three outside dogs. No kennel, just loose in the yard.

With my inside dogs it was a matter of crating in different rooms.

I did have a couple of males that howled like they were dying during these times.

The the outdoor female went in the garage while we were at work.

When I would get home I would put the two males on a down while I let the female out for a bit of relief and exercise.

I was ALWAYS present of course!

One of the males was very dominant over the other male so a look would keep the other away from the garage.

This dog was also very possessive of the female throughout her season, not just during prime time. Wasn't uncommon for him to do a bit of snarling at me also. I understood so I didn't push him. I didn't back down but I saw no sense in creating a fight during a stressful time for all three.

The dominant male would often skip 4-5 meals during this time but all was well when it was over.

I've spayed/neutered only a few of the dogs I've owned and mostly for health reasons.

For me it's simply a management issue that I take full responsibility for.

Would I suggest this for everyone? Not at all.

Everyone needs to understand their own abilities and limitations.

 Quote: Bob Scott

The last time I had two intact males and one intact female they were all three outside dogs. No kennel, just loose in the yard.

With my inside dogs it was a matter of crating in different rooms.

I did have a couple of males that howled like they were dying during these times.

The the outdoor female went in the garage while we were at work.

When I would get home I would put the two males on a down while I let the female out for a bit of relief and exercise.

I was ALWAYS present of course!

One of the males was very dominant over the other male so a look would keep the other away from the garage.

This dog was also very possessive of the female throughout her season, not just during prime time. Wasn't uncommon for him to do a bit of snarling at me also. I understood so I didn't push him. I didn't back down but I saw no sense in creating a fight during a stressful time for all three.

The dominant male would often skip 4-5 meals during this time but all was well when it was over.

I've spayed/neutered only a few of the dogs I've owned and mostly for health reasons.

For me it's simply a management issue that I take full responsibility for.

Would I suggest this for everyone? Not at all.

Everyone needs to understand their own abilities and limitations.

Usually learned The HARD Way in my experience, after Some EPIC Fails, LOL...

Your male will pant, whine, act distracted -- but he is young and inexperienced enough that he likely won't quite realize exactly what it is he is wanting. He will go off feed.
Your females urine will be fascinating to him and to neighborhood dogs -- expect visitors. These visitors may be interested in fighting with your male pup.

With luck, the first heat cycle will be less messy and shorter than subsequent heats.

I'd suspect your dog to come into heat in the fall, as soon as the weather begins to cool -- but it could be any day, or even as late as December, as the light returns.

I have 4 intact males (2 Shepherds, 2 Poms) and 5 intact Females (1 Shepherd, 1 Leonberger and 3 Poms).

My Shepherds are amazing and don't act any differently when my females are in heat. No whining and carrying on. Only difference really is that they would breed the girls if they got the chance. Everyone is crated in the dining room together, all within a few feet of each other. I also walk them together on leash (except for standing heat). No problems.

The Poms - only 1 male can be a bit more whiney when the girls are in heat, any girl really. Never through the night, mostly just during potty breaks when the girls go out without him LOL

I have recommended diffusing essential oils to some students who have more unruly males, and it has worked with moderate success for most of them.