I'm boarding a 3 months old female GSD and I have a 5 yr. old male GSD, this will be an occassional thing, when the owners out of town on business or vacation.

What age does a female dog come into heat? I can't remember it hasn't been a factor for such a long time.

Is it 6 months, 9 months or 11 months, am I close? Does it vary much? How many times a year does she come into heat? Is there a a cycle? How long does it last? Is there a messing clean up process??

My Rottie/pitt female was fixed as a puppy, so missed all that.

I need to know,I surlly don't want to return a preganate puppy to the owner!!!

I think anytime after about 6 months is wide open

Mine was 11 months when she did (GSD)

I do not know if climactic seasonal issues have impact (eg did she "wait" until the spring and would have come into heat earlier had it not been winter?

A female coming into season depends on a few things (lines, maturity, influencing factors, etc). I've heard of some coming into season at 4 months (a real rarity), but the majority come into their first season between 6-18 months. As far as the cycle, it depends on the bitch. Some come into season every 4 months, some every 6 months, and someone once told me they had a bitch that would come into season only once per year. Bitches are usually in heat for around a month (on average).

You will have to make sure that you have a secure way of keeping them separate. There will be some blood...some bitches are messy, others are clean. Some you will know when they are in heat, others you won't really be able to tell unless you really know what you're looking for. The biggest thing is being able to contain her so that not only your male, but any other male cannot get to her while she's in heat...and always keep them separate. If you keep them outside during the day (hopefully you have a kennel that cannot be escaped from), bring them in to crate them at night (highly recommended), then put them in separate rooms...one in a room that cannot be entered or escaped from.

Don, my bitch came into heat at 5 and a half mos. But I would say the norm is around 6 mos. and To answer you question on "is it messy? Hell yes its messy. I would keep her outside in the kennel for a couple of weeks. You dont want that stuff staining your carpet and furniture. Sorry to get disgusting but its the truth. They stay in heat for about two weeks, give or take. They bleed for about a week . once they stop bleeding they are ready to conceive, this is About 10-13 days into the cycle. Once the dog has her first cycle she will go into heat twice a year. usually every 5 1/2 to 7 mos. I dont know about the seasons affecting their cycle, but it might.

Sorry, forgot to add. Mike is right they need to be crated at night. and make sure they cannot get out of that kennel. Because when a female is in heat both the males and the female will become a different dog. They will do ANYTHING to mate. I have heard of dogs that will mate through a chain link kennel. And I have had experience with dogs breaking the door to my house to get out to a female. Yes, you heard it right, broke the door. My male did it while I was walking my female. And my female did it to get out to the male. They flip out man, really they get crazy. You have to keep them under control and separated. Kennel or crate them, no exeptions.

Depends a lot on the bitch whether or not it's messy. My son's terv bitch, you have to check her to see if she's in season (like the boys don't tell us!), because she keeps herself so clean. Most of the bitches I've had were clean-ish, but like Howard says, there are some you'd think somebody got shot. Luckily the actual season doesn't last that long.

One thing you really want to think about is the amount of stress this is going to put on your male. If he's older, especially if he's never been bred, you may want to think about alternative boarding for her.

Usually the bitch isn't the problem. She will sail through it fine (she may be flaky, and it's not the greatest time to do stressfull training, or teach her anything new). It can be really rough on the dog, though. He is probably going to (at minimum) pace, whine, bark, chatter, dig at door and his crate, and act like a butt trying to get around you to her. He will probably stop eating, or go real light on his food.

Dog's who've been bred know that the bitch isn't really receptive all through her season, and usually don't act up as bad. We used to have an old borzoi who was great when the girls in season. You only had to watch him to know when they were ready to breed, he didn't give them the time of day until they were ready to stand.

It can be pretty stressful for her too. Especially early on in her season when the inexperienced boys (and some other bitches) won't leave her alone, but she's not ready to stand and doesn't want their attention.

You need to watch her around the other bitches in your house too. I've has bitches that get along fine at other times, but when one is in season it really can upset the social structure in your pack, and the alpha bitch(es) can harrass and pick at, or maybe beat the heck out of another bitch. Bitches are just vile when they fight and it's no fun separating them. Can be really scary for a young bitch.

I've had other people's bitches in when they were seasoning, if we were breeding them, but it's not something I'd welcome otherwise.

Oh yeah, like usual I forgot something. Even if you crate the bitch somewhere else and dog can't get to her, he can, of course smell her like she's in the room. So can every other dog in the house.

I mentioned the other bitches fighting with the seasoning bitch, but it doesn't end there. The whole structure of your quiet little pack can get really messed up. Tempers flare between your other dogs.

The males can get into horrible fights too. Even though they can't see or get to the bitch. Your own dog and bitch might fight too.

Having a seasoning bitch in the house, especially a "stranger", along with your own pack can set everybody on edge.

Chili was almost exactly a year old before she finally came in heat the first time. She had plenty of "good weather" before she decided it was time. It varies greatly from dog to dog.

Stephen is right, some bitches will clean up very well so it is hard to tell exactly when they go in heat. The best thing is to go to a vet as soon as you see any sign and get tests done. The vet should be able to tellyou exactly when she is ready to breed. He is also right in saying that dogs can sense this all through the house. Which is why I say CRATE EVERY DOG IN THE HOUSE! I dont like to keep several dogs in kennels that are joined because of the fact I mentioned. That some will breed through a chain link. You will be surprised what dogs are capable of in this time. They are not the same. Males will stop eating, working, and start whining and carrying on. They will do anything to breed. All dogs are different, but dont underestimate any male dog that is around a female in season.

How messy would it be to crate her inside the garage, while I'm at work and release her to the garage when I get home for the 2 weeks she is in heat? Some dogs are self cleaning, I hope I'm that lucky?

What are some tell tell signs that she about to come in season. Swelling, less active more active, Yelps and whining? Are there any signs before she starts bleeding that she near??