Concerned about first heat.

[omartin105]

My puppy CoCo has put me in an impossible situation. She has just gone into heat/season and since then she has become a completely different dog.

Since she's been like this i can't get her lead on to take her for walks because she actually bites my fingers if i try and put it on her collar. The problem is she needs walks but i can get the lead on to take her out :(.

Before she had heat at first she was like this but i trained her to be ok with it and she didnt bite me. Obviously shes been hiding her true feelings now shes a tade touchy.

[Terri Lambert]

I would recommend making a slip leash and slip it over her head but still be careful and don't show her you are afraid of her,that will just make things worse. And why isn't she spayed if she has this temperament she should NEVER be bred. I would spay her as soon as she is out of season as many bitches go into what is called a false pregnancy and she may become very aggressive and/or protective of her fake puppies.

[omartin105]

I think i probably should if she thinks shes pregnant. I realised aswell yesterday that before she was in heat she was ok with toys in her mouth etc especially new ones, if i gave her a new toy she would be totally submissive thinking it was actually my property when it was a gift to her.

I gave her a new toy the other day cause she chewed to pieces her old ones and when i went to get the toy from her so i could throw it away and play with her she very viciously went to go for my hand and when i approached the toy she started barking like she was protecting it.

See apart from when she was in heat. CoCo is very inviting and friendly to children, adults and other dogs. She drops things when you ask her and she does it first time, she never strikes you if you touch her when shes feeding in her bowl and shes a clown who loves to play and hop around with joy all the time, she always smiles also. She is a very cute, friendly and nice rottie but since her HEAT :S shes become mrs hyde.

One more thing from experience will she go back to her normal self once this heat passes like?

[rottcrazed]

To tell you the truth, this sounds like more of a training issue than an 'in heat' issue.

All of my girls have come into season, and the two that have been bred and actually been pregnant have not changed so drastically in personality that they seem like different dogs, and they most definitely would not be stupid enough to curl a lip at me. Certainly they do change in some ways; they may be more bitchy towards other dogs, more tired, less active, but NEVER more aggressive to people and never have they decided they no longer like something they did before ....

I would be correcting her behavior with her collar, putting it on her head (if she is trying to bite you, correct it and put the collar on anyway) and off you go ... she is winning some battle she thinks she is having with you.

She sound head shy, which is not an 'in heat' thing, it is a training/lack of socializing thing.

Dogs don't just change overnight, the issues were there (I think you said that), she has just now upped the ante on you and you are backing off from her and she is winning.

In season or not, biting or even trying to bite ANYONE is NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. It will not go away when she is out of season, especially if you are backing off of her when she is doing it, it is just going to get worse.

Kristi

[omartin105]

But how do i resolve this issue without getting bitten? The good news i can say is she is very capable with her strength to do alot of damagae like rip my fingers off. Thankfully has a good spirit so she wouldnt do that, yeah shell still bite me but just a very painful nip and maybe make my fingers bleed but is there any suggestions how to avoid this?

[mamamia1]

When my girl was being feisty when I tried to put her collar on, I put her in a "DOWN" and put a treat under my foot, just enough so she can smell but not get it. Before you know it I have her collar on and she gets the treat. Worked like a charm, now we've worked up to just a sit, and I think she's on the verge of actually being excited to get her collar on.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by omartin105

But how do i resolve this issue without getting bitten? The good news i can say is she is very capable with her strength to do alot of damagae like rip my fingers off. Thankfully has a good spirit so she wouldnt do that, yeah shell still bite me but just a very painful nip and maybe make my fingers bleed but is there any suggestions how to avoid this?

This is a lack of training and leadership. If my dog even nipped me to make my fingers bleed...I would be very worried. If I could not get a leash on my own dog without being threatened, and a bite attempted, I would be very worried. She is only going to get stronger and smarter and everytime she threatens you...and she gets away with it....she is winning. Time to get control of this dog...heat or no heat.

As soon as this dog is over her heat have her spayed and get into a positive motivational training class with her. The trainer will teach you how to deal with this awful behavior.

Gina

[diane]

what is the right age to have a bitch spayed before or after her frist sesson which is best has mine is comeing up to six months old

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by diane

what is the right age to have a bitch spayed before or after her frist sesson which is best has mine is comeing up to six months old

If you think you can get through a heat, and contain her for 3 weeks without getting near a male dog...let her go through a heat and then have her spayed a couple of months after her heat. If you think it's going to be too hard...then have her spayed at 6 months. Talk to your vet.

Gina

[OnyxGold1]

I agree with what many of the others have said previously. I don't think this has anything to do with her being in season. All of my girls have been in season, one even pregnant for three litters and I have never experienced what you are describing.....in fact quite to the contrary my girls in season are probably what would best be described as more sucky or cuddly and more demanding of attention.

It would be a REALLY cold day somewhere before one of my girls would THINK of taking a bite at me merely because she's in season or for any other petty reason......

I agree with Gina this has come down to a lack of leadership & training. My best guess is that your girl has gotten away with several smaller things that might not seem like a big deal but they have been small victories for her and now that she's entered her "teens" she is being a rebellious little beast. I would go back to the basics with her....NILIF...and make her work for absolutely EVERYTHING. And definitely get her into training before her behavior escalates.

I get a chuckle out of the big fad with Cesar Milan and his training but the absolute one thing that I will unequivocably agree with him about is that YOU need the proper mindset......set your mind that YOU are going to take your girl for a walk, be very matter of fact about getting your outdoor attire on, pulling on your shoes, calling her over to you and making her SIT, WAIT, and snapping on the leash and off you go. In absence of a competent leader the dog WILL do its own thing. Set your mind that you are taking her for a walk and make it happen....and watch for the tiny warning signs that your girl is thinking about doing something. A lot of people say the dog just bit unprovoked....I don't agree....I think there are a million small signs that we miss unless we are actively looking for them. If your girl stiffens or hackles, or begins to curl a lip....correct THEN before the behavior escalates into a nip.

Heather Peters

[nlavett]

I am new to this as you are. And we are going through our first heat. I can reliably say that her moods have definitely changed. I can also say that it hasn't changed her willingness to obey. I too believe this is a training problem.