1st heat cycle

[alfred]

At what age does female dogs get their first heat cycle and are they messy? I keep my rott outside now because she started making my blankets smell very bad and at that time she was only 8 months and now she is 1 yr. old and I would like for her to be inside. Also I try not to shower her alot but I have to, almost every weekend because her coat smells very bad.

[rottcrazed]

Chances are that she has already had her first heat and you missed it. Female dogs of this size usually come into season between 6 - 12 months, most that I have seen have come into season around 8 months. Although I have a friend whose bitch didn't come into season until 14 months and another one whose bitch had only one season by the time she was 20 months old.

To be safe, keep her inside because a fence is not enough of a barrier to keep males enticed by a bitch in season away. If you don't, you'll have a lot of unwanted, unplanned puppies to find homes for!!

Plus, use a good quality dog shampoo and you can bathe her as you see fit without harming her skin and coat.

Hope that helps!

Kristi

[spidey]

Is there some reason she's not spayed? Unless you're showing her, there's not really any reason not to spay her (it's healthier, for one thing).

[brunie's mom]

I agree with the other posters. She may be late having her first heat, but unless you are showing her please have her spayed, she will live a longer healthier life, and make a nicer pet for you.
What type of food are you feeding her?? Sometimes dogs eating crappy food smell, I notice when my fosters first come, they reek of doggie smell, after eating a good quality food (Canidae) they stop smelling.
Please bring your Rottweiler inside, these are people dogs and do best living with their owners.

Gina

[Judi W]

Give her her own bed to sleep on and then she won't be making your blankets smell. I don't know why she would smell unless it might be her diet. Consider changing it.

[Alaskan]

My female rottie didn't have her first season until she was fourteen months old and then had one every eight months after that. So it just depends on the dog. As for smell like the others said it might be the food you're feeding her. I switched my rott from nutro to california natural and his doggy odor has disappeared.:)

[alfred]

Thanks everyone, Pepper is not spayed and I do feed her canidae. When they are in their heat cycle are they messy?

[marianne]

Messy ...again all bitch's are different. I've had some girls who bleed very heavy.Some that it was hard to know they were even in season. Many of the dog catalogs sell heavy duty denim seasonal panties. They will save your floors from blood stains.

[godfreyc]

IMHO, if she's in heat and you pay attention you'll know. There will be discharge clearish at first then bloody. Also she will have swelling. Have you considered Fancy Pants? it's kind of like panties with a pad. Anyway it is meant to keep the discharge from being everywhere thus reducing the smell and mess.