BITCHES IN SEASON?

[Guest Frank]

My whippet bitch is in season. So im not working her. How long should i wait, in the past, i worked them straight away after their heat, but i have recently heard, that you should wait a wee bit longer?

Any thruth to this?

 

Thanks,

 

Frank.

[skycat 6,173]

It depends what you mean by work: in the past when I had coursing dogs it was pointless to run them hard on hares from about 4 weeks after their season. For the first few weeks after a season they were on fire, ran really well, then, as the 'pregnancy' (imagined) progressed their muscles went slack (hence the term 'to break down'). It took anything up to 12 weeks after a season to regain their proper running form.

Nowadays, it it were mid season and I was lamping hard I would lay them off from about the 4th week after a season until they stopped bagging up underneath and looking dopy.

If your'e just talking about mooching around and running a few rabbits at this time of year then I don't see a problem: mine mooch and bush all year round so no, its not the same as being slipped on dozens of rabbits a night or 4 or 5 hares in a day, but they're still running about and doing a bit for at least an hour every day.

IMO if you lay them off altogether they take twice as long to get fit again.

Hope this helps.

[Guest Frank]

Thanks skycat.

So, after them being 3 weeks in heat, they think their pregnant? Never knew that.

Thats 3 weeks in heat and 4 weeks off

I am only going to do the odd nights lamping with her, as she is still young, so a run or 2 on the bunnys and thats all, would this be fine?

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

[skycat 6,173]

I don't know if they 'think' they are pregnant as its a hormonal thing, though some very maternal bitches do go all broody and make nests and nurse imaginary pups: guarding socks, bones and toys etc.

 

I believe it's down to the pack thing as only the Alpha, or top bitch gets to actually breed and rear pups in wolves and wild dogs (of Africa), Red Dhole (Indian wild dogs) are the same. That way the whole pack get to help rear one litter of pups from the strongest female.

However, the other females also come in season but are prevented from being mated by the top dog and bitch. BUT..........if anything happened to the top bitch after she'd had her pups, it makes sense for the other non breeding females to step in and feed the pups.

I've even had bitches who had never had pups come in milk after their season and suckle another bitch's pups, if the real mother allowed it.

I saw a brilliant documentary about the African hunting dogs where a subordinate bitch secretly got mated, had pups..then the top bitch stole her pups and reared them alongside her own, never allowing their real mother to come near them until they were too old to suckle and she had dried up: it was heart breaking really to watch the poor subordinate bitch try and get close to her pups only to get beaten up by the top bitch who had stolen them. Very interesting though.

The Red Dhole are just as amazing and not very well known in their habits: though I did see one documentary where there was a pup who was partially paralysed (back end) and the pack members took it in turns to carry the pup with them when they moved to a new den. Obviously it didn't survive as when it got too big to carry they couldn't help it any more.

[Guest Frank]

Intesting stuff that skycat thanks again for that.

 

So, would it be ok to have the odd training night lamping with my youngen in heat?

 

Thanks,

 

Frank.

[skycat 6,173]

IMO no problem: mine are extra keen when they're in season. Just don't go out with any male dogs around! LOL

Edited April 21, 2007 by skycat

[Guest Frank]

Thanks very much skycat.

 

Frank.