Animation Source Forums

Note: Some people might find this offensive. God knows why. I sure don't.

Some of you know that I look after a guide dog in training, a black Lab female named Gena. She's nearly 7 months old now.
Because she is a guide dog, she won't be spayed until she has had one heat cycle. Guide Dog Services looks over all of them to see if they'll be good breeding stock, and they get fixed if they're not. She'll go to Auckland (New Zealand) when she's on heat (and I don't live in Auck. if anyone's wondering). They probably think I'll let her get pregnant and don't trust me. xD

Anyway. We got a phone call today (or was it yesterday?) to say that Gena's sister, Gilly, is on heat. And today, when I was walking Gena, I noticed that she deliberately brushed up against some bushes as she went past. So what I want to know is this:

a) Do bitches who are littermates tend to go into heat at the same time?
b) Is the bush-brushing relevant?
c) Are there any other signs I should look out for? She's been getting a bit more stupidly playful and rebellious recently... hormones maybe?

Yeah. I've never owned an intact dog before, though you could probably guess. xD

Thanks in advance.

... know the full story before you go off at me, please. -_- I have posted this on other forums.

Yeah, here isn't such a good place to ask. I've read up on behavoiral stuff but I'm not good at taking things in sometimes XD honestly, I wouldn't have a clue. Those links would probably lead you in the right direction, though.

I'm sorry I was a little snappy. I truly am grateful that you offered your help, and I knew when I posted this topic that this was not the greatest place to ask. But I figured even if it did no good, it would not do harm, either.

A.)
Not neccessarily. With any female, when one goes "into heat," the hormones will "trigger" one another. Take the dogs for example; when one's hormones are active, the other female's will be, as well (I'm not 100% on what causes this). So if you have multiple female animals who are around one another frequently, you can expect this back-to-back during "that time," or sometimes at the same time.

B.)
She's scent marking; it's basic instinct to "mark," thus to attract a male with the pharamones/scent (is that the right word?) of her being in heat.

C.)
Can't say, to be honest. Personally, you need to watch them around male dogs more, is all I can say, during this time period (that is, if you don't want pups).

This is all a self-study, between watching and noting my own animals, humans, and reading up on a couple of the facts.

Well, as for her brushing up against the bushes, I believe she's simply marking her "terf". As you should know, dogs will urinate to mark their territory, but rubbing their scent on things, in this case bushes, would also mark their territory.

In fact, I had once read in a book that wolves after a hunt or after being separated for some reason, will rub against each other. The book stated that the wolves did this out of both affection and for re-building their "pack scent". I'm sorry if I'm unclear. XD

As for litter mates getting into heat at the same time...Well, I don't think so. Of course they'd most likely begin around the same time, but I think it would be just a coincidence if they both started the same day.

Eh, but that's just what I think =P

Thanks both of you, it helps a lot. c:

Yeh...here wasn't the best place to seek help, best bet is to follow those links JerseyCaptain posted.

As you have found some advice and got several good links there, I'll lock this to prevent any un-needed comments in the future. ;]