[Jac]

Oh, my goodness! Yes, it is possible...not too common until at least 6 months of age. Looks like you have an exception to the rule here! And yes! That is why she is peeing all over! They have instincts to pee a lot because that makes their scent go out to all of the local cowboys! (er, I mean, male dogs.)
I'll tell you something terribly embarrassing that I did when my dog went into heat...I was so stupid...when she swelled, okay, that is normal...but then one day, she was getting the usual tummy rub and I about died! She was HUGE...no kidding...the size of my fist! I thought she had to have some terrible infection or something and that she was about to burst...so I did the only responsible thing...I took her to the emergency room for dogs! (Of course, my vet's office was closed at the time.)
Well, the vet looked at her and said, "Yep. She's in heat."
She then explained that some dogs get reeeeally big...and Lexie did! (She said it makes a good target. )
So, you probably know this already...but in case you didn't I thought I'd pass it along.
Man...you are going to have to keep a close eye on her. She is so very young to get pregnant! Good luck!!

 

[Jac]

I swear, I thought she was filled with some horrible infection and would burst! (Oh, man...and I am not a young person! Sheesh.)
Thanks, Linda, nice to know I am not the only bumpkin around. :lol:

 

[Jac]

Di answered that question very completely. Lexie surprised me when she went into heat at 6 months (I thought the first heat took 12-18 months) and she was a huge mess! She bled for the longest time...and she is the one that swelled so huge. Her sister, Bayley, went into heat at 8 months and was only in her cycle for about a week and a half, not too much blood and not a great deal of swelling either.
Now we are waiting for Lexie to begin her second cycle...it has been six months since she had her last one...and we hope that Chase will be old enough to make her a mama! (Chase is only 7 months so I won't know until it happens...or not.)
I did buy the doggie diapers, I tried the boy's underwear and nothing worked...it was really hard to keep it on them...they hated it. Some dogs do well with protection, but mine didn't. This time we will probably force it on her (we have a new home with white carpets!) or make her stay in the garage and outside. (I don't want her to feel like she is being punished though.)

 

[Jac]

No...not yet (my husband says he is trying to teach him! :lol: ) But I have read that not all dogs do lift their legs...I checked that out because I was worried...and found a site where at least 75% of the comments were from male dog owners who had dogs that squat! Chase doesn't squat, he stands rather regally, leaning forward...but no leg lifting. (That's why I say..."if all goes well"... :wink: )

 

[Jac]

Oh, my gosh, I have been reading back through this and laughing...so much has happened since these posts!
We have had a litter of darling puppies, and yes...Chase learned to lift his leg! 8)
I must say, Ash, that you should be pretty careful...I don't think I'd take the dogs on walks at this time.
Some male dogs are quite determined and sometimes they won't wait for the female to flag.
When you take the girls out walking, they are marking and leaving a trail for all of the eligible bachelors to follow (some of the dirty ol' dogs too!)
Once the males know that a female is in heat, they hang around and have been known to scale 8 foot fences!
You could put the doggie diapers on them, but my Lexie got a really bad vaginal infection because she urinated with the panties on and the plastic lining kept it moist...really yucky.
I am with Diane, I don't know too much about how to stop the mating because I study up on how to perfect it!
We have an "in house male" (living in Poodle heaven with 3 intact females) and so we don't worry except that we don't want the girls bred every heat cycle...so I guess that I WILL be worrying about preventing it...I think I'll put the diaper on him!
Lexie's heat cycle lasted for about 4 weeks! (Not normally that long for most females.)
Good luck!