Mack seems to be very interested in Daisy at the moment and I wondered if she could be coming in to season. However she is only 7 and a half months. Does this sound about the right age. I need to make sure they are separated if so. What signs should I be looking for? At the moment he is sniffing her back end constantly and keeps biting the back of her neck.

She should start to swell a bit in that region, she may also be weeing alot which Mac is drawn to. You will notice the swelling as soon as you lift the tail up, keep an eye out for it.

Not sure about Deerhounds and seasons, our Greyhound bitch used to be every 12 months, but some are different to others, not sure if that applies to Deerhounds too! I only have little boys this time!

Most bitches have their first season at around 6 to 8 months old.

The first sign is likely to be a slight discharge of white or pale yellow mucus from the vulva which may also swell slightly. After a day or so, the discharge becomes blood-stained and the vulva swells much more. The main discharge continues for the first 5 to 10 days of the season.
Dogs seem very attracted to the bitches wee at this time and will often lick at every spot on the ground.

Now might be the right time to seperate the bitch from any entire dogs!

We don't let our bitch re-mix until the swelling has gone down and there's no more discharge, usually 2 -3 weeks.

Ooh, separate them right away! I'd never had a bitch come in season under nineteen months until the time when one came in at ten months. Neither the bitch nor the dog let on and the bitch had very unexpected puppies when she was just over a year old. Not to be recommended, so do be careful.

Thanks everyone. I'd better split them asap.

In my experience, DH bitches RARELY come into season for the first time before they are 12 months old. Most of mine have been between 12-15 months. I have had one who came in at 9 months but she was very much a rarity.

"MrsMac" you might want to check for vaginitis....not at all uncommon in such a young lady.

Both my bitches were over 12 months. Keep a very close eye on them and don't leave them together unless you can watch them.

The 4 deerhoundgirls I had so far come in season were all between 14 and 16 mths with their first heat - though , all of them seemed to have have " bouts of hormones " surging through them before that , at times accompanied with some discharge , no infection , for sure no heat and yet most likely interesting for a male , especially an unexperienced male. If you really don't know , you can always ask you vet I guess .
Verena

All of our bitches have come into season at around 15 months, apart from Mallie who was
12 months.