It's not uncommon for them to have their first heat this early, anywhere between 6 to 18 months is fine. The amount of blood also varies between individuals. I had a gal that bleed like a stuck pig and I another who has to be tested with a cotton swab to see any color at all. My gals have such a small flow that I just keep an eye out and clean up, I have hard wood floors. Gals usually heat every 6 to 10 months and each will last about three weeks. You'll start with a red discharge that will gradually go to a straw colored discharge before it stops. As far as letting her heat before getting her spayed, there are two trains of thought on this. Because of the correlation between the sex hormones and the growth plates some would like to see the gals go through a heat so that the sex hormones can signal the growth plates to close. Because the sex organs increase in size with the first heat some prefer the surgery to be done before the first heat while the organs are in puppy size and it's less invasive to remove them. Meanwhile have your gal evaluated for breed conformation, genetic health issues, and temperment tested. Gather as much information as you can about her family and about whelping and raising pups before you make this very important decision.
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Tami |