[gemy]

Females can go into heat as early as 6mths and sometimes as late as 13months old. She will go into heat most likely in the next month or two. After heat finishes you usually wait 6wks before doing any spay surgery.

Start now to feel and see and get used to the look of your females vulva. Some females are very very clean, and especially with small dogs you might not notice any blood. How-ever there will always be swelling and some discharge. Also personality and or appetite changes are frequent as well.

Here is my advise, if you are not sure what to look for, then from now on "assume" your female is in heat. That means keep her away from any un neutered males. Walk her only on lead, and if you have a fenced in backyard, go out with her when you let her out to potty. If you have un-neutered males in the house, you will have to crate and rotate!. Means that the female is not allowed out when the male is. Exercise separately and potty separately.