Split heat question
 

All 3 of my girls came into heat the last week of June and first 2 weeks of July. With Megan and Maddie it was very obvious they were in full heat but with Molly it was very subtle...behavior changes, a little swelling, no obvious bleeding. Now, about 2 months later, Molly is in full heat. Although I've never dealt with this before I believe she is having a split heat and I have a couple of questions.

1. Is the female as fertile in a split heat as she is in a full heat or is it different in any way as far as breeding goes?

2. Will she pull Megan and Maddie into heat again?

3. Should the male be as interested in her with a split heat as he is with a full heat? He was showing some interest last week but now that she's actually bleeding he is showing no interest so far.

4. Even though I noticed subtle indications that Molly was in heat the last week of June is it possible that she was just reacting to the hormonal changes of Megan and Maddie and that this is actually Molly's first heat?

Good Question I am interested in this one myself.....BUMP;)

Wow...with all the breeders on YT I thought someone could help with my questions.

Come on guys....:rolleyes:

If she has a typical heat cycle this time-- 3 weeks, heavier discharge at the front and back end of the cycle, then I would say she was probably not in heat when the other girls were. She might have had a brief UTI that her body handled itself, that might cause a little swelling. If she has a shortened cycle this time then you might be looking at a split heat. Bitches with a split heat can be bred but you will probably need progesterone or LH surge testing so you know when she ovulates. When she ovulates she should be attractive to males. My boys are not interested when my girls have the heavy discharge, because generally that precedes ovulation and standing heat, so that your male is not intersted while she is having bleeding is normal. When that tapers off mid-cycle (typically, not always) is when he may become interested.

Whether she pulls the other girls back in is a toss up. I have one bitch that comes in season whenever anyone else is in-- so she is in heat 3 times a year (of course she is the one I don't intend to breed-- but I would like to finish her CH) and I have one that only cycles every 8 months and never falls into the dormitory effect.

Thank you wildcard...I appreciate your answer and the information. So far it doesn't look like the other girls are following her but, it isn't over yet so we'll see what happens.

I'm trying to find more info on split heat..... would they physically appear to come into heat twice (bleeding and swelling etc) but only actually ovulate one time? Just trying to clarify....