There are few bigger distractions for many dogs, especially males, than focusing around a bitch in season. While naturally distracting, this situation can and should be trained for. We want our male dogs, intact or neutered, to be able to focus around a female dog in heat.
Key Points
A bitch going into season used to mean needing to pull her from classes or competition. The perspective around this is changing increasingly. In many cases, there’s no reason to alter your training plans just because your female dog goes into heat. Conformation, for example, now allows bitches in season to compete.
Training for Bitches in Season
Recently, my adolescent American Hairless Terrier went into her first heat, days before we were registered to attend a Barn Hunt seminar. I contacted the event organizers and asked if she would still be able to participate. I was relieved when they responded that she could still attend, as long as she wore a diaper. Not only did my puppy have a lovely weekend learning to find rats, so did all the other dogs, including intact males, who had no problem focusing on locating rats in her presence.
Veterinarian Dr. Babbi Dilbeck DVM, is a breeder and owner/handler of both Rough and Smooth Collies. She has nationally ranked dogs in both regular and NOHS, and her dogs compete in Herding, AKC Rally, and agility. “If a bitch is sound and in good condition, and there is no breeding planned, they should be able to perform as usual,” says Dr. Dilbeck. “Human athletes compete during their monthly cycle, it should extrapolate to canine athletes.” While you should notify your trainer or training club if your bitch goes into season, there’s a good chance this won’t impact your training plans and, in some instances, have minimal impacts on plans to compete.
Considerations When Competing With Bitches in Season
Dr. Dilbeck notes that while there are no health concerns for bitches in season when it comes to competing in most sports, you should take caution around water. “During peak receptivity during the estrus cycle, the cervix becomes softer, more permeable to allow substances (such as sperm) to pass into the reproductive tract. It is advisable to avoid water hunt tests and dock diving during this particular time to avoid bacteria and other invasive entities from contaminating the uterus.”
She also advises that out of an abundance of caution, it’s best to isolate and not exhibit or compete with a brood bitch in any sport from estrus through whelping to avoid Canine Herpes Virus (CHV). “Most bitches who have been actively shown in events have been exposed to CHV. The concern is that, in a bitch that is exposed to the virus for the first time, as an immunologically naive animal during or just before pregnancy, the puppies will be at risk for lethal infection.” However, for bitches in season that aren’t being bred, there’s no reason to slow or stop their training just because they have gone into heat.
Do Male Dogs Struggle Around Bitches in Season?
When the topic of training and competing with bitches in heat comes up, the concern often raised is that it will be upsetting or difficult for male dogs. “There are no veterinary concerns when working intact males around bitches in season,” says Dr. Dilbeck. Any issues that arise are behavioral, and should be addressed with training.
As a dog trainer, I encourage owners to recognize the importance of training around all levels of distraction. Increasingly, dog sports and events are welcoming to bitches in season, so this is a level of distraction all our dogs need to be prepared for. When we give our male dogs the skills necessary to work through distractions, we give them the skills necessary to navigate the world at large. “I showed my bitch, who was at peak receptivity, at our national specialty with her intact brother in the brace class. He was a perfect gentleman,” recalls Dr. Dilbeck.
Working Through in-Season Distractions
Exposing male and female dogs to distractions is an important part of training and proofing skills for life and competition. Instead of avoiding bitches in season, make plans to train around them.
You don’t need to have intact female dogs to train around bitches in season. If you know anyone who has a bitch in season, make plans to train together or ask to borrow the bitch’s reusable diapers or bedding. You could also put an ask out to your local training group or breed club. This is an easy way to introduce and help to desensitize your dog to the scent of a bitch in season anytime and anywhere.
Dogs can have varying levels of comfort when it comes to working through the distraction of a bitch in seasons. Factors such as their arousal level, familiarity with working through distractions, or the skills they’re working on can all affect their training and focus. In some sports, like Barn Hunt, bitches in season are generally run last. On the other hand, bitches in season run in catalog order at AKC herding events. “Most dogs have enough drive to stay on task to work the stock through the course. In conformation and companion events, for the most part, there may not be enough stimulus to complete a task to keep the dog engaged. This is where training and focus work come into the equation,” encourages Dr. Dilbeck.
Teaching Dogs to Ignore Bitches in Season
When training dogs to ignore the scent of a bitch in season, it’s important to treat training the same way you would any other distraction. Start with your dog being at a distance away from the bitch, somewhere your dog can focus on you. Then, slowly decrease the distance from the bitch as your dog develops better focus skills.
Remember, when you’re training a more difficult skill, or around increased levels of distraction, your rate of reinforcement needs to increase. Dogs are more likely to repeat behavior that is rewarded. So when first training a behavior, you’ll likely want to reward every instance of that behavior,
You’ll also want to increase the value of treats or rewards you’re using when there is a high level of distraction. For example, you might be able to train with just your dog’s kibble as a treat at home. But if you’re training with a bitch in season or in a busy environment, you’re going to want to bring out the highest level of reward for your dog. This will help build value in focusing on you, even around high levels of distraction.
While it’s important to train male dogs to handle being around bitches in season, it’s not always guarunteed. It depends on the male dog, and where in their cycle bitches are. Some male dogs, around the 10-15th day of the cycle, can’t focus at all. This means that no matter how much you train them with desensitization work, some males can’t work in those situations. Some sports where their attention span is held firmly, like herding, might be enough to distract them, but it depends on the dog.
Desensitizing Dogs to a Bitch in Season
Training your dog to be neutral and able to focus on a bitch in heat is an essential skill for all dogs to have. In reality, our dogs could encounter a bitch going into season at any time while out in the world, including at training classes or dog shows. Just as you have taught your dog to ignore distractions when they’re training or competing, we want to also put the time into training our dogs to ignore bitches in season. Not only will this make life with your dog easier, but it can also improve your performance in the ring. “Having a male that can tolerate a bitch (in season or not, for some dogs), makes our lives so much less complicated,” says Dr. Dilbeck.
Although it might feel like a lot of work to train your dog to ignore bitches in season, the effort is worthwhile. Without this skill set, your dog will be vulnerable to being distracted in training and competition, which can be stressful for both dog and handler. By putting in the effort to desensitize dogs to bitches while they’re in season we can reduce their stress and ours. “Training for focus and creating a bond with our teammate is essential for a happy, less stressed dog and a handler who doesn’t have to be constantly worried about the dog’s performance,” explains Dr. Dilbeck.
Prioritizing Safety and Management
Anytime we’re training with or around bitches in season, it’s crucial to ensure that appropriate management and safety measures are in place. Never do off-lead work with intact males and bitches in season.
Regardless of how well-trained dogs are, one should closely monitor interactions to prevent accidental breeding. “You should be diligent and aware of your dog’s surroundings and potential distractions, certainly, but training can reduce your stress as well,” advises Dr. Dilbeck. Depending on the skills you’re focusing on and where you’re training, this could look like working dogs on leash or utilizing gates to separate training areas. Always ensure that your training environment is safe for your bitch in season, and that your male dog has the skills necessary to appropriately navigate distractions.