Not a Pug but a rescue... Need help LONG

[Buddy's Mom]

A friend of a friend from my hubby's work has recently fallen ill and needed to place some of her dogs in new homes. She had a breeding program for Boston Terriers. We decided to take in one of her females, Rosie. We just brought her home last night. This is a trial basis.

She is 5 years old and because she was a "breeder" she doesn't know very much about living amongst a family. We feel as though we are rescuing her from a not so good life.

She is still intact (for now) and I believe either in heat or coming into it. We noticed bloody discharge when we got home with her and the crate she slept in also had it. I know nothing about intact females but I assume that would be heat. I was told she wasn't expected to have it until November.

Now, what I'm looking for help with is the transition. She seems to get grumpy and growl at Oscar and Buddy when they get near her, not just her back end but when they want to smell her. Not all the time, but a lot. She does listen when I say a gentle "ah ah". I should mention this is also my first Boston, I've always loved them just like I love Pugs. Could having a heat be the reason for the grumpiness?

Anyway, I know everything is completely new for her here so I'm curious how to go about working with her and the Pugs together? I want her to know that they don't want to mate her, they just want to be friends. Is it possible for her to understand that with time, or in anyone's experience, would you think that she would always think that they are there to mate her? Would spaying her when we could help that?

This is all new to me, so any help on the transition would be great! I would like to be able to offer her a forever home here, we just want to be sure that we will be able to integrate her into our furry family without fights.

Thanks!

This is Rosie

[Wally 'n' Leto]

No advice, W and L are our first dogs, and the only females I've ever known were spayed young and never bred. Your interpretation sounds right to me, and certainly is the way I've seen mares act when they're coming into heat (2 days later they're typically really slutty). We're all mammals, but I don't know how much estrus behaviour crosses the species barrier.

She is beautiful though! Best of luck!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Oh what a beautiful girl! Are you certain the blood you have seen is from her vulva and is her vulva swollen? I would have a vet check her just to make sure all is well with her and that you are not dealing with an infection or injury.

If it is simply a heat cycle, realize that even neutered males may try to mount and hump and sometimes even can get tied up with a female in season. Sometimes females are grumpy and defensive in the early part of the cycle (they attract males, but are not physically ready to breed yet)....then become playful and flirtatious when they are receptive. Her personality during the heat cycle is likely not indicative of her true personality.

Also, terriers are a much bolder breed than pugs, more dominating and independent. They are not as gregarious as pugs and she may not enjoy the company of other dogs....and may be setting her rules now. "Leave me alone, and don't you DARE sniff or mount me!".

Alpha females (even pugs) can be that way. My Peaches (spayed 6 year old female) is, she claims her space and NO ONE is allowed to sniff or mount or even play rough with her. If she is laying on a bed first, no one else can climb on, however if one or more is in a bed and Peaches decides she wants to join, that is fine. Life is on Peach's terms in our pack. Rosie may be establishing her alpha female status in the pack.

If the heat period is a huge problem, they can spay her during her cycle, however it is a riskier surgery (more bleeding) and usually more expensive. If you can wait it out and keep her safe from intact males, it would be preferable to wait until it is over.

Take care,
Lisa

[shaynapug]

Bless you for taking in this girl!!!!! I know that there's a site that Wendy goes to a lot and likes that is like PV but for Bostons. They might help you with traits particular to Bostons. I think it's called WOOF.

A female in heat is often like a woman with PMS!!!! (Sometimes heats start earlier than expected!) I would put some panties on her. This will pass......but make sure your boys leave her alone!!! When she is ready to be bred physically...she's gonna have a smell that will drive most males...even neutered ones... nuts! Then you might have to separate....She might tease them, stick her butt in their face...etc. She will WANT to be bred! Be careful, because even a neutered male can enter a female there can be a tie. Females differ...and some are fertile at day 1 or 3, some in the middle, some have even been bred at day 25! Isis was ripe to be bred on day 17!

Just because she stops bleeding, does not mean that things are over with many do this when they are ready to be bred....others just are done. It usually takes at least 3 wks for the cycle to be over....and I separate my girls for 28. The odor will be there...getting stronger until she is fertile and remain til she's totally out. You can bathe her once she stops bleeding and see how it goes.

I would talk to the vet and see how long he/she wants to wait to spay her after her heat. I would not do it during the heat cycle as it's not an emergency and there is more of a chance of her bleeding out.

Do keep a close eye on her even when she's out in your yard as males can smell for from a LONG distance!!!

[tall grass pugs]

Your best authority on BT's is Miss Pugg currently posting on another board. She is a lovely example of a charming breed. A good guess is that her original home life has been off kilter for a few weeks, then rehoming stress, then heat cycle. Off to the vet for her check up (shots, worms etc) and then the spay. By that time she will have settled in, but they are a hoot to manage. I am babysitting three by commute and they are my best friends if I have a dog biscuit. If I am empty handed and decline to let them free range, I am dissed in the extreme. I think you will find her a charming companion.

[Buddy's Mom]

Thanks so much for the replies!! I called her previous vet this morning, I just got off the phone with him and she just had puppies, they are 10 weeks old as of yesterday. He said that if she has no foul odor and is not swollen than it's just her still recovering from the litter. Does that sound accurate? He said if it gets worse or she develops a smell than I could bring her to my vet with the Pugs on Thursday just to check it out. But otherwise he didn't seem worried.

Now that makes me wonder if she is a little grumpy because she is still healing from having a litter of puppies, has anyone ever had that happen?

[shaynapug]

Shame on the previous owner for not telling you about the pups!!!!! It is not uncommon for her to bleed a bit after having pups....Did he say it was a c section?? Mine have bled that long and a bit longer.

To me, I'm a worrier, by the time its strong enough for you to smell without bringing it up to your nose....you have a sick dog! So I check constantly! Any bleeding at all smells like a heat bleed to a male....watch your guys with her! I'd put some panties on her with a pad to check the smell and keep it contained so it isn't all over your house. Male dogs will also mark on those spots if they smell them.

I would ask the vet when he feels it is safe to spay her....and follow his advice. I spayed Isis when my pups were 12 wks old and she was fine!

Good luck to you!

[Buddy's Mom]

Thanks Diane!! I guess I'll have to try and find some dog panties! So far my guys have been fine with not marking, but I don't want it to start! She had her pups vaginally, so have you seen bleeding that long for a vaginal birthing?

I will be checking with my vet about spaying her asap. I think I'm going to have to add her on to the Pugs appt. on Thursday and see what he says. Thanks again! Like I said I know nothing about this stuff.

[Puggered]

Thanks so much for the replies!! I called her previous vet this morning, I just got off the phone with him and she just had puppies, they are 10 weeks old as of yesterday. He said that if she has no foul odor and is not swollen than it's just her still recovering from the litter. Does that sound accurate? He said if it gets worse or she develops a smell than I could bring her to my vet with the Pugs on Thursday just to check it out. But otherwise he didn't seem worried.

Now that makes me wonder if she is a little grumpy because she is still healing from having a litter of puppies, has anyone ever had that happen?

Definitely check that out with a reputable Boston breeder ... still bleeding 10 weeks later??? If it was a pug I would have had her to the vet weeks before, but Bostons have such tiny pelvises I guess there could easily have been tearing etc. from a vaginal delivery. In any event where there is vaginal bleeding there is a worrying chance of infection. You do not want the poor girl to get pyrometra (sp?).

Do let us know what you find out.

[Buddy's Mom]

Over the course of the day yesterday I was wiping and checking. The bleeding was slowing down and turning more of a brown color. This morning I've been checking her and all I'm seeing is clear discharge with a little bit of streaks of brown. I took her temperature yesterday and it was normal. It seems to be clearing up but I'm going to bring her in tomorrow anyway, for a check up, etc. I will update after that.

She seems to be getting better with the Pugs. Yesterday afternoon she just suddenly snapped out of the fog she was in and started smelling the Pugs and kind of playing a little. She also got really interested in my cats, especially one we have that meows almost constantly. Now Oscar has a chase the kitty friend. It's actually quite amazing how much she has come around in just over a days time. It's still a watch and wait game, but I have a feeling she's going to be just fine here.