Bella's First Season: She's Now A Young Lady

Our little Bella, a bundle of fun and mischief, has officially entered her first season. It's a milestone every dog owner faces. And, to date, it's a case of so far, so good. 

We've noticed a definite shift in Bella's evening behaviour. She's more restless, pacing a bit more than usual, and seems a little… distracted.

It's all part of the hormonal rollercoaster, I suppose. Thankfully, we haven't had any unwanted canine visitors lurking around yet. Although, there was a funny incident yesterday with a normally very grumpy Jack Russell. He was surprisingly calm and almost… respectful?… when he encountered Bella. It definitely made me chuckle, and also served as a reminder that we need to be extra vigilant. 

The "spotting" situation has been surprisingly manageable so far. It's been minimal, which I'm incredibly grateful for. I did consider investing in doggie nappies for indoors, but honestly, they haven't seemed necessary. That said, I'm aware that this first season might be a bit of a trial run, and things could be different next time. After all, she's still just a seven-month-old pup, so her body is still developing.

Speaking of development, we've had several discussions with our vet about spaying. While we absolutely plan to have it done, we've decided to wait until Bella is two years old. This decision wasn't taken lightly. We were informed by the vet of American research that suggests waiting until she's fully mature can have positive long-term health implications. We also feel that allowing her to go through a couple of seasons will allow her to fully develop, both physically and emotionally. We believe the release of hormones plays a crucial role in this process. It's a personal choice, and I know there are differing opinions on the timing of spaying. For us, after weighing the pros and cons and discussing it with our vet, waiting until she's two feels like the right decision for Bella.

So, that's where we are on our first season adventure. It's definitely a learning curve, and I'm sure there will be challenges (and probably some funny stories!) along the way.

Any tips from experienced dog owners are always welcome! What were your experiences with your dog's first season? Let me know in the comments below!