Hi,

Megan has been mated this week and the stud dog has gone home now.  My question is:  I also own her older brother, and although he has been neutered, he can be rather frisky.  When will it be safe to put Megan back with him.  I don't want him hurting her but i don't want to keep them separated if i don't have too.

When she has finished her season (if she feels comfortable with him around then) -her brother may still mate and tie despite being neutered.

Oh could he?  He'd be firing blanks though i guess (pardon my phrase).

I also have a neutered dog who was extremely helpful in telling us when my girl was ready for mating! After the mating (we only had one) I had them in completley separate rooms (sometimes with a dog gate separating) for about a week. If he lost the plot as soon as they met, then I knew it was too soon. I couldn't have even taken them for an on-lead walk as he would try to jump her bones! Amazingly, after probably the 5th day, there was no longer a reaction, so I knew she had gone "over" and put them in together, no problems whatsoever.

Potentially your bitch could inflict damage on your male if he is giving her unwanted attention. You can only go by their reaction together, and I'd keep them apart until he stops showing any interest.

I tend to let my girl out into the garden, loose. I then take my male outside, on a lead. If he makes a bee line for her I know it is too soon. If she turns and tells him off big time I know she is past her date. However, unless I am there to supervise them I still separate for a week after she is clear of her season. I do not leave them alone until she is definately safe.

Our neutered boy went 'on holiday' while our girl was in season, as he has tied with her once before and we didn't want any possible possessiveness from him! Matings went ahead as planned, then after 3 days she sat down whenever she was sniffed so we knew it was safe to bring our boy back. During seasons where she hasn't been mated she tended to drag it out for another week or so after ovulation, but this time it was much shorter. We had no problems at all and when we brought our neutered boy back in he just sniffed her and then carried on as usual. All our dogs have seemed much calmer, especially around our 'pregnant' girl, so I think she must be giving off calming pheromones or something...lol.