Heat cycle question - Page 1

 We placed a puppy at 12wks with a friend.  Puppy just turned 16 months old and has not been in heat yet.  This woman is so paranoid and in panic mode because someone told her that the puppy should have come in heat by now, and since she didn't, that was an indication of reproduction problems.  This puppy blew coat about 3 wks ago, but no other signs of coming in heat as of yet.  She is telling me now that she is going to place her because of what she was told.  There were 3 females in that litter. One was spayed, as she was sold on a limited registration and the other girl we still own, which she had her first heat at 14months old.  Mom is fertile myrtle and never had reproduction problems, always had large litters.

I know in general, bitches do come in heat around a year old.  Its not uncommon for them to come in before a year old or later.  I had a bitch that came into her first heat at 22 months, and she definitely didn't have any reproduction issues with her.  Actually her last litter was at 9yrs old. NOT MY DOING, all hers. Prior to that, her last litter was at 6yrs old.  Not related to this puppy at all.

Anyone have any experience with this and would like to share, it would be greatly appreciated!

Is she a first time owner? If she's a newb, I would be patient and try again to explain that this can happen sometimes and it doesn't mean there will be any repro problems in the future. :-) Maybe you could find some documentation on the internet and send it to her. If she is not a newb, then you could try the same, maybe she is just not experienced. Otherwise, help her find a very suitable forever home. From the sound of it, I would bet she will start her heat in about a week or two. Best of luck! Theresa

She does sound like a newbie, but she isn't.  She actually has had many before this one.  She is the kind that just won't listen unless she calls or contacts every bitch owner she knows.  I have explained to her and even sent her literature on reproduction and heat cycles.  Kinda head in the sand.

I guess once an Ostrich...always an Ostrich...

If it was me I would wait until the dog was 2 yrs old before deciding to place her if she didn't have a noticeable heat cycle. 

Let them place her. Probably get a better owner.

16 months is not quite late for first heat for a GSD?