[DogsNDawgs]

Newbie here. My female is 18 months. Just finished her first heat cycle. Trainer mentioned a post heat lull, lack of confidence, unsure, etc... Trainer mentioned some of the other females on his truck go through the same lull after a heat cycle.

She is my first high performance lab. Just looking to hear some other's experiences, how common this is, and how long something like this could last. Would love to hear any insight or experience. Thanks in advance.

- Bubba

 

[Rainmaker]

What hormones do to females varies bitch by bitch, but, heat cycles can most certainly affect them and their work in the field. Some before, some after, some not so much, there's just no hard or fast rule as to when, and for how long. A few of mine get a little sharper, but mostly, they suddenly can't find a single on a cut hayfield, can't run straight for 20 yards, fall apart if nicked on a 1, and pretty much make me threaten to spay every one of them before they return to normal. But, seriously, it does vary by female, both affect and duration.

 

[DogsNDawgs]

pretty much make me threaten to spay every one of them before they return to normal.

I enjoyed quite the laugh at this. Thank you Kim for you insight. It is reassuring to hear it from someone else. I completely trust my pro. It is just nice to know I am not the only one.

 

[windycanyon]

It's a matter of marking your file for each girl, as Kim says. I have a 2yo who I noticed after heat cycle #1, was HORRIBLE in obed ~5 wks post ovulation (~7 wks after day 1 of bleeding). Same thing this last time... Another friend w/ a herding breed said her girl was awful last weekend in the obed ring too, and at the same point post ovulation. Most of mine wait until they are ~9 wks post ovulation when the "phantom babies" would be arriving (associated w/ a big progesterone drop).

This is when it's nice to have a bitch that only cycles once every 9 mos or more....

 

[ErinsEdge]

I agree with Rainmaker, but with my experiences, just like with lighter heats and heavier heats, the hormones may vary, cycle to cycle, and their temperament may vary with the heat. The rule is no big corrections when they are brain dead. Either put them up or do positive training, and don't get in a battle. I have never had any stay goofy for 9 weeks and if they are in training with a pro, they are certainly back training and competing after the heat cycle is over. I had one actually be right on and won a qual right before her heat.

 

[Gary M]

What hormones do to females varies bitch by bitch, but, heat cycles can most certainly affect them and their work in the field. Some before, some after, some not so much, there's just no hard or fast rule as to when, and for how long. A few of mine get a little sharper, but mostly, they suddenly can't find a single on a cut hayfield, can't run straight for 20 yards, fall apart if nicked on a 1, and pretty much make me threaten to spay every one of them before they return to normal. But, seriously, it does vary by female, both affect and duration.

Thanks for the laugh! I definitely experienced this following my girl's last heat cycle. She was a complete goofball for a few weeks after. Now I know why.

 

[MooseGooser]

For mine..

The month or so before she starts a heat, She can Mark anything. Runs with a LOT of confidence,very eager.

When she is IN heat. Completely silly.. low confidence, sits and watches the birds go down really well,, and when you send her, its anyones guess where she will go.
Eager to get into truck to go train,, but once we get there doesnt want to come out to play
I dont think she could EVER have puppies,, cause she aint gonna warm up to AnyONE or any other dog all the time she is in heat.. She will take yer knee caps off if you dont watch her.. I swear she was born in Boulder!
I dread those 27days!,, but she will be 5 in November, and we are still waiting on her 5th heat... She was 23 months old when she had her first..

 

[David Maddox]

Do any of you all have a bitch that’s really good during their heat and terrible just after?
I have a 3.5 yr old that had been in heat for a month. Her training was incredible up to and throughout her heat cycles!!!
I actually had to scratch her from a Qual last week and another scratch in our club Amateur 2 weeks ago, while in heat.
So, Tuesday her physical signs of heat were “seemingly” gone. Again, she had a great month of training in heat.
Well, it kind of fell off a bit yesterday. Actually she turned goofy and acted like she hadn’t been trained in a year.
I wrote it off as a fluke and went ahead and ran her in a very doable black n white Qual today.
The result was HORRIBLE!!!
She was totally disconnected with her surroundings while airing.
She then walked to the mat with enthusiasm, instantly looked out at the guns, ears picked up, watched all 3 marks to the ground.
I sent her for the go bird and she half heartedly ran at the guns, she winds the bird then back to the mat and sets up nicely at the retired middle bird…then the poop show started😳
The quirky head swinging showed up and she then looked as though she was playing PIN THE DAYUM TAIL ON THE DONKEY!!!
The blue lines were her paths to the 3 birds🤨

On Tuesday the same bitch put her nose on all 4 of the marks below. The double with tough short retired and 2 outside singles