I must say, though controllable, it is MUCH harder on a dog to LIVE with a bitch in heat.
Poor Backup tried so, so hard last season. He was just an angel but at a certain point the stress levels made me feel like a genuinely bad owner. It broke my heart watching his giant eyes, stressy mouth, staggered breathing, and panicked inability to settle.
This coming from a dog who was still asked to work side by side, live side by side, ride loose and not mount side by side in the car, and so forth.
Yes, it's trainable, for sure, but it's down right hard on them.
I always thought people were silly bad owners when they complained about their males with females in heat. Now I know how they feel.
Her first season he never cared, I thought I was blessed, her second he was a wreck, so far this season he's tasting but still playing ball, egge, spring pole, eating, whatever with her without any real concern but I am sure it's coming with time.