Humping between bitches

Question
Hi, i have 2 year old Schnauzer who was spayed on the dot of 6 months after weighing up advice from a few sources. I now have an 11 month old Cocker who is a nervous dog and i was advised to allow her one season before spaying to aid her maturing as she is/was nuts! Thankfully i think i have made the right choice as she has calmed down a lot since coming into season which i am hoping will not change when it finishes... One question i have though is over the past couple of days her vulva has softened and she has entered her receptive phase and my other bitch now seems to think it is her duty to 'do the deed' She will not stop humping her and my bitch in season is actively encouraging it. Is this normal?? Or is my Schnauzer a tad confused...


Answer
CONGRATULATIONS on being educated!! You did the absolute RIGHT THING in allowing your cocker to go through a full season.  AND you're seeing the results of progesterone...one can't say too much about how a full estrus cycle translates into a far more emotionally stable bitch.  I've been tooting this horn for YEARS and, until recently, most veterinarians strongly object.  I'm unsure what that objection actually means because anyone with knowledge of canine behavior (and one would think veterinary students would be taught SOMETHING about it!) knows that a full estrus cycle is important, and the risk of mammary cancer is tiny (especially compared to the bonus of behavioral maturity.)

I would not worry about what's going on between your Schnauzer and Cocker, so long as the Cocker does not begin to object and demonstrate aggression (which would NOT be good, as aggression between bitches can be a serious and developing problem.)  This is what you can do over the next few days (until your cocker stops "flagging"): distract the behavior by making a loud noise (not a scary one, clap your hands, whistle, walk around the room singing at the top of your voice) and then call the Schnauzer, ask her for a trained behavior or two, and reward her performance.  Separate the two when you are not at home (only through this short time period).  Wait a full twelve weeks before spaying the cocker (allowing body tissue to lose inflammation) and be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that your cocker is MEDICATED FOR PAIN after being spayed.  Choose your veterinarian carefully; far too many think a dog does not require pain treatment and that's RIDICULOUS.  A fearful dog will easily obtain a strong conditioned response to (at least) the veterinarian and staff and (at worst) to humans in general if she awakens from her surgery in terrible pain and is not medicated.  Ask the veterinarian for medication to take home with you BEFORE having her spayed.  If your vet blows you off, find another one.  When you bring the cocker home from surgery, isolate her from the other dog until she is clearly recovering, no longer in pain, and able to function normally (a few days at least.)  Also, ask for dissolving stitches so further trauma to the wound doesn't need to occur when stitches are removed.