First Heat for poodle/terrier mix

Question
I am definitely pro spay and have had my toy poodle/terrier mix male neutered.  My question pertains to my female (his sister).  Although at times HE acts like she is in heat and sometimes she is grouchy (walks around the house growling at nothing)   like her human owner, I have never seen one spot of blood.  Could this mean she has not been in heat yet?  She will be a year old in Feb. and I am planning on having her fixed after the holidays when I can take the time from work to stay home and keep her quiet.  Is the absence of blood a bad thing?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi,

Truthfully, I've only had one experience with a female in heat.  I got a toy poodle at the pound they told me was undera year old.  I took her to get her groomed right away, and the groomer called me and said "She's at least a year old and she's in heat".  I never saw any blood either, and I figured (stupidly) that I had a chain link fence and she'd be okay until she was out of heat (all my dogs at the time were female).  That afternoon, I happened to look outside and the little %!$!@#$ had moved her tail to the side and was backed up to the chain link fence like a working girl when the Naval ship is in port.  I immediately called my vet and asked if they could spay when she was in heat.  He said yes but there was a little bit of increase risk and because of the blood it was a bit more expensive.  I pressed him and he admitted the risk was miniscule, so figuring a spayed pup was better than a pregnant one (a great dane male was in the yard in back of me and god knows if they would have made it work but you never know............).  

I told the vet at the time that there wasn't any blood and he said that there wasn't always.  He seemed fine with it so I didn't worry about it.

The same dog is with me still - 10 years later.  

I wish you luck with yours and I am very glad there are many others out there that are spaying and neutering.  I do volunteer work at the humane shelter here, and it would break your heart to see all the unwanted loving dogs we have to put down because of crowded conditions - that could have been avoided if pet owners had been responsible.

God bless you and wishing you a Merry Christmas!!!

Kathryn