Our neutered male dog bothering our female

Question
We have a 3 year old male mixed breed that was fixed in puppy hood and a 7 year old female that was not spayed (when we got her when she was 2 the vet said for her breed it was too late) We have gone through many heat cycles with her and for at least the last 4 our male dog still scampered and played with her and did not attempt to mount her though she would for better choice of words "flirt" with him. However this heat that has just started is horrible - she is more restless than ever and we have reached the point where we have them separated in the house one in one room with me and one in another with my husband -the behavior by both is more aggressive toward mating - should we let him try and mate to get it out of his system (see he shouldn't be producing anything) or should we keep them apart or try something else entirely. Thank you for any assistance you can provide.  

Answer
Hi Karen

Do you recall if your male was castrated or a had a bilateral vasectomy?  When a dog is castrated before puberty, they don't develop sexual urges.   Vasectomized dogs still have normal sexual responses and breed and mate but are not fertile.

What I would recommend is get another vet. It's never to late to spay a female and have your poor girl fixed, so both dogs can live a "peaceful", happy life.

Your dogs are getting frustrated, she wants to be bred, and he can't do it.  She is going to become more aggressive to the point where she'll "attack" him to get the job done.

The best is to keep them separated and remember "this too shall pass".

Good luck.