Replying to a message of Cindy Haglund to Roger Nelson:

 BA>> ovarian tissue in her someplace, just enough to produce the hormones
 BA>> that cause her to go into heat - no eggs, no uterus and no puppies
 BA>> possible, but she goes into heat anyway).

 RN>> That is odd.

 CH>  If there's any ovarian tissue left hormones will still be produced.
 CH> According to our vet if a female dog is still in heat (our Abbie was
 CH> when we got her)- she may experience 'false pregnancies' for life.

McCoy's teats swell up when she goes into 'heat.'  That's the one that I was
referring to above.  She's named after Walter Brennan's character on the old
TV series 'The Real McCoys;'  her right rear leg is locked straight from the 
hip to the paw.

 CH> There is a debate going on when the best time to spay the female is.
 CH> Before she enters estrus or after one cycle. Some say after because
 CH> doing it too soon might alter her temperament. Well what do you
 CH> think?

Well, there were five female pups in the litter.  I had them spayed when they
were about five months old - two of them were in heat already (and it cost
$25 apiece extra for the vet to do them while they were in heat).  Another 
litter of 7-10 puppies was *not* an option, let alone *five* more such litters.

 CH> Also did y'all know a male after being neutered still has his hormones
 CH> in his system for up to 90 days? That's why he can still be attracted
 CH> to females in heat.

Actually males that have been neutered for years will still mount a female that's
in heat.  Buddy, Sam, Brownie and Blackie all get wound up around a female
that's in heat, and all were neutered two or more years ago.

--- FleetStreet 1.19+