How to help Male Dog with Female in heat nearby

2.5 year old male German Shepherd x Collie. He’s fascinated with female dogs at the best of times, but my guess is there’s some in heat around us right now. He spends any time at home whining, pacing around, panting. Whenever he’s outside back to behaving normally, but obsessed with smelling the ground.

Last night he whined and cried the entire night, resulting in no sleep for anyone. He did the same thing almost exactly a year ago in mid-March 2025. Spent 4/5 days doing the same, went to the vet, vet said nothing physically wrong, probably anxiety, gave us herbal/natural anti-anxiety and then he just stopped that same day. Like a snap of the fingers. Yesterday and today he’s displaying the same behaviour so we’re confident it’s hormonal. We’re trying to walk him away from where we live, we’ve given him a dose of the tablets we got last year but never used in the hope it gives us a peaceful night, but this constant whining and crying is unbearable. We’ve sprayed perfume around the house in the hope it masks the smell a bit.

Anyone experienced anything similar and any tips?

Edit: Yes, neuter is the obvious preventative, however firstly not practical for the next week or however long this lasts. Secondly, we’ve taken advice in regards to this previously, and extra considerations are at play for my boy unfortunately.