Opinions please - walking dog during season

[permaquandry]

Hi, permapup is now in the 2nd stage of heat where she's ready to mate (apparently!).

I am keeping her confined to home and garden.

I was walking her during the 1st stage of heat but using a special spray which disguised her scent (this really worked as dogs took no notice of her).

Be keen to know what everybody else does/thinks of not walking her during this stage. Also, is the swelling going down the only indication of her finishing her heat? Are there any other signs?

She was due to be spayed tomorrow , this is her second (surprise) season, she's only 10 months, poor girl.

Thx v much.

[Vibbe]

When our dog was in season, we walked her as we normally do. But did not take her off the leash and told the dog owners with male dogs that the dogs couldn't play. Had we met a male dog off the leash, I would have picked up my dog and left.

But we had no problems at all :)

I would also feel more safe with her being on the leash, as I've heard of female dogs running off during their season, as well as male dogs forcing their way into a garden to mate with the female dog.

[Frettchen]

Same as Vibbe - when I've walked my brother's dog in season I've just kept her on lead, brought her closer when there were other dogs about, and carried her when necessary. Helps that she's a terrier.

Might be worth adding a yellow ribbon to her lead - more and more people are doing this to indicate their dog isn't to be approached. It doesn't just mean you have an aggressive dog; it can be used for ill dogs or nervous ones, so it would be good for a dog in season.

'fraid I can't help on the end-of-season signs; I've not had an entire bitch before. Hopefully someone else will come along with a helpful hint.

[waikikamookau]

as far as I understand, it is after the bleeding that the female wants to mate.

[Scuttlebutter]

Several things to consider. If your bitch is small enough to be safely scooped up if other dogs approach, then good. A larger breed - more difficult. A foster greyhound bitch came into season while with us last year - too big and leggy for me to pick up, so we reduced walks considerably. We also made sure we did no walks in the immediate vicinity of our house as I did not want a trail of lovesick male dogs heading for our house. We had lots of fun just playing in the garden and the walks we did do were carefully chosen to be ones where we were least likely to meet other people and at times when it was very quiet.

[Yonididnaedaethat]

I have 2 dogs in heat just now, I don't plan on taking them out until the blood and swelling has gone. Mine are large breeds, which I also walk with my 1yr old DC so I don't take any chances of a stray male dog. My older DC tire the dogs out in the garden, I know it's not the same as the usual walks but I feel this is the best option for me and other owners of male dogs.

I do hate going out without them tho

[Itsnotahoover]

I've always just walked my bitch as normal, but just exercise a bit of caution around other dogs and change routes to places I know there's less likely to be other dogs. I have no choice really as I don't have a garden so she has to be walked several times a day whatever! I still let her off the lead when I'm 100% confident there are no other dogs around, as she will not do her business on the lead, and I've never had any problems yet.