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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBu to take my dog for a walk when she’s in heat?

445 replies

berryfull · 09/02/2021 23:12

Obviously on the lead, we’ll controlled. Obviously trying to avoid busy dog places where possible. But a walk a couple of times a day.

I’ve had several owners of entire make dogs give me a mouthful this week, when they’ve had to come and forceably remove their intact off lead dog from following me. Even went so far tonight that the dog that was following us had no owner anywhere visible, so I had to phone them from the number on the collar. When they arrived to get the dog (having delayed me 20 mins or so) they decided to tell me off !!

Flabbergasted! Surely if you have an entire make dog, then you should be keeping it in the lead or under supervision. Why should my dog get no excersize ? I’m keeping my dog under control. Why should I have to lock her away while male dogs roam free?

Dog patriarchy anyone?

OP posts:

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 23:17

Everybody is responsible for their own dog. The end.

Senabak · 09/02/2021 23:18

It’s best to only walk your in season bitch at times when other dogs won’t be about and in places where they will usually be on leads. Avoid parks. A make dog can smell a bitch in season from 3 miles away. We had our eyes opened our first time and learnt a lot. There were dogs barking all over the shop when
She went out! We had her spayed after her first season.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 09/02/2021 23:19

Why hasn't she been spayed? Are you planning to breed from her?

HmmSureJan · 09/02/2021 23:20

Pavement walks only, early and late to avoid other dogs. Where I live it is against park rules to take an in season dog into them. It's a complete nightmare when people do it anyway.

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 23:21

Senabak

That's just to take care of your bitch, though, not out of respect for rude shouty owners of dogs who are uncontrolled, right?

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 23:22

@HmmSureJan

Pavement walks only, early and late to avoid other dogs. Where I live it is against park rules to take an in season dog into them. It's a complete nightmare when people do it anyway.

This is mentioned in rules of public parks? Can you provide a link?

HmmSureJan · 09/02/2021 23:23

I’ve had several owners of entire make dogs give me a mouthful this week, when they’ve had to come and forceably remove their intact off lead dog from following me.

Where are you walking her that there are multiple intact dogs off lead? Some male dogs with anxiety or aggression problems cannot be neutered as it often makes them worse. It is your responsibility to take precautions when you walk your in season girl. It will be stressing her out too having to deal with all that attention.

Original poster

berryfull · 09/02/2021 23:23

It’s her first season.

As I said, she’s on the lead and we’re avoiding busy times/places. Still makes no difference, get followed by off lead dogs, whose irate owners finally arrive a few minutes after all annoyed.

OP posts:

smoothchange · 09/02/2021 23:25

It’s her first season.

Why though? Why has she not been spayed?

HmmSureJan · 09/02/2021 23:25

This is mentioned in rules of public parks? Can you provide a link?

I was told by local dog wardens.

Ginfordinner · 09/02/2021 23:25

DH's dog was killed when he escaped from their garden to follow a bitch in heat. He was hit by a car.

Propercrimboselecta · 09/02/2021 23:27

Yabu I'm afraid. Male dogs can and have escaped otherwise secure homes and gardens when they pick up the scent of a bitch in heat.

Pavement walks only at quieter times.

Taking a bitch in heat to anywhere likely to be off lead dogs is absolutely barmy, it will cause dog fights and isn't fair on your girl either.

Even neutered males may go after your dog. Doesn't matter if the males are entire or not.

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 23:27

@HmmSureJan

This is mentioned in rules of public parks? Can you provide a link?

I was told by local dog wardens.

Advice then. Not rules.

tabulahrasa · 09/02/2021 23:27

Really well trained dogs will suddenly fail to recall when there’s a bitch in season within range... and within range can be up to a mile.

It’s not just entire males either, neutered ones will also go after the scent.

So what you’re proposing is that that all male dog’s are on lead all the time in case there’s a bitch in season within a mile.

IDKNABYBIF22 · 09/02/2021 23:28

I was walking with my friend and her male dog ages ago in a open bit of countryside, he was off lead, happily sniffing away and then suddenly launched himself into a full run away from us. It took us about 10 minutes to find him, and turned out there was a female dog in heat that he had smelled from quite a way away. My friend was mortified; he's very well trained, had never run off before and usually always comes back when called, but it was like he was possessed. When we got his lead on we had to drag him away from this dog. So I can well believe that male dogs can sniff out females in heat from 3 miles away!

DoraTan · 09/02/2021 23:28

Why though? Why has she not been spayed?

Most vets won't spay until a bitch has had her first season.

Griselda1 · 09/02/2021 23:29

It creates chaos in parks, the scent of the bitch drives dogs mad. I wouldn't want to be responsible for a dog getting lost or injured.

Original poster

berryfull · 09/02/2021 23:29

Why is it my responsibility (beyond keeping her on leash) ? Surely if you choose not to neuter your male dog then you should be keeping it under control?

We are on our local beach. There are other dogs, but we don’t intentionally walk by them. It’s a huge space. Off lead dogs come and follow us. Which when the owner is nice and reasonably apologetic or even just completely neutral I’m not too worried about. It’s just the assholes that give me a mouthful that I’m objecting too.

OP posts:

HmmSureJan · 09/02/2021 23:30

Advice then. Not rules.

I was told it is against Park rules by dog wardens on two separate occasions. Why is this an issue for you? Do you often wish to selfishly take your in season bitch into parks where there are other multiple dogs who may or may not be intact?

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 23:30

tabulahrasa

What are you suggesting? That bitches in heat don't get let outside at all?

smoothchange · 09/02/2021 23:32

@berryfull

Why is it my responsibility (beyond keeping her on leash) ? Surely if you choose not to neuter your male dog then you should be keeping it under control?

Why is she not spayed?

Original poster

berryfull · 09/02/2021 23:32

There is no advice from any vet or animal welfare organisation that states to not walk your dog in heat. Keep her on the lead yes. Which I do!

OP posts:

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 23:33

@HmmSureJan

Advice then. Not rules.

No, mine is spayed. I just think that you're wrong because a council would be unlikely to impose such a ridiculous rule.

Propercrimboselecta · 09/02/2021 23:33

Why is it my responsibility (beyond keeping her on leash) ? Surely if you choose not to neuter your male dog then you should be keeping it under control?

Neutered males can also show an interest in bitches in heat. Even the most well trained dog will have a recall wobble when instinct kicks in.

Why on earth are you taking a dog in heat to a beach where there is other dogs? You've made it sound like you're doing a pavement walk. Surely you anticipate that there will be other dogs there?
And it really won't be fun for your female to have other dogs bothering her.

Original poster

berryfull · 09/02/2021 23:34

It is her first season. Vets advise waiting until after first season for bone development etc

OP posts:

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