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

[berryfull]

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?

Feminist dogs? Really?

Ahhh I do think this is a difficult one, which is reflected in the fairly even voting. It does seem horribly sexist in dog terms to shut your girl away whilst the boys can run free, but I do think it’s fairer to all dogs involved to change your routine when she is in heat. Exercise her in your garden if you can, or lots of toy play indoors, and maybe try very early mornings or later in the evening to walk her. Bitches on heat send male dogs barmy, even if they have been neutered. It just seems too big a risk to me, with such potential of injury and accidents

@HoppingPavlova

That’s odd, the vast majority of breeders here (not in UK), won’t let pets go to homes unless desexed/spayed as it’s meant to be some sort of breeder responsibility code or something, so they are generally done quite young. Entire animals are only handed over if they are purchased for breeding and the person is a registered breeder or for certain show categories etc and then often there is a written agreement that the animal is bred with the breeders stock or other stock at their directive with them getting an agreed number in return. It’s all very controlled. The exception to that is backyard breeders who don’t care what they are handing over and they are not desexed/spayed.

Where do you live? So all Puppies are routinely neutered at or before 12 weeks?

No bitch in season must be walked anywhere near off lead dogs.
Owners can’t control their male dogs when they scent an in season bitch. Ridiculous. I’ve heard of dogs crashing through windows etc to try and mate.
And two dogs determined to mate? (At some point your bitch will be.) You’re deluding yourself if you think you can stop it.

I had a female dog before and always took her in walks all the way through. She would have been miserable otherwise. Even took her of the lead when not the crucial period in very quiet places.

Never had an issue. I was in high alert at all time and when I'd approached other dog walker and said she was on heat to explain I was not letting her close to their dog, quiet a few actually apologised when there was no reasons to do so.

I've now got a boy and we pass dogs on heat regularly. Similarly, they just mention it as we pass eachother.

In this case it's more reasonable to ask you to do this than it is to ask all owners of male dogs to keep them on leads at all times (because that's basically what you are asking - non-neutered dogs also can still respond to a female in heat!)

Many bitches wil react to another bitch in season, too.

I love this thread. It's such a classic example of the dripfeed - hats off to OP.

Opening post gives impression of OP calmly walking her dog on lead on pavements at quiet times in a town mysteriously populated by feckless dog owners whose dogs roam the mean streets off lead.

Then half way through the thread - bam, the reveal. It was in fact all taking place on a beach where it would be perfectly reasonable for other owners to have their dogs off lead.

I love Mumsnet!

I wouldn’t take a dog in heat to a local beach, there’s bound to be lots of other dogs there, many go there to go off lead? Why should everyone have their dogs on leads just because your dogs in heat?

Walk her somewhere where it’s quiet until she’s out of season.

You can get a dog spayed before their first season, I did with my bitch and she never had any issues with her bones because of it. I would be booking her in ASAP unless you want a unwanted litter of mix breed pups from some random dog on the beach.

I have an unspayed bitch (vulnerable native breed, so not ruling out a planned single litter from her)

Definitely on-lead pavement walks only for her. But we can go for quite long walks as there are plenty of routes with busy roads so all dogs are on leads.

Also she’s under 6kg so can scoop her up out of reach if any dog is coming near. Yes I have to be alert, but it’s not for very long and considerably less effort than dealing with an unwanted mating

Oh come on OP!

You chose to allow your dog to be on heat! There are 2 times in a bitches life it is considered best to spay, before first season, about 6 months old and 3/4 months after fisrt season. YOUR choice, so YOU get the responsibility to keep your dog safe!

Dogs (and neutered dogs can repsond as well) respond really oddly to a bitch in heat. My usually laid back, happy go lucky dog has bared his teeth at me when I tried to move him on from a 'season pee'. He scent tracked with such determination he slipped his martingale collar (supposedly nigh on impossible). He went off his food, was acting really oddly, he appeared to be ill, in a lot of distress.

I take care of him when I become aware of a botch in heat being wlked locally. Harness back on, change walk for 3 weeks, be extra vigilant.

Why can't you be as careful with your bitch? Buy some masking deodorant, it won't solve the pee problem but might stop dogs across the beach from scenting her!

My bitch was done at 6 months old ,on the dot .
I didn’t want her going through the stress of heat ,and other dogs getting to her
After reading this thread mum very glad I did
And she’s perfectly healthy and nearly 4 now

Mum??? Don’t know where that came from

Why did you post here if you believe so strongly that you are in the right?

Don’t underestimate your own dog either.
She may not be on board with the celibacy idea.

Mine was safely in the boot of our people carrier .... when my front seat passenger got out on to the pavement she vaulted over the back seat, then the gear stick and out the door and took off at speed after a passing dog through a crowd of people in Windermere centre. It was her first season and the signs that it was about to arrive were minimal.

Fond memories of me frantically chasing after her past the genteel folks relaxing in the posh street cafe 🤪

She was spayed at an appropriate time shortly after.

@Ideasplease322

Why did you post here if you believe so strongly that you are in the right?

Well, to be fair, op has said she realises taking her dog to the beach wasn't well thought out.

I have had experience from both sides, it matters not who has what, just that all dog owners should be in control of their own dogs at all times, especially in public places where kids and other dogs are likely to be.

Just as an aside, I had a non neutered jack Russell terrier who removed two six foot panels from our rear garden fence in order to get out and serenade the little Maltese he fancied down the street. To be fair, she used to do the mating dance whenever she saw him. I kept him entire as he had good lineage, especially for farm dogs, until he retired, but he did have a lovely life!

@DoraTan

Why though? Why has she not been spayed?

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

Yes, exactly, it can cause health issues later to spay too early as growth plates don't close effectively and other issues can occur. Similarly to if hormones are disrupted during human teen years (eg. cancer treatment) and bone density etc can be affected - it's the same sort of thing. Some Vets are more aware of the concerns around it than others.

It's tricky. I had friends who went out late at night with a torch, kept dog on the lead. Someone else I know encouraged dog to go to the toilet before going out, walked late evening still but also put on a 'nappy' (see link at bottom for similar one). Not sure if that helps? I think people panic regarding a bitch in heat, but it's best to walk them as others say early or late when few dogs will be around and perhaps on routes where you tend to see less people/have space to pass easily.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adjustable-Female-Dog-Puppy-Nappy-Period-Menstrual-Heat-Season-Pants-Hygiene-UK/402297819464?hash=item5daad19148:g:US8AAOSwADtarRQt&var=672250734049

I’ve got a bitch and a dog. YABU.

When our bitch was in season, her first season and then we got her spayed, we stuck to pavement walks and brain games. When she was walked, it was 5am walks and 10pm walks. She has a dog walker and that stopped because it’s not fair to walk her when there will be other people about or when dogs can escape from their gardens to get to her. Neutered and intact male dogs can be affected by a bitch in heat. Even well trained dogs. Their instinct takes overall and all training will go out the window. A bitch in heat is even more tempting than the instincts to chase something.

Your dog is clearly young if this is her first season, my male dog is also young. He’s 6 months old and hasn’t been neutered yet due to his age and lockdown restrictions. It’s also not recommended that every dog is neutered, some need to remain in tact for their behaviour. I’m trying to train my dog at the moment, I’m trying to teach him a reliable recall. But if he smelt your bitch in heat, he’d be off and there’s no stopping him. We’re walking him in empty areas to minimise the distraction to him. He’ll be able to smell your bitch in heat from miles away, way before we can see you and put him on his lead to prevent him running. So yes, I’d be pissed off at you and your selfish behaviour.

It’s about understanding the dynamics of dog behaviour and sometimes that means modifying your behaviour to minimise the risks from that dog behaviour.

We were told by the vet our dog needed her first season before being neutered. It's routine advice. Neutering her before then apparently puts them at increased risks of certain cancers because they haven't got the full range of hormones.

Ours was neutered soon after her first season. We were not intending to breed from her. We were merely acting on the vet's advice. What's the issue with that?

To return to the orignal question, you just need to keep her on lead, and explain to other dog owners the reason why. Fortunately, most male dog owners had already neutered their dogs, so it wasn't too much of an issue.

It's not RVC advice!

Spaying your dog can reduce the chance of her developing mammary gland tumour (breast cancer), the most common type of malignant tumour in female dogs. This effect is directly associated with the timing of surgery, with the maximum protective effect achieved if your dog is spayed before her first season and it has been shown that this protective effect is reduced after the first season and with each subsequent season.

www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/general-practice/practice-services/routine-pet-healthcare/neutering-spaying-pet/dog-puppy-neutering#:~:text=We%20recommend%20that%20both%20male,the%20best%20scientific%20evidence%20available.

YABU To go to a beach with a bitch in season, when my girl was in season I never took her to a place where we could encounter off lead dogs. I stuck to pavement walks, and occasionally hired secure fields so she could run.

To all those saying why isn't she spayed, it's her first season and it's recommended to wait at least one season before spaying to allow them to mature.

Our pup is currently in season. We go for 2 short walks on a lead instead of the usual massive off lead run in the woods and no I don’t think you’re unreasonable. If you go early morning/late evening you’re not expecting off lead dogs. We’ve had 2 encounters walking on the pavement with curious dogs. We’ve lifted her up - explained the situation and the owners have understood. You can’t keep the dog inside for 3 weeks.

To all those saying why isn't she spayed, it's her first season and it's recommended to wait at least one season before spaying to allow them to mature. Not according to the Royal Veterinary College!

The general consensus (scientifically based) is to spay at 6 months or 3/4 months after first seasaon. There are pros and cons to both.

You are massively out of order.
You should not take your dog out for walks whilst on heat. Totally irresponsible.

@NoSauce

You are massively out of order. You should not take your dog out for walks whilst on heat. Totally irresponsible.

Don't be ridiculous!

You can't keep a dog indoors for 3 weeks!

A small adjustment to how OP manges her bitch is all that is required!