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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
WhoWants2Know · 10/02/2021 00:02

You really can and should not walk a bitch in season for the duration of the season. It is more distressing for them to be out than to miss out on the walks.

ParlezVousWronglais · 10/02/2021 00:02

This is all entirely reasonable!

So you’ve answered your own question really.

Nanny0gg · 10/02/2021 00:03

@DoraTan

WorraLiberty

It is true Confused

It's not recommended, but obviously you'll always find someone willing when money is involved.

Most of our vets round here want one season.

There was one crazy one that said she needed to be 2 years old before they would do it. Would have been a nightmare!

Eckhart · 10/02/2021 00:03

tabulahrasa

Yes, that makes sense.

@WorraLiberty

I tried to find a vet near me and near my partner (2 different areas in the uk at the time) who would spay my dog prior to her first season, and couldn't find one. They might do it near you, but they definitely don't do it everywhere.

Eckhart · 10/02/2021 00:06

Research suggests that the peak season varies for every dog. How do you suggest I pinpoint the exact few days in the three weeks

You can't, really, which is one of the reasons it'd be ridiculous to have a rule about it.

EmpressSuiko · 10/02/2021 00:07

Personally I’d be sticking to shorter pavement walks during unsociable hours, male dogs can smell a bitch in heat from miles away and some will do anything to get to her.

I think it’s irresponsible to be walking her on a beach, it may not be busy but there will be male dogs about and usually people have them off lead on beaches, you can’t be upset at any dogs approaching her as they are just following their instincts, having her on a lead really won’t make any difference, you don’t seem to realise how quickly a dog can mount a bitch and how difficult it would be to stop it.

Original poster
berryfull · 10/02/2021 00:09

So many people here seem to know better than my vets and many major animal organisations, websites and literature! I can assure you all that I’ve researched seasons prior to my dog having her first, and all that is advised is to keep her on a lead and avoid busy places . Which I am.

But thank you for enlightening me to the reasoning behind the mentalities of the owners I’m encountering.

OP posts:
category12 · 10/02/2021 00:10

A beach is the last place you should be walking your bitch while she's in season - people take their dogs there for the very purpose of letting them off the leash a lot of time. Hmm

Walk her where other people are most likely to have their dogs on leads already.

Fuckingcrustybread · 10/02/2021 00:10

@berryfull

She’s not going to be mounted unless I let her be ffs! I can prevent a dog mounting her until it’s hapless owner arrives!

Selfish??? Really? For having my dog under control when others don’t?

Ha ha ha. It's never the dog that controls the mating, it's always the bitch. If your female dog wants to be mounted there will be nothing that you can do about that. 🤣🤣
winetime89 · 10/02/2021 00:10

I had this happen with my dog who was adopted (is now spayed) as long as your dog is under control by being on a lead then it is up to the owner of the other dog to have theirs under control. I had a dog come after mine, no owner to be seen so put it on a lead until owner came. Owner went ballistic saying she shouldn't be walked but you can't not walk a dog for three weeks. I then carried on home cutting the dog walk short and the dog appeared again. His dog wasn't castrated either so he should be aware that his dog could be unpredictable and that this could happen.
Again in the same season took her out late at night walking down the street and two dogs who were off lead in the street came bounding over the road to get to her. Owner went mad at his dogs but again we in a residential setting so they should have had leads on.
thank fuck she's spayed now. It was a nightmare.
I did phone the vet and ask their opinion on wether I should be walking her and they said as long as she's in control it's up to the other dog owners to have theirs under control too.

frankie246 · 10/02/2021 00:11

Don't listen to the moaners. You have just as much right to walk your dog. Their dog, their responsibility. I have always walked my dog in season, but a car ride away from home and only when it's quiet. Completely out of order for people to be suggesting that the dog cannot go for a walk for all that time. Also I'm not sure why people are asking why she's not spayed, that's no one's business but your own.

smoothchange · 10/02/2021 00:11

Slating the mentality of others while thinking you can prevent dogs from mating Grin

Propercrimboselecta · 10/02/2021 00:13

What websites have you visited? I have just googled "walking dog in season" and only found forums. However, I have worked with dogs for years so I am speaking from professional experience about what will be less stressful for your female, pose less risk to you both, and prevent the likelihood of any fights. And also, prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Fuckingcrustybread · 10/02/2021 00:14

@berryfull
Research suggests that the peak season varies for every dog. How do you suggest I pinpoint the exact few days in the three weeks?
The colour of the blood is one way to pinpoint peak season, it's usually 11 to 13 days after bleeding starts, when it's bright red, that's peak.

therearefourlights · 10/02/2021 00:15

@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.
Hahaha

'against the rules'

have you got that in writing, officer?

thought not ;)

Original poster
berryfull · 10/02/2021 00:17

Well in my experience over the last week I definately have been able to prevent my dog from mating with these dogs. I keep my dog on a very short lead next to me and shoo these dogs away. I guess not outside the realms of possibility I’ve met every dog and that some aren’t more persistent. So I’ll be aware.

Some of you are very rude!

As I said thank you for your comments, even if I disagree with many of you it is very useful to know the thinking behind the actions of the owners I’m encountering.

OP posts:
theblackparade · 10/02/2021 00:17

Spay and neuter your bloody pets, people.

Floralnomad · 10/02/2021 00:18

You are very irresponsible walking her on a beach whilst she’s in season as it’s very obviously somewhere where most dogs will be offlead . Sounds like you are asking for problems . Just walk her on the pavements where other dogs will be on a lead .

Original poster
berryfull · 10/02/2021 00:20

I plan to spay her in accordance with my vets advise and keep her on the lead and walk her in quiet places also in accordance with my vet’s advise.

I would not have confidence pinpointing the fertile days of my own cycle , so I’m certainly not going to try on my dog!

OP posts:
Eckhart · 10/02/2021 00:20

@berryfull

So many people here seem to know better than my vets and many major animal organisations, websites and literature! I can assure you all that I’ve researched seasons prior to my dog having her first, and all that is advised is to keep her on a lead and avoid busy places . Which I am.

But thank you for enlightening me to the reasoning behind the mentalities of the owners I’m encountering.

But you're taking her to a place where you've already had trouble with off-lead males. Avoiding busy places in this context doesn't mean 'Stay away from supermarkets', it means stay away from places with off-lead males.

You're only listening to the people who are confirming that you were right, and that the other dog owners were idiots.

You need to be listening regarding risk, too. It's dangerous to put yourself and your dog in a situation where she may receive aggressive attention from male dogs of all sizes. Keep your walks short, and keep them in places where dogs are normally on leads, ie on pavements in town.

compulsiveliar2019 · 10/02/2021 00:21

@theblackparade

Spay and neuter your bloody pets, people.
If you actually bother to read the thread then you would learn that the ops vet (like all responsible vets) advise on waiting till after the bitches first season before spaying 🙄
Gobbeldegook · 10/02/2021 00:23

@compulsiveliar2019 I do reassure her. Doesn't stop her being afraid. She's 4. She's not afraid until they're running loose and bounding up to her slobbering everywhere! They shouldn't be loose!

What are you afraid of? I wonder if you could be taught to not be afraid of your fears?

Dare bet if a massive spider dropped on your face you'd scream.

Doubt I'll get an honest answer given your username

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 10/02/2021 00:23

YANBU
Of course you can walk your dog when she is in heat. I always did and people always did when I was a child. The owners of entire male dogs should have them under control. My dog was spayed but overseas and vet left her ovaries in so she still had seasons. The only trouble I had when I brought her to uk was that she wanted to pursue the (usually neutered and oblivious) UK dogs when in heat and I had to hang onto her lead or she would have been galloping afrer them.

Eckhart · 10/02/2021 00:23

@berryfull

Well in my experience over the last week I definately have been able to prevent my dog from mating with these dogs

In my experience, I've never been run over, although I've often stepped into the road without looking. Would you advise me to keep stepping out without looking, or would you think 'That behaviour's going to bite Eckhart in the arse at some point...'

PeggyHill · 10/02/2021 00:24

Nobody's dog should be off the lead when out in public. Anything could happen. You are legally responsible. You can sit there and play the bitch in heat distracting them card all you want, but it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that your own dog is under control when out in public. Yes, there might be a bitch in heat, or maybe a rabbit darts past, or maybe a lot of things that you weren't expecting that suddenly mean your dog won't come when you call them. If it is your dog then it is your responsibility.

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