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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:
Sendingasurprise · 10/02/2021 06:33

OP, it seems as if you have asked for advice but are not prepared to take it. People have pointed out that you need to take your dog out for pavement walks, where you are much less likely to encounter dogs off-lead. Not wide open spaces...the less 'busy' they seem, the more likely it is that other dogs will be off-lead.
You are consistently ignoring this advice. The other recommendation you are ignoring is to walk your dog at less popular times. A long pavement walk before 6am and after 8pm (with lunchtime toilet opportunity in garden) should sort out most of your problems.

But somehow I think you like the drama of ignoring all the advice you are offered and are just having a rant. You classify anyone who doesn't agree with you as 'rude'.

Your replies seem attention-seeking and tiresome and I can well believe some of the encounters you describe are sparked by your RL attitude.

Starting to feel sorry, both for your dog and your local dog walkers.

fakenina · 10/02/2021 06:38

I dont think your being unreasonable. If you are keeping her on the lead, avoiding places were there are likely to be dogs.
What else can you do, heat can go on for up to two weeks, she will need to go to the loo and just get some fresh air in that time.

Neutering a dog before they reach full maturity can stunt their mental developement, just as in humans.

Leonberger · 10/02/2021 06:38

I do think this shows just how selfish other people are really.

Why would you knowingly walk your dog in an area full of other dogs, putting your own dog and others and risk? Seems selfish and stupid to me. You won’t be able to protect her from a huge dog no matter how much you think you can.

Yes, walk her if you must. I have always walked my in season bitches BUT late at night or on pavement walks where there are no other dogs at all. The beach is going to have dogs on it Hmm

All recall will go out of the window if a male smells as in season bitch. This is why they are usually banned from sporting events and shows because it’s not fair on everybody else. Often the males will be unsettled for hours or even days after, why would you want to put another dog in that position for the sake of lead walks a couple of weeks a few times a year?

I’m glad the people I show and train with think of others and leave in season bitches at home.

MyGazeboisLeaking · 10/02/2021 06:40

Interesting post, OP.

We have a male dog - he's our first and we have no experience of dogs growing up, etc, so we have learned from (& with!) him.

He's usually very good off lead and is only off lead in appropriate / known fields, etc, and generally doesn't pay an interest to other dogs at all.

A dog in heat, however - wow, he's like a heat seeking missile.

I absolutely hate it when we encounter one.
Drives him potty for the walk - nose down, sniffing and pulling to track the the scent, then out of sorts possibly days. Recently we came across an off lead dog in heat - his recall went to pot, I had to run after him and pull him off the bitch while the owner stood by.

He went into anxious overdrive for the weekend afternoon which I didn't understand until I got some advice on it.

Not your fault though. I hadn't even realise there was a view of should / shouldn't take bitches in heat to areas where other dogs will be.

I'm continuing to learn!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 10/02/2021 06:41

Of course YABU. Your dog, your responsibility. Walk her at unsociable times during her season. Spay her before her next. Problem solved.

Dog patriarchy??? You don’t sound like an animal lover OP.

echt · 10/02/2021 06:41

@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?

I was sympathetic until your last sentence. Get a grip.

Then I saw you took your dog on the beach. Be a responsible owner, with pavement walks for the duration.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 10/02/2021 06:45

@smoothchange

It’s her first season.

Why though? Why has she not been spayed?

It is very common for a bitch to have at least ne season before spaying. It allows her body to physically mature. Many vets won't spay before a bitch has had a season.

I usually allow my bitches 2 heats but my cocker got to 18 months without any signs of a heat, and I was worried she might have a "silent" heat so had her spayed anyway. I wish I hadn't - she's become nervous.
I get annoyed when people walk their in-heat bitches to recreation areas, because that means that entire dogs might allow them home and get lost, stolen or run over.

I've always tried to keep my bitches at home when they are in season, but it isn't always possible.

BTW - a bitch is still fertile after she stops bleeding, so be very careful with her.

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 10/02/2021 06:48

you are the one who will end up with puppies and possibly an emergency caesarian.
take responsibility for your bitch on heat.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 10/02/2021 06:50

*follow them home, not allow

I have an entire male dog and two spayed bitches. I'm not getting him neutered because I don't want to risk making him more anxious. I've always had all previous dogs of both sexes neutered, but not him.

However OP if you preprepared to risk puppies, that's your look out - a determined dog might become very aggressive if you try to keep him away from your bitch, and if he's off lead the two could be locked before the owner can get hold of him.

I believe t=you can get dog "knickers' that can prevent any "accidents"

SchadenfreudePersonified · 10/02/2021 06:53

Recently we came across an off lead dog in heat - his recall went to pot

I've encountered this - I honestly think it's some BYB hoping to have an "accidental" litter without having to pay for a stud dog.

At one time owners of pedigree dogs were very careful not to let them out when in heat - now a lot of people just take whatever puppies arrive, give them a stupid name and charge top dollar for them

The "doodle" craze spawned a bad breeders paradise.

Childrenofthestones · 10/02/2021 06:57

In before " Don't tell me not to walk my in heat dog, teach yours to control himself"

CarryOnPlainHunting · 10/02/2021 06:59

Short non-retractable lead and pavement walks at a quiet time of day.

SelkieQualia · 10/02/2021 07:06

@smoothchange

It’s her first season.

Why though? Why has she not been spayed?

Large breed, retriever, or sport bitches should not be spayed until after they have at least one season, preferably more for some. It's because musculo skeletal maturation is altered by speying.
SchadenfreudePersonified · 10/02/2021 07:07

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!

Good luck with that!

A large dog can't just be "shooed" away.

An experienced stud dog will be locked with her before you even realise he's had a sniff at her bum!

PandemicPalava · 10/02/2021 07:16

A man took his dog in heat to the local fields where there are only off lead dogs and he got a mouthful. It is almost impossible to recall an intact male when a female in season is about. Also, I had to drag my dog home for 2 miles when he sniffed a bitch in heat.

Pavement walks only well away from parks or it's dangerous and makes life difficult for miles around

MaryIsA · 10/02/2021 07:19

We took ours deliberately to non doggy places where there were no dogs off lead. She was finding it stressful any way as it was.

Didn’t go anywhere near our local doggy beach! Or local forests where dogs off lead.

Boring lead walks round the streets, well boring for us but she snuffles about.

Vet wouldn’t do her till after first season.

Daisysflowers · 10/02/2021 07:20

When our dog is in heat we make sure to walk her away from other dogs no parks/fields etc just keep to pavements.

We have managed 8 years this way and never had a problem.

Godimabitch · 10/02/2021 07:21

We take ours to the beach but that's because it's quiet and big and we only see like 2 dogs off lead from a distance. We dont take her to the park because it's just asking for trouble.

Clearly the beach isn't a safe place for your dog right now so you need to stick to the paths for a bit. I'm very much for dogs being under control and only off lead if they have reliable recall, but even the well behaved dogs would struggle to turn away from a bitch in heat. It's your job not to put your dog in this situation.

Make sure you bath her after her season is done otherwise they'll still smell it on her. And remember her fertile period starts when the bleeding stops so you can't go back as soon as she's stopped bleeding.

Godimabitch · 10/02/2021 07:23

No dog should be spayed before their first season. It can cause complications through underdevelopment.

PandemicPalava · 10/02/2021 07:25

@berryfull what part of '3 miles' is not registering? A football pitch isn't far enough away. I really hope you or her don't get hurt or end up with puppies

Boomclaps · 10/02/2021 07:30

Vets here aren’t spaying during lockdown 🤦🏼‍♀️ Our dog was very sick In her first year of Life, and had other surgeries, so couldn’t be spayed then with covid we’ve not been able to get her done it’s a nightmare

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 10/02/2021 07:30

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Lanzo · 10/02/2021 07:32

When I am out running and a dog chases me, I generally stop running and call out to the owner to deal with it. The owner usually slinks off embarrassed without apologising. Surprisingly often they have sworn and shouted at me. Implying that I am ‘asking for it’ by going running. I now run on pavements and roads because usually dogs are kept on leads there. Your expectations of other dog owners are far too high.

Notgoingouttoday · 10/02/2021 07:34

Entire dogs should not be off the lead either. The law states that is up to individual dog owners to ensure their dog is under control at all times and that means even if there is a bitch on heat. Although I personally would not take a bitch on heat out to a park as it is too greater risk, the legal responsibility lies with the male dog owner!

Eckhart · 10/02/2021 07:39

@Mostlylurkingiam

Just spay your dog, that waiting until 1st season is nonsense!
What qualifies you to contradict the opinion of most vets?