To walk my in season dog? Is it a criminal offence?

[PollyPurpose]

Just that really.

I’ve just been stopped by a local dog walker and she politely but firmly told me it is a “Criminal offence to walk an in season bitch; under a section something…? ”. She stated that if a male dog follows my dog out of the park and gets hit by a car I am legally and criminally liable. She also said I am ruining all dog walks for entire dogs.

I did politely ask what it is owners are meant to do as dogs need walking - she said pavement walks in the dark. As a lone female in london I won’t be doing this.

So yes what are peoples thoughts. Is it actually illegal because I can’t imagine not being able to walk her for three weeks at a time. Twice a year.

She always remains on lead and is small enough for me to carry. She is three years old and I’ve never had an issues - if a male dog has shown interest they’ve usually been called back by an owner.

In response to “have her neutered” I will once I have decided whether Or not to breed from her.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

No one should be breeding from their pets so I'd arrange neutering ASAP

But in answer to your main question, I had no idea it was illegal to walk a dog on heat and would be interested to see the responses from people in the know

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

There are no laws against it. You should just keep it on a lead and try and walk it away from high dog traffic areas.

Make dogs are likely to act stupid.

[cavalierkingc]

Not an offence, id tell them to mind their own business and carry on. Try to avoid busiest times/ areas where possible.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

No, it's not illegal.

If a dog goes after your dog, the person liable would be the one in control of the out of control dog.

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Should say "the one in charge of an out of control dog".

[ComtesseDeSpair]

There’s no law against walking an unneutered dog in public, no. And if her dog runs from the park then she has inadequate recall and he shouldn’t be off the lead in the first place.

There’s greater danger to you having a small unspayed female. You might think you can “just pick her up” but all it takes is a particularly persistent, large male to mount her before you can do so and you’ll have a potentially dangerous pregnancy for a small dog. Unless you’re going to drip feed that she’s a prize-winning grand champion of her breed, just be a responsible owner and spay her, she doesn’t need to experience motherhood or whatever wank owners say when they want to make money selling a few puppies.

[Whitney168]

No one should be breeding from their pets so I'd arrange neutering ASAP

That'll be dogs dying out in 10 years then, excellent plan.

That aside - no, it is absolutely not a criminal offence to walk a bitch in season, and it is the owner's responsibility to control their dogs, not yours.

It is, however, both antisocial and a bit foolhardy not to keep them away from the bulk of dogs. It will be unpleasant for your bitch to be bothered, it will be hassle for you, and it's all just best avoided really.

Put her in the car/carry her a bit away from home, then walk her in areas where dogs don't really frequent and preferably are not off the lead. Lead walks at quieter times on pavements will be absolutely fine for a few weeks - we see walks through human eyes, where we like nice things to look at. Dogs are more driven by smell, and will find plenty to amuse them on road walks.

[Lockheart]

It's not illegal. You can walk your dog.

[EIIa]

Great

Oppression of female dogs now. With an owner who can’t walk her at night because ... she too is an oppressed female
🙄

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Hardly. there will always be puppies born from accidents etc. Breeding as a choice is another thing entirely

[maggiecate]

Info here: pathwaypooch.com/can-you-walk-a-dog-in-heat-what-you-need-to-know/. YABU to have an unspayed bitch if you aren’t a knowledgeable registered breeder.

[XiCi]

YABU. Surely you realise you shouldn't be walking an in season bitch around other dogs? You keep her in or as the dog walker said, walk her late at night or in areas other dogs won't be.

[cavalierkingc]

In response to people saying you shouldn't breed your pets. Not everyone is farming pups for money. I bred my cavalier once and she had 2 pups that both live with family members. £0 Profit. Why assume the worst?

[vastgrandupgrade]

Are you walking her in a park where there are other dogs off-lead? If so, that’s really inconsiderate.

[ZoeTheThornyDevil]

That'll be dogs dying out in 10 years then, excellent plan.
Congratulations on the significant achievement of saying genuinely the stupidest thing I've seen said on here on the subject of dogs. Oh, whatever will we do without half-arsed clueless backyard breeders?

[CayrolBaaaskin]

That’s crackers. Not at all illegal to walk a bitch in heat and no reason people shouldn’t breed from their pets provided they do it responsibly. I generally think people who breed from pets are more interested in welfare than breeders.

[milkyaqua]

She's three years old. How long are you planning to take to make your decision? I think it is unkind to her and to the male dogs in the area.

[TeloMere]

No it's not illegal, but can be very annoying to other dog owners.
Even well-behaved males dogs can act out of character when near a female on heat and owner might not be able to control them.

Before he was neutered my 9 month old lab almost managed to mount a very enthusiastic cocker spaniel.
And they were both on the lead at the time.

Best to try to find times/places where there aren't dogs being walked and keep yours on lead all the time. If you do see another dog give it a wide birth.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

@cavalierkingc

In response to people saying you shouldn't breed your pets. Not everyone is farming pups for money. I bred my cavalier once and she had 2 pups that both live with family members. £0 Profit. Why assume the worst?

What if she’d had eight puppies and you didn’t have eight people wanting puppies?

Casual breeders rarely test to make sure their dog isn’t a genetic carrier of the health problems their breed is often prone to, nor will they have enough breed knowledge to know if their dog is a good example of it or has a deformity / physical trait to be discouraged. Hence why there are so many badly bred breeds with health problems - too many people breeding for cuteness not good health.

[WhatATimeToBeAlive]

It's not illegal, but try and walk in a quieter area while she's in season. If the males are off the lead and chasing her, then that's their owners problem.

You could try getting a dog "nappy" which will protect her and also stop any mess getting onto your furniture and carpet. We use one on our dog as she is prone to weeing accidents!

And please don't breed from her - there are so many unwanted dogs around at the moment that need loving homes.

[MorningStarling]

Good to know dog walkers are inconsiderate or rude to other dog walkers, not just innocent members of the public.

[Whitney168]

@ZoeTheThornyDevil

That'll be dogs dying out in 10 years then, excellent plan.
Congratulations on the significant achievement of saying genuinely the stupidest thing I've seen said on here on the subject of dogs. Oh, whatever will we do without half-arsed clueless backyard breeders?

Excellent, I'll enjoy my medal, thank you.

Those who wish to buy random 'accidents' (which seem to be repeated every six months) and puppy farmed dogs produced in squalor are welcome.

I'll stick to buying pedigree dogs, with appropriate health tests, from decent small breeders who actually give a monkey's about their dogs. Wouldn't touch any commercial breeder with a bargepole, yet they seem to fool so many.

(Bows out of inevitable bunfight LOL)

[SilverHairedCat]

No not illegal but you are being very unreasonable.

Dogs will climb fences, break collars and run like fury to get to a bitch in season.

Stop taking her out when others are walking their dogs. Protect her from an accidental and potentially life threatening pregnancy. And get the poor thing spayed.

[tabulahrasa]

It’s not illegal... but it’s just pretty much common sense to be actively avoiding other dogs as much as you can.

[Getyourjinglebellsinarow]

You shouldn't be walking her where there is an expectation of offlead dogs. Ie. Parks. You should be sticking to roads.

You also shouldn't be breeding from your dog.