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.

No, it's not illegal to walk your bitch in heat.
However, I despise backyard breeders.

It’s a total pain in the neck and makes any non female dog for miles on edge.

It's no longer always recommended for males to neuter unlike bitches for health reasons

Ahh, even in the dog world the delicate male ego has to be considered when it comes to nuter or not to nuter!

@ Ylvamoon your spelling of the word “nuter” is a good indication of how valuable your insight is.

YABVU to consider being a backyard breeder, get her neutered.

YANBU to walk her on a lead when she’s in season

It’s a fact of life as a dog owner that your dog may encounter some bitches in season. They may be breeding bitches, they may be having their first and only season. If there’s a danger your dog might run off then they need to be on a lead. It doesn’t matter if it’s Mitzi down the way, or a squirrel, cat……whatever. They are still going to be hurt if they run across the road into traffic if they want to get to it.
2 months out of 12 my girl would be mopey, miserable and confined to her lead, so for that reason we are having her done. But only when it is best for her health.

@MrsWinters

@ Ylvamoon your spelling of the word “nuter” is a good indication of how valuable your insight is.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

If people can’t control their male dogs, they should have them castrated.
It just goes to show how entrenched the victim blaming/ woman bashing narrative really is

I'm genuinely 🤦🏼‍♀️ that so many people who no doubt would consider themselves sensible, clued up individuals, are drawing parallels between human and canine social behaviours where male dogs should be held to the same standards as humans.

A previous poster said that a large male dog could ‘get his way’ with your dog. If your dog is small enough to be carried, a large male could not do this. Speaking from experience as I was the owner of large unneutered dog with an unspayed small bitch next door!

You can but I wouldn’t in case an off lead dog latched on! Nightmare!

YABVU to consider being a backyard breeder, get her neutered.

YANBU to walk her on a lead when she’s in season

Completely agree.

Can’t stand people who get a dog just to make them have puppies because they want money or because they think they’re cute.

Get her neutered and then you won’t have any issues with male dogs.

@Isaw3ships

‘ Or, hire a private field.’ 😅😅😅

I mean, whom amongst us has not hired private fields for dog walking…

Actually this is fairly common. There are at least 4 doggy fields available for hire within an hour of my house.

@RestingStitchFace

YABU to have an unspayed bitch if you aren’t a knowledgeable registered breeder.

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. It may be a young dog. There are definite negative health implications that come with spaying a dog too young. Many responsible dog owners, myself included waited until our dog had been through it's first season before choosing to spay. It doesn't make us criminals, dog abusers or lunatics.

It's 3 uears old...

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

I do realise it’s a concern, but surely some responsibility lies with the entire dogs owner and they realise by not having their dog neutered (unless planning to breed) that they may occasionally bump into a dog in season.

As numerous people have explained, it's NOT just intact dogs that will have an issue with your bitch.

So it never has caused an issue. She’s never had a dog follow her - I’ve been walking in the same way and it’s her 5th season.

How old is she? Is she not too old to be having a litter if she's already on her fifth season?

How old is she? Is she not too old to be having a litter if she's already on her fifth season?

I assume you don’t have a dog and know nothing about them? Complete bitches come into season approx twice a year (first around 6ish months old on average). Baffling that you’d feel so strongly on the subject yet have zero clue.

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda - I do have a dog and I'm also a dog walker with qualifications in canine first aid and care, so I do have "a clue" thanks!

Six months may be the average but it hugely depends on the breed - larger breeds often don't come into season until they're closer to two years old. Again, your assumption that bitches come into season twice a year is also an average - many have seasons every 18 months or even less.

So, as OP has given no information about her dog's age or breed, my question is actually a very valid one. A large breed bitch on her fifth season could easily be 6+ years of age which is generally considered too old to be having a first litter.

:)

tbf the OP said her dog was small enough to carry and small breeds may come into season 3 times a year and come into their first season younger than 6 months old - so the dog could also be quite a bit less than 3 years old.

...and now I spot, ALSO says her dog is 3 years old.

Perhaps we should all learn to read

@FudgeOff

tbf the OP said her dog was small enough to carry and small breeds may come into season 3 times a year and come into their first season younger than 6 months old - so the dog could also be quite a bit less than 3 years old.

I must have missed that - in which case, my concerns are irrelevant, but I don't see an issue with raising the question anyway.

@FudgeOff

...and now I spot, ALSO says her dog is 3 years old.

Perhaps we should all learn to read

Definitely

Not illegal and anyone who thinks it should be or this is unreasonable is a moron.

If your male dog tries to get at any female dog in season, maybe you should have better control over your dog. It's a dog, it's not difficult to stop, considering most people in britain own dogs small enough you can pick them up. If you can't control a big dog, don't have a big dog. If you can't control a small dog, get a goldfish as even a cat would be too much.

Fully agree though on breeding, you shouldn't be breeding this dog in my opinion. You aren't a proper breeder, you just possibly want to make some money from her.

You lost any sympathy (or respect) from me at the neutering comment.
Making money from breeding animals should be banned. There’s no need for it.

@maddiemookins16mum

You lost any sympathy (or respect) from me at the neutering comment. Making money from breeding animals should be banned. There’s no need for it.

Absolutely agree.

We let our lab have one season, then got her spayed, as I'd read that was better for labs. We just walked her in quiet places and kept her on the lead. It wasn't an option not to walk her when she was in season.

Ok didn’t expect this to get so many replies. Thank you for them all.

Random dog walker wouldn’t have known, she asked why my dog was on a lead and did she run off; we were just having general chit chat. I said no she’s on the lead as she is in season. Nobody seems to realise otherwise. My dog weighs under 5kg; if I’ve had an issue with a dog following before I would simply pick her up. Most of the time I walk away from the parks, today I didn’t.

Breeding wise; I wasn’t really asking for opinions on that but I understand your concerns. Again my parents have been breeders. I’d be on the kennel club registered breeders, my dog would be hip scored, is clear or back and eye issues etc etc.

She will be neutered if I decide not to breed her after the next season. The vets recommend her breed isn’t spayed/neutered until after age 2. She is 3.

Thank you for all the responses.

Just wtf.