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.

Never had a problem with my dog in 9 years when she is in season.

It’s definitely not illegal

🤣 the taliban?!

We are allowing our dog to have one, maybe two (depends on vet advice about whether after 18 months or 12 months is better to ensure fully developed joints) seasons. During her first season we walked on lead, on pavement only. It’s actually quieter wrt to dogs during the day round here so that’s when we took her. We avoided the local parks, fields, woods etc as unfair to her and to male dogs offlead to take her there. We informed any owners of dogs that approached on lead of her season.
It’s not illegal, no.
Our first Lab died suddenly and before her time from osteosarcoma. She was spayed before her first season. I will never go through that again without being sure we have done all we can to avoid it.

This smacks of the Taliban - keep the females in so the males are not bothered.

Because believe it nor not, we haven’t yet found a way of convincing a large intact male dog with a high sex drive to ask for consent before he mounts the first in-heat bitch he comes across. So sensible owners either spay their bitches, walk them away from areas where other dogs are likely to be, or keep them indoors until the season finishes.

That'll be dogs dying out in 10 years then, excellent plan.
From your keyboard to God’s ears 🙏🏻

How did a random dog walker know your dog was in season?

It’s not illegal, why would it be?

We have a female chihuahua who hasn’t been neutered, we’ve spoken to 3 separate vets who all feel she is too tiny for the operation and anaesthetic - 2 of them didn’t even want to microchip her she’s that tiny.

So we’re just more careful where we take her when we walk her in season.

Would I walk her round a quiet park on a Sunday afternoon, yes.

Would I let her loose in a dog park, no.

Just needs a bit of commonsense.

If you're never putting her down on the ground it doesn't seem like you're really walking her anyway. Walking an in season bitch is a rather anti social thing to do as other dog owners are much more likely to lose their animals as they follow yours. This causes you and your bitch problems too, to the point where you might get to choose if you breed from her. How you cope isn't really a concern because you just keep the dog inside or neuter her. It has ever been thus.

It’s nothing like the Taliban! Male dogs aren’t rational and able to control themselves, they act only on instinct. Male humans are, and should bloody well do so, or face severe consequences.

Bitches also aren’t equivalent to human females - there’s nothing wrong with curtailing the freedom of an animal to protect it.

I voted YANBU because in answer to your original question it’s not illegal, and o don’t believe you can be sued for any damage that is caused.

However I agree it’s much better for your bitch to have her spayed, and please don’t breed from her unless you 100% know what you’re doing.

Might not get to choose

I don't know the law around this at all but I would say it is ridiculous to think it is illegal to walk an in season dog.

That said I also have a very small dog (she should be the bigger end of small but was the runt of her litter and so is about half the size of other dogs her breed) she went through 2 seasons, not intentionally at all (she had a major emergency op just before spay was booked and then had to wait until after the next one to do it at the right time) and I literally did not walk her at all as I didn't see the point in risking it. She had full access to a garden with my supervision at all times and it did her no harm.

I would avoid walking an in season dog in my opinion but if you must I echo what others have said to avoid busy times/busy areas and take any precautions you can.

It’s not illegal, but it’s irresponsible. It’s not only entire dogs that can be set off by a bitch in season but also other bitches and neutered dogs. It’s not just a dog running after your bitch, but the smell can upset a male dog for days after.
Most sensible owners of unspayed bitches keep them at gone for their seasons, as their energy levels drop anyway.
I personally don’t agree with breeding a litter from a family pet either, there’s a lot of risks involved and should only really be undertaken by people who know what they’re doing.

I think people have covered the legal side but I have to agree it's irresponsible to be walking her in season near where other dogs may be off lead. It's instinct for an entire male dog to follow that scent, it's extremely hard to remove and train out that instinct. Dogs will also escape from gardens etc it's also not keeping your bitch as safe as possible, dogs fight and becoming tied can happened remarkably fast.

When my bitch was in season we used our garden (realise you may not have access in London so still need to leave for toilet) and played plenty of mind stimulation games, it was a frustrating 3 weeks but it was what was best for everyone. My mum is also a dog walker and refuses to take any dogs in season for their entire season.

I agree with those saying breeding should be left to trained breeders. Accidents will always happen but the average person should not be choosing to have a litter. In no way will this lead to dogs dying out in 10 years (accidents) but might see a reduction of dogs in dogs homes. Not every dog is suitable to breed and often owners are blind to this.

If you don't know the rules or etiquette surrounding an in season dog you're not an experienced enough owner to breed.

Good pet owners don’t breed their animals without a very good reason (I can’t think of one). However you look at it, more puppies and dogs will be left in cages/put down if you choose to breed yours.

@Nuca

How did a random dog walker know your dog was in season?

It's fairly obvious if a female dog is in season if there are male dogs around. I used to dog sit for a lovely lab who had great recall and was very well trained. He went absolutely mental in a pub post walk once; turned out that there was a dog sat in the beer garden who was in season, and he was desperately trying to get to her like a possessed dog.

Male dogs can smell a bitch in season from up to 3 miles away apparently.

I agree it does sound incredibly daft unless you're hoping she breeds with any random dog she meets.

Just get her spayed. There are already plenty of badly bred dogs needing homes.

Not illegal, but it would be wise for everyone's sake - including your dog's - to keep away from other dogs as much as possible. Daytime walks on the street are absolutely fine, just consider crossing the road if there's another dog coming and you're on a narrow pavement.

Taking your dog to Hampstead Heath on the other hand, would be really fucking stupid.

Yabu to consider breeding from her

Good lord, no it's not illegal! But try to walk your dog in quieter places (where there are fewer other dogs) just to be sensible.

@Nuca

How did a random dog walker know your dog was in season?

Yeh this. How did she know?

Might be a daft question, but I have no clue about dogs.

@undecicive Then you would be completely wrong to assume those this. Stupid comment.

It’s not illegal but it is unreasonable. Keep your bitch on a lead and walk her where it is quiet and not at peak times of the day.

The matter of whether you should be spaying her is separate. If you don't intend breeding from her, and she's already had one or two seasons, it's probably the kind thing to do. Phantom pregnancies etc can cause a lot of distress.

Surely it's the responsibility of the owners of male dogs?
They can get their dogs neutered, if they don't want to why should you spay your female dog- for them.