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.

At one time it was possible to buy a spray named "Anti-mate". Fresh lemon smell and helped when taking dog out. I would just curtail her walks a bit at this time. Maybe 3 - 4 shorter walks.

@Bonheurdupasse

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.

A neutered dog will still be interested in a bitch in heat.

I don't understand why you think it should be the responsibility of the owners of dogs being attracted to the smell, not the owner of the dog causing the attraction.

@PinkiOcelot she'd know from her dogs reactions

It's recommend for lots of breeds now to wait a season or 3 (depending on breed/size) in order for all the growth hormones to benefit the dog's bones before neutering.

We had one season before spaying. I'd read all the stories about crazed male dogs stopping at nothing to get to her. I chose to walk her at normal times in a close-by graveyard which allowed dogs on leads. No male dog even sniffed in her direction... but I wouldn't have taken the chance with lots of off-lead dogs. She is small though, so I could pick her up quickly if a rogue dog bounded over

@Bonheurdupasse

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.

Neutered dogs are still quite keen on bitches in season, and will harass them.

Mine has been neutered for years and recently he started acting oddly around a young female dog - very, very keen and frisky. I asked if she was spayed, and before long it dawned on the owner that she was probably coming into her first season. Neutered DDog knew before any of us did.

1. It’s not illegal
2. Unless your dog has had all the appropriate health checks and is a sound example of the breed and you’re prepared to spend more money on it than you make (as well as possibly taking back puppies from the litter who’s new home hasn’t worked out) you shouldn’t be breeding her.
3. The mention of the taliban on a thread about in heat dogs made me laugh very much

Walk her on lead on pavement where there are not likely to be on lead dogs

I think the point of the taliban comment was that it shouldn't be the in-season females staying at home, but the intact males.

My opinion is that all pets should be neutered as soon as they reach the optimum age. Cats, dogs, rabbits, male, female, all of them.

Notice I said pets.

I think it should be illegal to have a pet that is able to breed. Breeding should be strictly controlled and regulated.

*off lead dogs

@Nuca

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

Ah, now I spy what could be a trick question... or a very profound one!

Because the obvious answer is the dog walker was walking intact dogs.

Or the bitch was visibly in season

Or it didn't happen?

@Bonheurdupasse

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.

People really do project onto animals. A male dog is in no more need of its reproductive organs than a female dog. Only in this case not getting a female dog spayed can massively affect all the other male dogs in the area every time they have a season which is approximately 3 weeks twice a year. There's also many other health benefits to getting a dog spayed or neutered. I also hear lots of men projecting onto their male dogs that they want them to have sex once (and woman about their dogs becoming mum's), dogs are not humans, they don't think about sex and puppies in the same way we do. Every single dog should be spayed/neutered by age 2 unless owned by a licensed breeder unless there's a medical reason not to.

OMG this person sounds like such an idiot.

I had my dog spayed when she was around 7 years old.

I took her out all the time when she was in heat and it was completely fine. Nothing ever happened. I tried to stay away from other dogs and always kept her on the leash. I think once a dog tried to mount her, but I can't even remember if she was in heat. I intervened immediately and it was absolutely fine.

People are such losers. I know lots of people who didn't spay their dogs until they were a bit older. None of these bred the dogs or anything like that. They just did it when they wanted to do it.

What a loser person. Honestly.

So why are you thinking about creating more dogs from the one you already have?

@girlmom21

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

This!

Why on earth do you want to bring more dogs into a world filled with unwanted dogs languishing in rescue kennels? And so inconsiderate to walk her around other dogs. What about her health - one in four bitches develop mammary cancer. Spay her and just enjoy her company as a companion animal, not as the main component in some dubious money-making scheme.

www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/breast-cancer-in-dogs

I think the point of the taliban comment was that it shouldn't be the in-season females staying at home, but the intact males.

But there's no real point of reference. Unlike humans bitches have seasons and dogs react specifically to the pheromones.

Bitches come into season twice a year (ish). The owner has 2 - 4 weeks to cope with that.

So each intact bitch has 1 - 2 months of being coddled or every intact dog stays inside forever.

So it was a stupid comment on many levels - not least reducing a real life horror to an amusing aside!

@Bonheurdupasse

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.

Neutered males can still smell in-season bitches.

If your bitch is in season it's your responsibility to walk it well away from other dogs.

Get it spayed or carry condoms.

The fucking Taliban 🤣🤣🤣

@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?

:)

@SafferUpNorth

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.

This ^^ My 12 month old puppy has recently been in season, i simply walked her early morning and late afternoon in areas where I knew I was unlikely to see another dog. On the couple of occasions when i saw another dog being walked I walked away from them or called out that she was in season and we gave each other a wide berth. No problem and she’s going to be spayed in 3 months.

Chuckling away here!

Neutering males doesn't stop the reaction to a bitch in season smell.

Is this the new 'cancel the cheque'?

Walking an in season dog isn't illegal but it is incredibly stupid.

Male dogs don't act stupid by the way, they have the innate urge, whether neutered or not, to want to mate with said in season dog. It is often very difficult to prevent this immediately prior to the act.

Separating them during the act can cause severe damage to both animals. You need to keep your dog indoors.

@ComtesseDeSpair

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.

Maybe these large intact males should be neutered if they can’t be controlled?

I think you’re having a hard time here op. I have a dog I might breed from in the future if we decide to have another dog. She comes from a long line of field champions, has an excellent temperament and is just a really fab family dog.

If I was ever to breed her It’d be done properly. I think there is a massive difference between one carefully timed and considered litter and irresponsible back yard breeding.

I would walk her away from other dogs though if you can.

It's not a criminal offence to walk an in season dog. When my ddog had her season before getting spayed I just made sure to walk her in quiet areas away from everyone else. If a male dog comes over to your dog while in season it's on the other owner to be in control of their dog

It is not illegal but you are being really unreasonable to do it anyway. A lot of things aren't illegal but are really unhelpful and anti social and walking an in season bitch in areas with lots of other dogs is definitely one of them.