Should I not be walking a dog in season?

[Salamamca]

My 3 year old dog is in season. I have been walking her on road walks where we’re less likely to encounter off-lead dogs.

Yesterday there was a woman walking this GIANT dog on the other side of the road, it looked like a Newfoundland/St Bernard but with German shepherd colouring - I swear it was the biggest dog I’ve ever seen. Anyway I carried on walking and then this huge dog suddenly dragged its owner across the road to come to us (luckily, no cars on what is normally a pretty busy road), she couldn’t hold it back at all, he dragged her with ease. They get to us and it tried to sniff my dog and my dog snapped at it but we couldn’t get away, when we tried to carry on walking it just dragged it’s owner along with us. She said she couldn’t understand what was wrong with him as he’s never done this before so I told her mine was in season. She said “well why on earth are you out with her then?. In the end a bloke from across the road came and helped her hold her dog whilst we got away. (And even he was struggling!)

Its really shook me up. She will be in season for weeks, surely we’re not expected to not walk her for 3 weeks or more?? I’ve always walked her in the past with no issues.

My BIL lives in Sweden and had his male dog neutered a few weeks ago. Not for any health reasons, just because he didn’t want to risk pups. So I’m not sure where this idea that it’s illegal has come from.

Of course you shouldn’t walk a dog in season. More to the point why isn’t she spayed if you’re not a breeder?

@Marshmallowmountain of course you can walk a dog in season. Just not near any off lead dogs.
And some people choose not to spay for health reasons. Or until bitches are mature.

According to google it's illegal in Norway and uncommon in Sweden due to the 'prohibition to remove body parts' but I think neutering was made exempt in Sweden. Not sure about spaying. Perhaps you could ask your BIL for more info and let us know because we are genuinely interested in the cultural difference.

@Wolfiefan rhe sensible and considerate thing to do is to keep your dog home and only walk it on private land.

a 3 year old is mature

Found this -

www.eurogroupforanimals.org/news/free-roaming-cats-sweden-should-now-be-neutered

'Free roaming cats in Sweden should from now on be neutered
2 June 2020

Djurens Rätt welcomes the decision of the Swedish Board of Agriculture to adjust the existing animal welfare law regarding pets. From June 15 cat owners will be obliged to ensure their cats do not reproduce unplanned.
Cats that move freely outdoors should be neutered, sterilized or in other ways prevented from reproducing uncontrollably.'

and

www.veterinary-practice.com/article/canine-neutering-legal-aspects

'In Sweden, castration was made exempt from the prohibition to remove body parts in 1988, hence neutering is allowed under the Swedish Animal Protection Act [djurskyddslagen (1988:534) §§10/11] and its regulations 1988:539.'

and in Norway, animals can be neutered for health reasons (preventing pyometra, preventing male behavioural issues, etc). There's also law relating to breeding of dogs that inherently have health issues, such as brachycephalic dogs, so it would be legal to neuter a dog with those characteristics to prevent them being passed on to future puppies.

'Breeding shall encourage characteristics which give robust animals which function well and have good health.

Reproduction, including through methods of gene technology, shall not be carried out in such a way that it:
changes genes in such a way that they influence the animals’ physical or mental functions in a negative way, or passes on such genes,
reduces the animals’ ability to practise natural behaviour, or
cause general ethical reactions.

Animals with a genetic constitution as cited in the second article shall not be used for subsequent breeding.'

So no, it's not illegal to neuter animals in Norway.

The fact that you even need to ask whether or not you should be walking her tells me that you don't know as much about dogs as you think you do. That's just basic information & you have to ask on here?

@NeverDropYourMooncup so not illegal as long as you've got a good, valid, medical reason. Still doesn't change the fact that we have a different cultural way of seeing the situation in the UK. In the UK we see 'responsible' pet owners as first and foremost stopping the animal from breeding via surgery. In other countries clearly their first thought is to prevent unnecessary suffering for the animal. (While being a responsible owner is a given and the prevention of breeding is achieved in the conventional way = no sex) That is an interesting difference.

@Marshmallowmountain I keep my bitches away from other dogs. But no need to hide them on private land. On lead. Away from off lead dogs. They won’t be neutered unless for medical reasons. It would make it much more likely they would suffer bone cancer. This a very common in their breed.

@GiantCheeseMonster @NeverDropYourMooncup @PoseyFlump Many thanks all for efforts to bring clarity. Yes, @PoseyFlump I think you are correct re: Norway and Sweden. I have not had much time for googling! As far as I can see the law was changed in Sweden in 1988, but it still isn't as common or routine as here. As you say, it seems only for medical reasons in Norway. It's interesting that this hasn't resulted in many stray or unwanted dogs as far as I can tell. Certainly there seems a different cultural approach - both to removing body parts and taking responsibility.

I think itS Norway where they don’t spay. The poster must have made a mistake

it is not unsociable to walk a dog in season. just take it where it's quieter and/or where there will be no other dogs running free. there are many reasons why someone may not want there dog spayed and that is their choice. there are also medical consequences through HAVING a dog dog spayed. have you not read the research?!

It's fine to take her out as long as you're fully happy for male dogs nearby to go mad to get at her. Especially since you're walking in an area where you will encounter male dogs. You could keep her in and do loads of training and simulation work with her to keep her mentally active or you commit to walking at the crack of dawn or very late at night in rural areas where you're not likely to be near other dogs however there's still no guarantee you'll not encounter them. The other problem is for example my dog can easily clear a 7 foot fence if he wanted to badly enough (thankfully he's never tried but I know the breed can do it.) If you were to walk past our yard while he's outside he'd be away and possibly endanger himself to get to your dog even though he's appropriately contained in our garden where he has every right to be. Then what would you do?

Op I'm sorry but my head goes when we come across a dog in season . My boy goes mental and can smell them a mile off . He's nearly got knocked over by a van trying to get to a bitch . It's an absolute nightmare . Even when the bitch has gone it's completely ruined our walk because he's determined to still find her .

I don't know much about dogs but surely you'd get her spayed? Problem solved, no more giant randy dogs.

Why has a thread from August been resurrected and the same old comments being made over and over again? Anyone coming to this thread afresh, just read all the previous posts. There's nothing to add here.

You need to walk her very early or very late. It’s not appropriate to walk a dog in season in the middle of the day. It drives male dogs crazy

I ve just joined mumsnet and being the owner of an unspayed spaniel I am disgusted by the arrogance and nastiness of many of the respondents on this forum.!! I thought it wS a discussion, not a platform for self opinionated viciousness!!

I have an unspayed spaniel

i walk her off lead whether in season or not (always visible mind)

we encounter dozens of dogs every single walk as we walk in woodlands

all dogs off lead

this notion of dogs going crazy and pulling off fences is something I’ve never noticed - even in full heat. Yes some dogs more interested but both mine and other dogs still recall fine

I think it’s a lot of people reposting stuff they hear with no practical experience at all

my dog is now 7 and I’ve never had a single issue walking her off lead in season.

but then I guess people who walk their dog off lead in such areas have better trained dogs….

@Watapalava no you’ve just been very lucky. If you meet an entire stud dog you won’t be.

No

i disagree

7 years I encounter 10-15 digs per walk all day every day

i will have encountered many I’m sure

I'm not certain MN is the place for you......

Or certainly not AIBU!

Maybe send out a memo to all members telling them your thoughts?

@swedenut as you can see there are many posters who think themselves hilarious with their snipey comments.

I've been on MN years and it used to be less goady. Now people pop into threads, shout VILE and run off again. Can't see the point myself.

There seems to be an unwritten rule that if you start a thread in AIBU it's okay to be abused. You're better off going onto the sub sections if you want a decent discussion.

Fwiw, I have an unspayed 13 year old bitch and have never experienced any of the hyped up experiences on here. There are health disadvantages to having a dog spayed but we've been brain washed in the UK to think it's the only way. As I've said before on this thread, some countries see spaying as unnecessary mutilation and only do it when medically necessary. And they don't have issues with masses of unwanted dogs. Guess it's a cultural thing and many are stuck in their ways.