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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should I not be walking a dog in season?

348 replies

Salamamca · 27/08/2022 07:29

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.

OP posts:
Brideandpredjudice · 27/08/2022 08:10

Yes you should still walk her.

Try to choose very unused routes, and at earlier/later times.

Shortandsweet20 · 27/08/2022 08:11

Still walk her, just try to go at quieter times and places where you won't encounter other dogs.

When my girl was in season we had to walk her as she doesn't go to the toilet in the garden. I just stuck to quiet places where dogs might be off lead

SunnyD44 · 27/08/2022 08:13

You choose not to get your dog neutered so you have to make adjustments for when she’s in heat.

The advice is to not walk them at all but if they’re a dog that needs walking then you’re going to have to walk her at night or go somewhere where you know they’ll be no other dogs around.

greywinds · 27/08/2022 08:15

It's too risky for you and your dog I'd think - ideally you can control your dog but as others say, irresistible lure etc. if she is 3 I'm also wondering why you'd not spay?

People certainly do walk in season dogs around the populated area I live in, I'd personally try and avoid busy times and get them spayed.

queenMab99 · 27/08/2022 08:18

It sounds as if you were doing what is recommended, walking in an area where dogs would not be off lead, unfortunately some male dogs, even if well trained and usually well behaved, go absolutely crackers at the faintest whiff of a bitch in heat, and these difficult situations can arise. My friends dog ran for miles along the coast, he was off lead in an area in which it is allowed, and is normally reliable, it took hours to find him, and he was off his food and miserable for days, because his desires had been thwarted. These difficult situations can arise, and all you can do is be aware, and try to walk early and late in order to avoid other dogs

Isaidnoalready · 27/08/2022 08:21

You need to be more careful we got caught out by a determined dog and even though our dog was restricted to the back garden he still managed to get to her on her late night toilet trip and she had puppies

Indoctro · 27/08/2022 08:23

You are unreasonable , you do not walk a bitch on heat

Male dogs can and will go crazy for a bitch. They can snap leads and totally change personality if they come close to a bitch.

I've seen a small dog nearly break it's neck trying to escape a collar and lead to get to a bitch on heat so no wonder this large dog dragged this poor lady.

Bitches on heat stay home, what would you do if you walked past a garden and a male escaped and mounted your bitch. As believe me they can go utterly crazy to get to her.

You are risking your dog by taking her out.

Please keep her home.

mountainsunsets · 27/08/2022 08:26

Bitches in season should either not be walked at all, or should be walked very early and very late in the day to minimise the chances of coming across other dogs. As a dog walker, I'll never take an in-season bitch as the risk is too great.

Even neutered males can sniff out an intact bitch.

At 3yo your bitch is old enough to be neutered and should be fixed once her season is over. The longer you leave her, the greater the risk of pyometra which can quickly turn fatal.

Gingernaut · 27/08/2022 08:28

Why is your dog in season?

Why hasn't she been spayed?

YABU

Leonberger · 27/08/2022 08:28

Males can be controlled and learn to behave around in season females but because there are so few entire bitches waved under a normal dogs nose it’s not unsurprising he lost it.

Personally I think it’s really selfish to walk them anywhere other than late at night in places where they are few dogs.

I wouldn’t walk my bitches in season, hence they are spayed. Is there a reason you’ve left yours entire? She’s at a much greater risk of life threatening diseases.

Hugasauras · 27/08/2022 08:29

I never walked ours during her two seasons before we spayed her. When I took her out after there was obviously some residual scent as she attracted a male dog at the park who was continually trying to mount her and she found it v distressing, so I definitely wouldn't have wanted to have three weeks of risking that.

MissMaple82 · 27/08/2022 08:29

Absolutely fucking not

MissMaple82 · 27/08/2022 08:30

A better thing would be to get her spayed!

SurpriseSurprise · 27/08/2022 08:32

First thing in the morning or last thing at night and if you see a dog in the distance change your route. It’s unfair on everyone otherwise

Ive had four girls in season and never had any problems that way. I did rent an enclosed field a couple of times for one of them to give them a good bomb about too, because she needed it. But other than that it is selfish (and dangerous)

figmaofmyimagination · 27/08/2022 08:33

Yep YABU. Walk her v early or v late, or hire a secure field.

Or better yet, get her spayed. You’re clearly not an experienced breeder and she’s not too young so I hope you’re not going to try and make money out of her.

rainbowandglitter · 27/08/2022 08:33

Such bad etiquette to walk an in season bitch around other dogs. Do it very early or very late where no other dogs are.
I saw recently a dog snap a lead trying to get to an in season bitch. The owner of the batch was physically kicking the dog away really hard. Awful.

WhoWants2Know · 27/08/2022 08:33

Years ago, having always had small and easy dogs, I probably would have done the same thing as OP. Their seasons were a nuisance, but fine.

But then I met some dogs who became bloody lunatics during a season. A female who turned into Houdini, opening doors and scaling 8 foot fences if you so much as turned your back on her or tried to sleep. She had no idea why, and she was terrified of being away from her owners, but the drive to escape in search of a male was too strong for her to resist.

I also knew a castrated male who could still tie on with a female in an instant. You think he's sniffing and saying hello, and suddenly he's stuck inside a confused female while the owners are stuck standing there for the next 20 minutes until they can detach. He can't make puppies, but it's still not the best way to spend your walk.

HannahSternDefoe · 27/08/2022 08:34

Why should your dog not have exercise because of some stupid woman with a huge dog too strong for her to control?

You can't leave her cooped up for weeks.

JimmyShoo · 27/08/2022 08:36

Even the most well trained male dog can forget his manners when they smell a bitch on heat.

It is not due to a lack of control by the owner, it’s biological urge.

You should keep you dog away from others and get her spayed.

Original poster
Salamamca · 27/08/2022 08:36

figmaofmyimagination · 27/08/2022 08:33

Yep YABU. Walk her v early or v late, or hire a secure field.

Or better yet, get her spayed. You’re clearly not an experienced breeder and she’s not too young so I hope you’re not going to try and make money out of her.

Of course I’m not going to make money out of her, what a terrible thing to say.

I’ve never had a bitch before. I’ve only ever had male dogs. The reason she hasn’t been spayed is she has a blood disorder which puts her at great risk of haemorrhaging. Honestly think before you accuse.

OP posts:
Brideandpredjudice · 27/08/2022 08:38

HannahSternDefoe · 27/08/2022 08:34

Why should your dog not have exercise because of some stupid woman with a huge dog too strong for her to control?

You can't leave her cooped up for weeks.

Absolutely. There's no requirement to have a bitch spayed, why is nobody questioning why the big dog wasn't neutered??

mountainsunsets · 27/08/2022 08:40

Absolutely. There's no requirement to have a bitch spayed, why is nobody questioning why the big dog wasn't neutered?

It could have been. Even neutered males can smell a bitch in heat and will chase.

maddy68 · 27/08/2022 08:41

No o have never walked a dog I'm season. It's just a massive pita. Just let them play in the garden then.

-or be responsible and get her spayed-

crabcakesalad · 27/08/2022 08:41

Soubriquet · 27/08/2022 07:35

We’ve always walked our dogs in season too.

If you’re concerned, go really early, or late to avoid other dogs.

The real problem here, is that she can’t control her dog. She’s proven that.

^this

mountainsunsets · 27/08/2022 08:41

The reason she hasn’t been spayed is she has a blood disorder which puts her at great risk of haemorrhaging.

Then you need to learn how to manage a bitch in heat. Which unfortunately means walks at stupid o'clock in the morning or very late at night to minimise all contact with male dogs.