Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
BungleandGeorge · 27/08/2022 09:59

MelonMojito · 27/08/2022 09:44

If people don’t want to RTFT they should at least read OPs updates before accusing them of wanting to breed their dog for profit
or just being irresponsible for not spaying their dog🙄they’ve said their dog has a blood disorder so is at risk of haemorrhaging if they have that operation.

As pointed out the risk of bleeding in pregnancy would be far, far higher. Also a risk from unintended mating, especially in this scenario with a much larger dog.
if it really is the case that the bleeding disorder is such to make spaying impossible I’d change my answer and say OP is unreasonable to walk her dog in season. They would be putting the dog at considerable risk.

mountainsunsets · 27/08/2022 09:59

Imagine if that dog had taken after a child? Or attacked another dog? She was clearly at fault for walking a dog she couldn't control.

What are you talking about?

The sexual urge a dog experiences around a bitch in heat has nothing do with them attacking anyone or anything.

Whammyyammy · 27/08/2022 10:01

YANBU. She can't control her dog.

Hakeandling · 27/08/2022 10:04

of course it’s better to avoid it if possible but an accidental mating doesn’t have to lead to an unwanted litter. You can get the equivalent of the morning after pill from the vets.

wrt the secure fields-they are a ‘thing’ search online and book a time slot. I wondered about the leftover pheromones too but they are advertised as ideal for bitches on heat so presumably they haven’t had any issues reported.

OP i really would talk to your vet again about spaying. Seasons are fairly miserable for owners and dogs alike as are the phantom pregnancies that often result not to mention the increased risk of pyometra etc. the laparoscopic spay is expensive but much less invasive with a very short recovery time.

Emmelina · 27/08/2022 10:04

Even bitches with blood disorders can be speyed, with careful management. Talk to your vet.
Better a carefully planned op than an unplanned pregnancy and labour, or pyometra forcing an emergency hysterectomy with all the risks that entails.

Beautiful3 · 27/08/2022 10:19

No I don't think you should walk her around other dogs, while she's in season. I'd go very early while no dogs are around.

SunnyD44 · 27/08/2022 10:22

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

This is even more reason to get her spayed.

Some people choose not to get their dogs done for various reasons but this shouldn’t be one of them as you’re putting her at a considerable risk.

balalake · 27/08/2022 10:24

Keep your dog on a lead (as you are doing).

2bazookas · 27/08/2022 10:24

Lots of entire male dogs, normally wellbehaved, will go mad at the scent of a bitch in season and if they are a very large powerful breed , their owner may be unable to restrain them. Once dog sex begins, both animals can get "tied" (penis locked in vagina) for up to 45 minutes. Its a feature of canine physiology and you will NOT be able to break the tie until nature does.

If your smaller bitch gets mated by a larger dog she may be unable to give birth vaginally. So at the very least, you're risking a vet bill either for abortion or C section; or feeding multiple pups then rehoming. The risks to bitch and her owner are so high that's why responsible owners would not walk a bitch in heat. If you don't intend to breed from her, be warned that repeated "failed" seasons (with no pregnancy), can cause hormonal changes, mammary tumours and womb pyometra (sepsis) , potential pain/health risk to the bitch and major bill to the owner.

If you don't plan to breed her, get her neutered for her own sake.

Brigante9 · 27/08/2022 10:26

Brideandpredjudice · 27/08/2022 08:10

Yes you should still walk her.

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

This and consider spaying your dog-hopefully you aren’t considering breeding her because asking a question like you have makes me think you’re not terribly experienced.

look up pyometra, it’s a bloody awful uterine infection which can be fatal.

LampLighter414 · 27/08/2022 10:27

So the patriarchy exists even in the dog world. Bitches have to be kept in at home for no fault of their own whilst the boys get to go out all day 365, 24/7 with their dang lies on display.

QuePrima · 27/08/2022 10:31

As always, I'm surprised at some of the responses here.

Don't walk a dog in season! If you must, very early, very late in the middle of nowhere and on a lead.

It is responsible to get a pet spayed/neutered but there are reasons why one wouldn't. I haven't neutered my dog. It's an unnecessary surgery and I see no need to put my nervous dog through all of that stress of the vet visit and after care before he comes home. I won't breed him, I regularly get offers to stud him but his nature and health issues are not ones that need to be replicated. As a giant breed, we had to wait til 2 and then covid hit and the vets said emergencies only. We left it and glad we did. This is the first dog we haven't and subject to behaviour, I wouldn't again.

I also think dog owners should be in full control of their dogs at all times (that's a given surely but seems not, in practice) so the other dog owner is also in the wrong (not as in the wrong as OP - I'd say 70/30) It's different trying to control an entire or neutered male around an in season female and you shouldn't be putting them in that situation.

startfresh · 27/08/2022 10:32

Not sure about the walking in season but she shouldn't have a dog she can't control under ANY scenario.

Could have caused a car accident, could have dragged her across the road to maul an animal if it wanted to.

People shouldn't be walking or owning dogs that they can't control.

dressupinyou · 27/08/2022 10:35

We never did, it wasn't worth the risk as ours had a heart condition so we really didn't want her to get pregnant.
I think especially as your dog has a health issue, I wouldn't walk her and risk something happening.

It isn't fair on other dog owners either.

Has the vet absolutely said she shouldn't be spayed?

2bazookas · 27/08/2022 10:36

Vallmo47 · 27/08/2022 09:27

I think OP is being given a very hard time to be honest. I am not a dog owner but the idea that you cannot walk your bitch at all sounds unreasonable to me. Educating others in the risks is fine, being rude about it isn’t. This is something the vets should inform widely about - maybe they do, I honestly don’t know. I’m not getting involved in an argument about it, just came on to support OP and say you’re not the only one who didn’t know about this.

You are not a dog owner so your ignorance carries no consequences.
The OP IS a dog owner, she chose a bitch and is responsible for every aspect of her well-being; so the onus is on her to BE INFORMED. Which all vets do.

Nobody is saying a bitch can never be walked in public. Just, not during the couple of weeks a year she's in season. Every male dog for miles around can smell her and will do anything to get to her, so the fact the owner can't see any other dog walkers is no protection at all. Dogs could arrive any time and she will NOT be able to prevent them mounting and tieing.

Quincythequince · 27/08/2022 10:36

LampLighter414 · 27/08/2022 10:27

So the patriarchy exists even in the dog world. Bitches have to be kept in at home for no fault of their own whilst the boys get to go out all day 365, 24/7 with their dang lies on display.

For the love of god.
They’re animals.
The primal urge to mate will overrule any training they may have undertaken.

It’s not the patriarchy, it’s literally the scent of a bitch in heat.

Quincythequince · 27/08/2022 10:37

And no, you wouldn’t let a dog out 365 24/7 either, but if you did, it’s not the dog that has to endure pregnancy and birth and all the risks that come with it.

What a ridiculous strawman argument for not having to be responsible for your bitch in heat.

Hymnulop · 27/08/2022 10:38

SupposeItDoesnt · 27/08/2022 07:54

You need to spay her… and not walk her when she’s in season.

This!

curlymom · 27/08/2022 10:38

You should walk your dog and you are doing the right thing on lead on street. It’s owners responsibility to maintain control of their dog. So if one drags its owner well that cou,d happen of your dog was in the garden and they smelt the scent.
you have done well to allow your dog a season before spay. It allows her to fully develop before interrupting the hormone pathway. X

GiantCheeseMonster · 27/08/2022 10:39

You can have her spayed laparoscopically under carefully managed conditions with donor blood on standby. That would be infinitely better than to leave her with the high risk of requiring an emergency hysterectomy for pyometra, which would probably kill your bitch.

RedRobyn2021 · 27/08/2022 10:40

I've only just got my dog spayed a few months ago and we took her out on lead walks, she's 3. IMO it's absolutely ludicrous to expect a dog not to be walked for weeks

Those with intact males should be able to CONTROL THEIR dogs.

curlymom · 27/08/2022 10:41

toomuchlaundry · 27/08/2022 09:27

Can I ask what happens in households with more than one dog and a bitch goes into season and they also have male dogs? How do they keep the male dogs from going loopy?

We have one of each and when the girl was in season the boy was loopy for her. But we keep separate and regularly clean where the girl is. She’s spayed now but it is doable

2bazookas · 27/08/2022 10:43

Stravaig · 27/08/2022 09:15

A bit tangential, but can I ask about the secure dog-walking fields? Is it an informal arrangement with a nearby farmer? Or are they specific facilities, with bookable time-slots and so on? If the latter, would a female in heat not leave enough pheremones to create problems for subsequent male bookings? Never come across them before, sounds interesting!

Its a business. They are fenced secure facilities and dog owners book a time for private use and pay for it.

Then the dog can be let off the lead to run and play, and (if its untrained or aggressive) at no risk to others or itself. Owners with friendly dogs might share a session. The dog rescue I volunteer at, often hires one. (none of the resident dogs can ever be let off lead otherwise)

Quincythequince · 27/08/2022 10:44

curlymom · 27/08/2022 10:38

You should walk your dog and you are doing the right thing on lead on street. It’s owners responsibility to maintain control of their dog. So if one drags its owner well that cou,d happen of your dog was in the garden and they smelt the scent.
you have done well to allow your dog a season before spay. It allows her to fully develop before interrupting the hormone pathway. X

The dog is 3!

Done well to allow a season before spay?

Is this a joke.

Your views on walking a bitch in heat are wrong! As an owner she needs to be protected from all male dogs, and especially those who aren’t neutered.

So many irresponsible owners on here so it seems.

dressupinyou · 27/08/2022 10:44

Vallmo47 · 27/08/2022 09:27

I think OP is being given a very hard time to be honest. I am not a dog owner but the idea that you cannot walk your bitch at all sounds unreasonable to me. Educating others in the risks is fine, being rude about it isn’t. This is something the vets should inform widely about - maybe they do, I honestly don’t know. I’m not getting involved in an argument about it, just came on to support OP and say you’re not the only one who didn’t know about this.

I wonder why you have chosen to reply when you say you don't have a dog and clearly don't know anything about them.

Swipe left for the next trending thread