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.

Most domestic male dogs (intact or neutered) are not trained to ignore a bitch in season. It is a difficult thing to achieve for even experienced trainers, which is why bitches in season need to be kept away from dogs for the bitches safety.

Of course you can say it is the dog owners "fault", but these are animals and can be unpredictable when such a strong natural instincts kick in.

The reason does not add up. She's lying or the vet is lying. If the dog is pronne to haemhorraging, EVEN MORE REASON the vet would demand she be spayed asap
What a stupid thing to say. The risk about hemorrhaging is losing A LOT of blood in a short time, no standard bleeding over days. Surgery does put you at risk of the former, the latter doesn't.

I walked my bitch when she was in season. No way would she have coped without. She is a small dog though so easy to pick up. It's true that it all happens fast. I had that experience when she was in the lead and a dog off (in an area where dogs are expected to be on the lead) suddenly appeared before I could say 'amen' but I just picked her up and that was that. She was done after her 2nd season.

I do find it worrying that a person would walk a dog they couldn't physically control. A big dog running over a road (for whatever reason) could kill them, the owner and potential driver or rider.

So how much could puppies hurt a dog prone to hemorrhage then?

Better a spay in a controlled environment than an unwanted pregnancy?

I have a male dog that gets v wound up by a bitch in season however I think it's unreasonable to have to keep a bitch in season in and not walked 🤷‍♀️

I got my dog neutered which has helped a lot, why is it only the female dogs that should be neutered - it works both ways!!

The risk about hemorrhaging is losing A LOT of blood in a short time, no standard bleeding over days. Surgery does put you at risk of the former, the latter doesn't.

Now that is the most illogical and stupid thing I've read since the OP's 'reason' she can't get the dog spayed. You can haemorrhage over a long period of time OR a short period of time. And if the dog has a disorder making it more likely to haemorrhage, then any bleeding is a risk, especially bleeding every 6 months is putting the dog at risk. Logic 101 that a 4 year old can work out. This is basic logic, not rocket science.

All dogs should be neutered no matter the sex. Neutering also is better for the temperament, as well as health. There is absolutely no logical reason not to do it (unless you're a registered breeder), just irresponsibility and laziness. I sure appreciate not having to clean blood and having happier, laid back dogs.

All dogs should be neutered no matter the sex. Neutering also is better for the temperament, as well as health. There is absolutely no logical reason not to do it (unless you're a registered breeder), just irresponsibility and laziness. I sure appreciate not having to clean blood and having happier, laid back dogs.

There are arguments for not neutering male dogs. My DB has a lab and they are prone to obesity if neutered. DB’s lab at 8 years old is still slim, fit and active.

We take ours out when she’s in season. We put her in the car and take her on a walk where we never meet anyone. We keep her onlead too. She finds the whole thing hugely stressful without destroying her routine.

Thankfully she’s got just one more season when she’ll be mated then she’ll be spayed after she’s whelped.

Surely it’s no more unreasonable to walk a female dog in season than an un-neutered male dog at any time of year?

Nobody should have a dog they can’t control. If that woman can’t control her dog when he smells a bitch in season she should have him neutered. If she still can’t control him she shouldn’t have gotten such a big dog. If you can’t control your dog how can it be safe to walk around children? You never know when a dog could snap.

My DB has a lab and they are prone to obesity if neutered.

Only if they are over fed by owners. They need to eat less when neutered, but most labs cant open the fridge by themselves!

Neutering also is better for the temperament

Not always. It can have a negative impact on nervous or reactive dogs severly impacting their quality of life.

You can't not walk a dog that's in season, very unfair to the dog. People should not buy dogs that they can't control. You are walking her on lead in places where you are unlikely to encounter other dogs on lead, I think you've been considerate.

All dogs should be neutered

And they'd be extinct in 15 years.

Dogs only become obese if they eat too much. Neutering defo makes them gain weight, but with regular exercise and controlled diet, they won’t get fat.

I have a choccie lab, and they are the greediest and most food driven of them all, but he will be neutered when he’s old enough and we will just have to watch his weight.

Of course you can walk your dog. People shouldn't own dogs that are too strong for them. If others can't control their dogs that's on them, not you.

That is a silly comment to make! Shelters are overloaded with unwanted dogs and cats, so much so that most are euthanased. We'll never run out of dogs, or cats, at the rate they are out of control breeding and being dumped.

No one should be walking a dog they can't control.

It is entirely up to the owners of the male dogs to be in control of their own animals, especially if the male is un-neutered as would appear to be the case. My male is also un-neutered as we decided that on balance it was better for him not to be. He is always under complete control and I am strong enough to hold him should he see something irresistible - usually deer or squirrels!

I have walked my own in-season girl. We chose quiet places at quiet times of day and she is not let off lead.

OP you should get advice from another vet. The advice you have been given is shit.

In the meantime, limit dog walks to very early/late and keep it short, avoiding places other dogs might be. It must be quite scary for your dog to be in this position.

you both were bu for not having your dogs castrated and the other dog owner in addition for not being physically able to control hers.

This would be me.

What is frequently over looked is that an in season female is as motivated to find a mate as an un-neutered male is to oblige and has to be kept under very close control and can go just as loopy.

My male is currently on contraceptive implants which help considerably but doesn't help with the flirting behaviour from her.

Dogs won't die if they skip walks for a few weeks, but they could die if they are unexpectedly mated by a random dog.

All dogs should be neutered no matter the sex. Neutering also is better for the temperament, as well as health. There is absolutely no logical reason not to do it (unless you're a registered breeder), just irresponsibility and laziness.

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without telling me you know nothing about dogs.

There's so many good reasons not to neuter male dogs.

We have always continued to walk our dogs when in season. We keep away from crowded places such as parks where there is more chance of a off lead dog approaching. Usually stick to roads etc. Never had a problem.

Not true at all. Our elderly female dog is not spayed due to health reasons(never been bred either). We have also seen many vets due to her health conditions and moving areas and every single one advised against it!

Dogs won't die if they skip walks for a few weeks,

They won’t die but they do get very stressed if they’re used to a daily walk. It’s not difficult to walk a dog in a place and at a time of day when they’re unlikely to meet other dogs.

The other woman was in the wrong for having a dog she couldn't control. Dangerous and stupid. If you are not strong enough to restrain your dog it is too big for you and you should've got a smaller one. Unfortunately irresponsible people feel entitled to huge dogs they are not capable of walking safely.