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.

No she wasn't, the only person in the wrong was the op. You don't walk a female dog in season. A male dog will attempt to get to the female obviously.
Any one who walks a female in season is not clued up on dog behaviour.
Also if her dog was on a lead, it wasn't out of control.

I walk my dog in season

she clearly can’t control her dog

My dog cannot be spayed. She had a botched spay when she was first rescued, and now she has ovarian remnant syndrome. Both her regular vet and the second opinion vet I consulted refused to attempt a respay because of the risk to her (internal scarring, very small remaining ovary segment, etc).

We don't have a garden, so I can't realistically keep her indoors for 3 weeks every eight months or so. I compromise by giving her longer walks very early in the morning and quite late at night (5am, 11pm). During the day and evening, when other dogs are more likely to be around, we just go in and out so she can wee. And in all instances, I carry a spray bottle with me. I haven't had to use it yet, but it's a humane way to discourage suitors if need be.

Wow. Some horrid responses. I have unspayed bitches (for health reasons). We walk round roads. We also use safe spaces. I also have giants. If the owner can’t hold it on a lead they need a halti or similar. I use dogmatic.

Two issues going on.

I wouldn't walk a bitch in season in daytime. I'd either go late on at night, or as PPs said, use a secure exclusive-use field.

But she needs to have better control over her dog. If it wasn't your dog, it could been been a squirrel or a cat her dog wanted to get to. Being dragged across the road is crazily dangerous.

But if the options locally are busy area with dogs or no walks, you should pick no walks. Not everyone is able to get early or get to locations where they're unlikely to see other dogs.

If they do have to miss walks, yes, you're right that the dog might be a bit stressed and hyper for a while, but that's far better than an unwanted pregnancy and all the potential risks associated with that.

There are health issues for bitches that are spayed!

There really isn't. Apart from breeding, there really is not a good reason. In fact, neutering is much better for their health and temperament. Any vet will tell you this. It is you that knows nothing about dogs.

That is very, very rare. Generally spaying is much healthier for bitches (and males). The health issues for intact bitches is much higher.

Loads of evidence to say it's not good to spay your dog. Perhaps you could research it?

That is absolute rubbish, and old wives tales. Evidence shows spaying and neutering is the better for the dog.

@Salamamca - as you cannot spay your dog, I think you need to stop taking her for walks when she is on season - unless you can 100% guarantee that you won’t meet another dog. The risks are too high, imo - risks to your dog, to you and to other dog owners (if there had been a car coming this time, the lady and her dog could have been injured or killed).

You could look for the enclosed dog play fields that you can hire for an hour, to give your dog a good run, in safety, once or twice a week during her season.

There really isn't. Apart from breeding, there really is not a good reason. In fact, neutering is much better for their health and temperament. Any vet will tell you this. It is you that knows nothing about dogs.

Any vet who tells you that is way behind modern research and needs to work on their CPD.

It's now pretty well established that neutering can actually make some behaviours such as fear aggression worse.

There is also increasing evidence that neutering encourages the development of joint disease and neoplasia (development of tumours both benign and malignant). The risks are greater in some breeds than others.

Obesity is a well known downside and obviously that comes with health risks of its own.

Neutering is a nuanced decision that is individual to each dog and their circumstances.

Not everyone is able to get early

Anyone can get up early for three weeks.

Read this @CatsandFish , saves me having to write the same thing.

As I say, things have changed.

Thanks for the advice regarding the question I asked in the OP.

I do hire a dog field once a week but will be more careful about the walks inbetween going forward.

I will NOT be spaying my dog and will not discuss this matter any further. It wasn’t something I asked advice on.

Well said OP 👏

I do as you propose, once a week field and early/late walks.

I too will not be pushed into a decision to spay by outdated information and views.

Nonsense 😂I work with dogs and have qualifications in dog behaviour and care, by the way.

You're correct that neutering can impact temperament, but not always in a positive way. In fact, if your dog is nervous or reactive, the very last thing you should do is neuter them, as removing the testosterone from their system just makes them even more nervous and prone to reactivity.

Also, while neutering reduces the risk of prostate and testicular cancer, early neutering in particular can cause increased risk of osteosarcoma and joint development issues, particularly in males. In females, early neutering can lead to urinary incontinence. In both male and female dogs, early neutering can cause issues with maturity.

Many vets nowadays will not recommend neutering, at least not before the dog is fully grown, and many will say that there's no reason to neuter a male dog unless they are displaying unwanted sexual behaviours - but even then, neutering is no guarantee that those behaviours will stop. Many neutered dogs will still hump, mark etc.

You are lucky he didn't mount her, you wouldn't have been able to separate them. You can't chance your dog's safety on other prior being able to hold back their dogs.

Not necessarily.

Some people have childcare responsibilities (single parents, for example), or caring responsibilities. Others work shifts that mean the only time they can walk their dog is before/after work, which isn't necessarily early in the morning or late at night.

There is not enough valid studies to show negative affects. On the contrary, studies show health-related benefits of spaying and neutering include prevention of mammary tumours and pyometra in bitches and testicular and prostatic disease in male dogs.

So you will let your dog go through stress and haemorrhage twice a year, just because you are stubborn. Good one. That dog is suffering.

Who knew there were so many vets on MN who absolutely know the health and specific conditions of this dog enough to override the vets advice on spaying.
The dog could have been too young to be spayed but everyone’s automatic response is that the OP must be looking to breed.

MN be crazy sometimes.

OP, YANBU, why people have dogs they cannot physically control is beyond me.

So you will let your dog go through stress and haemorrhage twice a year, just because you are stubborn. Good one. That dog is suffering.

At least this statement isn't dramatic, incorrect and ridiculous! 🙄