Dogs in heat -walks?

[tay6]

I’ve got a female retriever who is not spayed. (Still debating whether get it done or not)

Since I had her I made a few acquaintances during our walks and I hear all sorts of different opinions about dogs in heat and what they should or shouldn’t do.

I’ve heated that some folks don’t walk the dogs at all during that period

Another person who has a similar age/built dog in-spayed walks her dog in busy parks and says that it’s up to the male owners to keep their dogs in control

I also know another person with a boy lab who says that bitches in heat ruin their walks and make her dog (still intact) go crazy

I do walk my dog, on the lead, trying to stay out of everyone’s way as much as possible. Being very careful for a good 3 weeks. I can’t imagine not to walk my dog who normally has a 1 1/2 -2hrs a day but I wouldn’t want to cause trouble with other dogs I stay out of the way.

It does make me wonder though, bitches go into heat twice a year, intact male dogs are in constant danger of bumping into an in heat dog.

I think it’s a little bit like contraception with people, it has to be everyone’s responsibility and if they choose not to spay/castrate their dog then have to deal with consequences and be careful of certain situations. There are so many folks though who think that they are right about walking in heat females in busy parks or that everyone should tiptoe around their intact males.

Can you share your opinions? Just out of interest…

It really doesn’t mean to be a drip feed… I didn’t start this thread specifically about my dog.
I am fully aware that she is not spayed and doing my utmost to protect her, and other dogs, while she is in season.

This meant to be more of a general thread, but unfortunately some posters didn’t get this and started narrowing it down to my situation.

She is not spayed yet based on the vet’s recommendation. I m also feeling very sensitive about it for some reason, so haven’t been making it top priority but I know that she will have to have it done which is what’s best for her health. Saying that a friend of mine lost their 2 yo dog as the spaying surgery went wrong. 😞 so that scares me… but again I think it’s best to get it done.

Yes, definitely better to do it - healthier for the dog(s), healthier for the owner(s) not having to be on guard against males trying to mate every time they're out. It's awful to lose pets after spaying, but it is rare, iirc.

It's inevitable that mentioning one's own situation (on any subject) will take the responses from the general to the specific, or vice versa, because that's just what happens in these big boards, I think.

I've just had my girl spayed but when she was in heat (she's 2) I took her places where I knew dogs would be kept on the lead.
I believe if you choose not to get your dogs spayed or neutered then you should keep them on the lead in case they come across a dog in heat.

Walk on the streets not in parks. My neutered male can't resist females in heat!

IMHO - if the dog is in 'heat' then it should be on the lead. I owned an 'intact' Goldie - he could sniff out a female in heat from miles away. The problem was when you go in the woods for example off lead and come across a bitch off lead 'in heat' I would get responses like - I thought she was in heat but was not sure and your dogs has confirmed its the case! At the time I was showing the Goldie and they need to be 'intact'. The worst was at dog shows - where despite being in heat - they still decided to show the dogs!

At my dog training club it’s the rule that if you have an unspayed bitch you do not bring her training when she’s in season. It’s just not fair on the dogs.

It’s all very well to say that owners of unneutered dogs should keep them under control but if an accident happens it’s not them with a pregnant bitch to contend with.

Yikes - very brave walking a dog in heat - there always seems to be loads of dogs not on leads and not every owner can control their dogs.
If not breeding I would spay your pet as soon as possible.

I wouldn’t walk a bitch on heat in a park or another place where there would be off lead dogs, it’s bad luck on everyone. So much potential for feelings to run high on all sides.

She may want to be kept quieter than usual anyway but if you have something near you, rent a private dog field for exercise and keeping on top of training so she’s safe. Otherwise games in your garden if you have one.

Honestly this thread is just another reason (of many) why I'll never get a dog.

For me as a teenager when I had to look after our Labrador and she got mated with by another dog (I was watching my friend’s toddler at the time) I’d say no walking whilst on heat! She had to go to the vet afterwards for dog version of MAP. God knows why my parents didn’t have her spayed sooner as she was about 8 at the time.