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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to take my bitch for a walk round the park when she is in season

19 replies

Southwestwhippet · 16/04/2010 15:41

with her on a lead.

I walk my whippets round the park most days. My younger bitch is currently in season. She hasn't been spayed because I intend her to have a litter of responsibly bred puppies out of her within the next year or so.

My dogs usually are off the lead in the park (as are many other dogs). They are well mannered, gentle girls with good recall - for hounds at any rate! - and they do not bother adults or children.

Since being in season I have kept my younger bitch on a lead at all times. Several times unneutered dogs who are off the lead have approached us and, understandably, been very interested in my dog and refused to return to their owners until the owners come and physically get them. I have always been pleasant about this and explained that my dog is in season - more so the owner will understand why their dog is ignoring them than anything else.

The reaction have been rather negative, tutting and sighing etc, giving me to feel that it is viewed as somewhat anti-social to bring a bitch in season into a park. Is this the case?

My attitude is that my dog who is up for sex is secured on a lead... whilst their's is not. If you have an unneutured dog which you allow to run in a public place off a lead, surely you must expect him to behave that way if he meets a bitch in season?

I have no problem with the owners managing their dog the way they like, but AIBU to think that they should not be sighing and tutting at me for bringing my bitch into the park on a lead, just because she is in season? Or is there some unwritten rule of social nicety that a bitch in season should be kept at home?

OP posts:

CMOTdibbler · 16/04/2010 15:46

I thought that the norm was when your bitch was in season, they stayed home. Cos, it's not like she is just up for it, rather she is a big cloud of hormones going 'Boys, come and get it, here I am, you know you want it'. Which is rather different to an unneutered dog.

BitOfFun · 16/04/2010 15:47

I'd try Pets rather than AIBU for this but yes, I think the consensus is that you keep dogs in season at home.

Original poster

Southwestwhippet · 16/04/2010 15:48

Poor thing, she is going to have a miserable couple of weeks then.

OP posts:

mathanxiety · 16/04/2010 15:52

You should definitely keep her at home and indoors if you don't want a litter of mutts. I have seen dogs scale high walls to get at a bitch in season, and throngs of them appearing out of nowhere in parks (which I've also seen) can be very hard for the owner of the bitch to handle. You've already seen how the off-lead dogs wouldn't return to their owners -- they can't help themselves, and you would be powerless to fend off several bigger dogs if they got far enough away from their owners. It's only fair to your pet too.

Original poster

Southwestwhippet · 16/04/2010 15:56

Hmmmm, actually that is a really good point. I definately don't want a litter of x-breeds, in addition I have my baby in a sling so do not want to be fending off packs of amorous males.

I didn't know they could/would scale walls, what a horrible thought. We have a small back yard but I'll keep her out of it unless she's having a quick wee etc.

Thanks for the advice, I guess I hadn't really thought just how 'uncontrolable' the urge would be for a male dog.

OP posts:

MillyR · 16/04/2010 15:59

I think it is acceptable to walk a bitch in season out of doors on a lead.

I have two dogs - a male and a female, and they are neutered/spayed. I have in the past had an un-neutered dog and I would see it as my responsibility to retrieve my dog if it approached a bitch in season.

A bitch in season can be appealing to male dogs for a weeks before and after. It is not really fair to keep her indoors for all of that time.

mathanxiety · 16/04/2010 16:01

If you have a garden hose, keep it attached and ready to do some serious spraying while she's in the garden -- this will surprise an encroaching dog long enough to pick up your pet and take her in, if one gets over your fence or wall. They can smell a bitch in season from a long way off.

daisydotandgertie · 16/04/2010 16:05

YABVVVU to take a bitch in season out in a public place, especially when you know there will be other dogs about at the same time.

A pack of dogs is not easy to fend off from a fragrant bitch - and as the bitch will do tiny wees all the way there and all the way home, she has managed to lay a perfect, strong scent trail all the way to your door.

Dogs are unable to control themselves when they scent a bitch in season, and as such you cannot expect owners to have their normal control over them.

I'm afraid you are setting yourself up for a litter of mutts - and if it's your bitch's first season - a very dangerous litter at that.

AvrilHeytch · 16/04/2010 16:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

belgo · 16/04/2010 16:08

daisydotandgertie - I'm just reading this thread and have nothing to comment on the subject, but can I ask why her first litter would be a dangerous one?

Original poster

Southwestwhippet · 16/04/2010 16:25

belgo - a bitch shouldn't have a litter out of her first season, or even her second really, as she is too young.

However, my bitch is 3yrs so a safe age for a first litter. I do not intend it to be a littler of X-breeds from local park dogs though so will be taking steps to ensure she is kept safe for the next few weeks.

thanks everyone, I really didn't think IWBU intially but I can see the problems now.

OP posts:

belgo · 16/04/2010 16:43

ok thank you.

SoupDragon · 16/04/2010 16:47

A friend took hers to a quieter park, out of popular dog walking time.

Pikelit · 16/04/2010 16:52

I have an male dog and am currently suffering from a surfeit of in-season bitches being walked in a very popular area of town - which is not only a recreation area but also a riverside walk connecting various bits of town.

I have absolutely no problem putting my dog on a lead immediately we discover a bitch in season. I am not, however, prepared to keep him permanently on a lead just because people haven't worked out that their bitch might receive attention if walked in one of the most popular areas for dog walking and along public footways.

Glitterknickaz · 16/04/2010 16:56

I would say it is U to walk her in a park where there are other dogs off lead. With the best will in the world even the best trained dog would find recall practically impossible with a fragrant bitch hanging around.

Why not walk her on the lead around local streets where actually any reasonable dog owner will also have their dog on a lead?

She's going to get seriously hassled otherwise, and possibly pregnant.

Original poster

Southwestwhippet · 16/04/2010 17:01

pikelit I can see that this would be annoying for you if the owner of the bitch were irritated by your dog's attentions. I am not a fan of dogs being walked on leads all the time - they need the freedom to run. I have not been at all irritated by the attentions of other dogs, but I was intially a little put out by others being annoyed by me IYSWIM.

However, I think walking her at all in town is just going to put her at too much risk so I will try to take her up to the fields a couple of times a week where there are no other dogs around.

OP posts:

doggydaft · 16/04/2010 17:08

When one of mine is in season I walk in the middle of the night! As soon as its starting to get light I take them out as keeping in a labrador and a springer for weeks on end is just not an option! I do think it is VU to walk an in season dog in the park though.

Littlefish · 16/04/2010 17:36

Can I please ask what might be a really stupid question, but I've never owned a dog. How long is a bitch in season for, and how how many times during a year?

newpup · 16/04/2010 18:40

YABU I am afraid. As others have pointed out a bitch in season can be 'smelled out' by an unneutered male from a long way away. Do not underestimate how fast and far a dog will go to find the bitch smelling of sex!

Also once fixated on its target it would be extremely difficult to fend off, for example, a huge amorous rottweiller!! It is a bit of a risk. Also even neutered dogs can show interest in a bitch in heat and make trouble for their owners by running away or losing recall.

Your dog will also be spraying a nice scent trail back to your house so make sure your garden is safe!

It really is more responsible and safe to keep her in. If you absolutely can not do this then walk late in the evening on the roads on a lead but not in the park where she will meet off-leash dogs. It is only for a couple of weeks.

Good Luck.

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