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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Walking a bitch on heat?

23 replies

Tinkobell · 12/03/2019 08:47

Is it ever sensible to lead walk a bitch on heat? We are in week 3 - the smelliest most fertile week and have been tight lead walking in quieter areas before 8am. This morning I did have to lift up my girl as an intact suitor made advances, I pre emptively apologised and asked if the owner could lead his boy at which point he shouted "Stupid!" into my face! Am I stupid?! Vet said lead walk early. She's booked in for a spay in May. Advice was to allow one heat, then spay mid cycle. Bit shocked. Seems crackers to not walk at all for 3/4 weeks. Views appreciated thanks.

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 12/03/2019 09:11

I have a dog but have seen most people avoid walking their bitch at specific periods where I think they are most fertile and receptive to males. And then when they do walk them they walk at times and places where they are unlikely to meet off lead dogs.

I guess it's you that has to suffer the consequences of an unintentional mating so it's the risk you take if you walk as you said in 'the smelliest most fertile week'.

adaline · 12/03/2019 10:37

You do need to walk but you need to pick routes and times where you'll mostly avoid other dogs and owners. I do appreciate that's easier said than done though!

Unfortunately not all dog owners are sensible and will leash their dogs around others, so I think you need to pre-empt that .

SlothMama · 12/03/2019 10:41

My girl has just come out of season, I walked her on lead on the roads so I avoided where I knew where lots of dogs would be. And as we were on the road other dogs should be on their leads and I could cross the road to avoid a dog coming up to us. I also used bitch spray which I'm not sure it worked but we didn't have any males rushing up to us!

He was rude, if another owner asks you to place your dog on their lead you do it no questions asked.

BiteyShark · 12/03/2019 10:46

He was rude, if another owner asks you to place your dog on their lead you do it no questions asked.

But we have seen from threads on here that quite a few owners do not think they need to do that. Whilst it would be a much nicer place if everyone did and agreed to the same rules it just doesn't happen.

I don't think I would walk a bitch at the most fertile time in a field where dogs are off lead if it was me because I wouldn't want to risk it.

Original poster

Tinkobell · 12/03/2019 12:31

Thanks all. It was in woodland. We only have another week to go I think so that's a relief. I do have these glendarcy dog pants which are a bit comical but have been a godsend for spotting around the house. I could let her do her business and then wear those outside too.
I realise that an on heat girl is a nuisance to others, but I'm also perplexed as to why someone keeps their boy dog intact when they've no intention of breeding from him. Unless he's a mature intact rescue, which presumably it's not great to neuter beyond a certain age?

OP posts:

Original poster

Tinkobell · 12/03/2019 12:32

Most people we've come across have been very helpful, which is why I was surprised to be called "stupid"

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 12/03/2019 13:11

I realise that an on heat girl is a nuisance to others, but I'm also perplexed as to why someone keeps their boy dog intact when they've no intention of breeding from him.

My dog is neutered but we decided on balance that it was best for us. However, lots of people don't because there is some research showing certain breeds were more susceptible to issues with bone growth if done too early. Also a lot of vets, including mine, don't recommend it if there are behavioural issues such as fear aggression to dogs or humans as a lack of testosterone can increase this. Therefore I do think a lot more people are choosing not to castrate or to leave it until they are a couple of years old.

adaline · 12/03/2019 13:14

I realise that an on heat girl is a nuisance to others, but I'm also perplexed as to why someone keeps their boy dog intact when they've no intention of breeding from him

Because neutering too early has been shown to cause behavioural issues. Mine is 13 months and we have no plans to neuter him yet. I want him to be fully mature before we go down that route. Neutering does have health benefits but generally only after a certain age. Our vet recommended waiting until somewhere between 18-24 months. Mine will be about 20 months when he gets done.

MarleyMooChick · 12/03/2019 13:15

My pup just finished her first season a week ago. Like SlothMama I did lead walking on the roads twice a day for three weeks, and crossed the road if saw another dog walker. Completely avoided parks/fields/woods, basically anywhere I might encounter a dog off lead. It was tough going but avoided any problems.

DownAndUnder · 12/03/2019 13:53

I do on lead pavement walks and steer clear anywhere dogs are likely to be offlead so woodland would be a no go. Even the best behaved dogs with excellent recall will develop selective hearing if there’s a bitch in season. He was rude but it is a bit stupid tbh.

llangennith · 12/03/2019 14:01

Mine has to make do with the garden when she's in season. No walks I'm afraid.

kamillaw · 12/03/2019 14:01

My girl has also just finished her first season. Walked her no problems but on a lead poor girl!! Took her off slightly too soon (first dog). She is going to be booked in for a spay in May. I called out to other owners and none had too much issue with it.

SlothMama · 12/03/2019 15:00

OP just a heads up a season doesn't always last 3-4 weeks, I have heard of some bitches first season lasting as long as 6 weeks!

Original poster

Tinkobell · 12/03/2019 18:53

@SlothMama 😩...don't say that! She's still gorgeous or course but it's just kind of hassley all in all. I think we will do Road walks for the next phase and avoid the Woods altogether for a while. Anyone know from experience how common false pregnancy is? Vet says spaying can't be done if this happens as apparently if bitches are spayed during a false pregnancy.....that's how they remain for a very long time

OP posts:

LadyLuna16 · 13/03/2019 22:15

How do you know when they are out of season? My girl is in her first. started Friday 1st March, blood for less than a week, we are now 12 days in. Nipples still raised, but no discharge any more. When are we free to go out again? I figured 3 weeks, but how will I know if that's enough?
Thanks

SilviaSalmon · 13/03/2019 22:22

I’m in the same boat. My pup is on day 20, no blood but still other obvious signs. Feels like it’s been going on for ever. However I thought 7-14 days was the most fertile period?

I’ve been letting mine have some off lead walks but we are very rural and seldom see another dog.

Man was clearly an idiot. Ignore.

SlothMama · 14/03/2019 09:42

It's hard to say without testing properly at the vets! Some dogs are fertile right at the end of their heat whilst others are in the middle of theirs. I was told by my breeder that male dogs are the best indicator of when heat is ending but I only have her so it's been difficult to tell.

kamillaw · 14/03/2019 12:40

That's interesting @slothmama we still have male attention nearly two weeks after bleeding has stopped nipples still raised but my understanding is they stay like that now? Her lady garden has returned to normal size.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 14/03/2019 12:48

My pup finished her first season in January.

I did lead walk her during her season-only places where other dogs also had to be on lead but we are easily a month and a half past the end and she still attracts attention from intact males.

My vet said to wait 3 months after for the hormones to subside before spaying.

I think you're meant to wait until all swelling goes down to think it is over.
I also had her groomed and washed all her bedding and jumpers etc when she was done as the scent can be carried around.

I can not wait to get her spayed!!

Original poster

Tinkobell · 14/03/2019 13:09

I think the vulva kind of goes back inside again to virtually nothing. I keep having a peek and we're unfortunately still in baboon territory. She seems very happy in herself though other than profusive licking but the spotting thankfully has now ended.

OP posts:

crosstalk · 14/03/2019 14:01

Had one unspayed bitch 20 years ago - entire males would flock round our rural fence and we had to take great care with vv early walks and vv late ones, otherwise garden only. Now have a second unspayed bitch - males not lining up .. is it more people castrating male dogs now?

Sympathies OP and what an unpleasant man. He doesn't have to worry about the consequences as you and your bitch would do ... but he was probably concerned and defensive especially if he couldn't control his dog and found dog was impervious to instruction.

Original poster

Tinkobell · 14/03/2019 17:46

@crosstalk.....thanks we didn't have major problems first couple of weeks during bleed stage, but it's the last week that been most problematic and she has deaf ears too. Even in the garden I dare not leave her unwatched as I've noticed she goes up to the fence on hind legs and looks over. We're also getting male foxes coming right up to the house window and looking in which is spooky. I cannot wait til this is over for everyone's sake.....be nice to see her playing around with other dogs again, they get lonely!

OP posts:

missbattenburg · 15/03/2019 06:37

tinkobell I have a friend who once caught her in season bitch backing up to push her bottom through a gap in the garden fence! Needless to say she was on lead in the garden after that

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