Walking bitch during her first season- what is the etiquette?

[opalescent]

Just want to get prepared really, as it could happen anytime soon. How should I manage walking my dog once her season begins? So as to cause minimal issues for her and other dogs.

Any tips?

She's a WCS, so not walking her at all is not an option.

I have a springer spaniel - we didn’t do any big walks. We tried to walk her on the lead early mornings/late evenings….we had a few dogs at gates/behind closed doors woofing etc felt cruel to do that to the boys so we just stayed home - we knew she was to be done after the first heat so a few days at home with some brain games she was fine!

Someone else might have a better solution!

Thanks @Change123today, how long did her season last?

Hire safe spaces.
On lead walks away from off lead dogs.

When my dog was in season we tried to do street walks in quiet places.

There are a few male studs locally and rather a lot of intact males so I stayed away from the usual dog walking areas and anywhere where dogs were off lead.

There are always big debates over who's responsibility it is-the male dog owners to control or the in season dog to stay away.

Male dogs can absolutely lose control when they get the scent and for me the most important thing was to keep my girl safe.

Bear in mind that the scent doesn't stop when her season does and although the pregnancy risk does go mine still attracted a lot of unwanted male attention-she is a smaller dog and it can be quite intimidating.

Better safe than sorry was my strategy!!

Good luck

@opalescent I think it was about 8 days we kept her in (I reckon it was 12 days in all) We did for a few days after take her to the common for off lead walks as we knew not many people took there dogs there towards the end!

We used national trust properties where dogs are on lead. During quiet times when very few people around. Also hired a field a couple of times

Three weeks. Wash bedding and bits when over to help reduce smell. Watch for phantom pregnancy afterwards. And of course always careful re pyometra.

On lead walks quiet times, well away from other dogs.

You'll probably find she doesn't need as much exercise as usual as she will be quite clingy and sore.

Lots of scent work and brain games/training at home.

Be aware once bleeding has stopped around day 9 your bitch will be fertile for around 9 days after. Day 14 is usually the most fertile day but dogs will be attracted from day 1. Obviously cycles vary for each bitch just as our cycles do but usually 9 days from the end of the bleeding until you are safe

I've always walked mine when in season in quiet places, and only off-lead if I can see all around me (and then usually with a long-line trailing). But I live reasonably rurally, know a lot of the local dogs, and have permission to use some land away from footpaths.

I have working line gundogs and their exercise needs do not seem to diminish at all during their seasons, which last about 18 -19 days.

We did on lead walks only, and not near parks/fields/popular dig walking spots. We stuck to streets mainly, but industrial estates, shopping centre carparks and also cemeteries (most are on-lead only) provided a change of scene. We also hired secure fields.

We did this for four weeks for her first, longer for her second.

We actually had a dog escape from a house and chase her. She was terrified so mindgames and training in the house was a much better option!

We stay on a longline on our own land, not out the house off a line, the season seems to be problematic for 3-4 weeks.

Expect any live or recently dead male within 5 miles to try and chew its own leg off to get at her whatever it may take. Walk with a good stick even if you don’t normally.

The good news is after every season they seem to have matured a good bit.

We're in the middle of pup's first season right now. We've been doing on lead walks at night where we're unlikely to see anyone and if we do their dog's will most likely be on lead. We've also been doing plenty of training in the garden and games and we've hired a field a few times. We've managed to fit in an extra on lead walk at the weekend. Also she loves car rides, so we've been going out for coffee and a spot of bird watching.

Not really seen much difference in energy levels, feeling sorry for her this morning as I put a coat on as I was cold and she got very excited.

We haven't noticed any increased interest from dogs, we have a lot of people walking their dogs past our house, and I've not noticed any pay any attention.

Bird watching

We have been doing on-lead walks for our dogs first season, got chased part way down a road by a wee dog yesterday but I can’t work out if it was after her or just not very well controlled (suspect the latter)
We haven’t noticed much dog interest and live in a popular dog walking area - maybe just lucky so far!
For those that have been through this before - how long does it last and how do you know a season is over? We are on day 10…(Labrador rather than WCS)

We're on day 13 @Doboopedoo - also a lab. Her sisters were around 3 weeks with their seasons.

The end is hopefully in sight then!

I think she has stopped bleeding now (wish I'd got lighter covers/blankets as it's not easy to tell as she's been fairly clean) and she started flagging yesterday (holding her tail to one side when you give rubs/scratches) so I think we're on the home stretch. We'll probably err on the side of caution though and stick to quiet places for week 4

@tizwozliz watch if she’s signalling with her tail. It means she’s ready! The tissue test is always a way to tell if they’re bleeding. Wipe with a white tissue.

Yes, we're being extra vigilant - no unsupervised time in the garden, we have 6 foot fencing but just in case there's a particularly determined suitor, or she decides to go find a boyfriend!

Pavement walks only and if you see another dog coming cross the road away from them and give them plenty of space. If you do get approached by a make dog hold your bitch close to you and cup your hand over her vulva until the dogs owner can get to you.

Walk as normal, twice a day, 35mns each, but in lead unless evenings in the country where we know we don't run into anyone and keeping a close eye and ear just in case.

I it had one dog of the lead that went berserk and was by her side quicker than I could blink. Thankfully, she is only 5 kilos so I picked her up in .y arms just in time.