There has been an explosion in dog ownership in the UK over the last three years, many being either first time owners- or having their first dog since childhood. I remember when bitches were spayed at 6 months, but now medical advice has changed- and thankfully most are following that advice and allowing their bitch to have one or two seasons to mature.
BUT over the last year I can’t be the only person who is getting a bit worried about how unprepared a lot of these owners are for having a bitch or looking after her whilst she is in season.
It seems to me that many breeders think that because it happens in an adolescent dog, it isn’t up to them to put advice in puppy packs or talk owners through what to expect.
Vets might give advice on the clinical aspect, but don’t go much further that that.
Trainers seem to stick to “just don’t bring them to class”
I see so many people on Facebook and forums asking for advice from “what are the signs”, to “how long do the last”, through to “can I walk her”, and “how do I keep her clean” . What is apparent to me is that so many of these owners are woefully underprepared, and they are also being given advice from all and sundry, many of whom aren’t professionals and have no experience beyond how they handled their own pets season.
This year in particular I’ve seen some absolutely baffling decisions. I came across one lady at dog fest, who bought her dog, and even well known calm dogs were getting huffy she just laughed and said oh don’t worry it’s her, she’s in season and has been causing lots of fights today.
Ive seen people bring their dogs to training sessions, and all sorts.
We live in the countryside and over bank holidays and nice days you can come across four or five in a walk, where they have arranged to do a dog walk and don’t want to change their plans. Or have been told to “go somewhere quiet” and they think we’ll known pub walks are classed as quiet.
I see advice being given like “drive your dog somewhere” or “cross the road before you go home” to stop dogs following you. Acknowledging that you are walking an attractive nuisance, and intent on looking after your bitch but with no care for the chaos you leave in your wake- if a dog is going to be lured to follow you home, crossing a road will only lure a bolting dog to run into traffic.
I see others saying keep your bitch on a lead, as if that is a form of contraception. Or others saying to carry a stick, to beat off the poor dog that you have lured over (and as if that isn’t going to put yourself in massive physical danger)
there are so many myths- people will say it’s owners of intact dogs that need to be responsible, handily forgetting that the smell of an in season dog can upset ALL dogs, not only those that are intact.
For me, I wish people would do research before getting a bitch as to what actually looking after one in season entails and decide if they are prepared to do it. I wish breeders and vets would give advice on how to look after the bitch, the signs to look for and what you should and shouldn’t do.