would you walk someone else's dog when they are in season?

[lovenotwar149]

Just wondered what ppl's thoughts are on this? A dog I walk/play with at my house is in season. I am a little anxious about waking her/having her over whist she is on heat. What do others say?

My bitch is in season. I have either hired a private field or walked her late evening in open spaces, so I can put her on lead if we see anyone else. I wouldn't walk her during the busier day time hours.

As for having her over still, it depends if you have other dogs or not. I wouldn't if I had an entire male, as I wouldn't want to take the risk. My bitch has been a bit grumpy and has snapped at my other one a couple of times, but that's more manageable.

Agree with @SpanielsGalore re. a private field and what times of day to walk. And on the personality changes the biches can experience when they go into heat.

I also think it's very different to walking your own bitch who is in heat - who you know like the back of your hand - to walking someone else's bitch in heat.

DSis has an unspayed Goldie and the one time I walked her when she was in heat, she reacted completely differently to her mother (who I own) and any other bitch I have owned. Honestly, I'd never do it again.

I'm a professional dog walker and only do short, pavement walks for in-season dogs. I would never let them off the lead and wouldn't walk them in popular areas either - it's basically just welfare breaks for me.

In terms of having them in the house - are you happy to clean up after her? Do you have male dogs over who could be wound up by the scent?

Personally I wouldn't mainly because my friend lost her male dog to an unspayed female he scaled a 6ft fence and chased her she got the dog in the car and drove off he tried following got completely lost we got him back eventually but it's always seemed to be the wrong thing to do especially when vets are advising you dont neuter male dogs until later in life now

Thank you very much for these replies, most helpful indeed. I have decided I will wait 3/4 wks until she is not on heat and walk her then. I hope the owners are ok with this. Thx again :)

tumblingdowntherabbithole

you make a good point re other dogs. I am a guide dog fosterer and whilst my GD will not be in the house if I were to walk this dog, b/c he will be in training, he will most certainly smell her scent when he returns. I would not have thought of this - thx

Also, why does an owner choose to not get their dog spayed?

Health. There is emerging research that neutering a dog of either sex can have detrimental effects on bone density, and some other aspects.

I don't believe there is anything conclusive though.

I see

It's usually inadvisable to spay before the first season (or rather is considered inadvisable now).

Depending on what evidence you read, spaying can also increase risk of certain cancers, urinary incontinence and also behavioural changes. Some people also just simply don't want to put their dog through what they consider to be an 'optional' surgery.

It very much depends on your personal circumstances as to whether it's the right decision.

Yes thats interesting. Whilst I am very involved with looking after dogs atm in my life, I am not and have not been a dog owner. I dont know which way I would slant tbh re neutering/spaying, really dont

My bitch isn't spayed as the vets advised against it at the time of her last season. She will hopefully be spayed after this one.

I walk a dog with multiple health issues and being spayed could prove to be too "much" for her body. She's going on some kind of doggy implant to prevent her coming into season now she's fully grown.

I walk my dog when she is in heat, but she doesn’t seem to attract much interest and I wouldn’t let her off lead.