Puppy's first season - can I walk her or not?

[moonlunar]

My puppy is having her one and only season as per our vet's advice. She'll be spayed in a few months. I've never had a female dog before and when I've researched about walking dogs when they're in heat there is such differing advice, and a lot of anger directed towards the owner of female dogs who do choose to walk them. I wanted to know what the general consensus is? Obviously being off-lead and going to dog parks is a stupid idea, but what about on-lead pavement walks around the block?

If it was just a week that's one thing, but 3-4 weeks of no walks is a long time.

Please be kind

Mine had two seasons before being spayed, and that was my own choice, I didn’t ask the vet.
Mine was walked on lead at quiet times, twice a day, as usual.

All the in tact dogs get to strut their stuff willy nilly (!) and the poor girls have to stay in and not enjoy a walk

twas ever thus

Agree @GlassofRosePorfavor

Expecting a female dog to be confined, deprived of proper exercise and have her life restricted simply because male dogs (or their owners) might be inconvenienced is unfair.

The natural behaviour of male dogs (noticing a bitch in heat) does not justify harming the female dog’s wellbeing or restricting her freedom.

And it is restriction. If you usually walk your dog but then don't... then that is by definition restriction.

I’m a puppy raiser for guide dogs so I’ve had numerous bitches that I’ve lead walked in season, as well as my own dog. Not once have we been subjected to any unwanted attention. I know loads of other PRs who lead walk theirs at quiet times with good visibility and none of them have had any bother either.

Or secure dog walking field?

That is true, we certainly wouldn't go down to the nature reserve or the local reservoirs during the receptive phase of the season. But it's just common sense that you exercise caution at that time.

It isn't fair to confine them if they're used to long walks. With a bigger garden - as my parents had, then yes, you can miss an odd day or two, as we do in very hot weather. But not three weeks, not even the week or so of the most receptive period. It's just not realistic to think that garden play or training sessions is enough exercise and stimulus for a bitch that is used to lead walking for miles. To them, running around a garden is meaningless.

I should also point out that being a multi dog household, I've had 4 intact males in my lifetime and none of them ever went crazy for an in-season bitch out on a walk. But if they had, it would be up to me to control them. They were my responsibility. So I seem to be in agreement with @OnlyHerefortheBiscuits . I think I've been through 50 plus heat cycles with our 4 bitches over the years and not encountered any problems yet but if I ever do it is up to me to deal with it.

Our current girl will be walked - cautiously - right through her season, which started a couple of days ago. We were on the big field in the village last night at 8pm, a few dogs were running around loose, she was on her 7 foot lead and we had no issues at all. They really do not need to be confined.

@CoubousAndTourmaIet My dog isn't used to lead walking for miles. She is used to running for miles off lead in the woods. I am perfectly capable of providing her with enough exercise and stimulation, whilst restricting her life for three weeks.

My car is in for repair soon, so they'll all have restricted walks for a week. That's life. It may not be fair, but they're not going to suffer for it.

We walked our girl very early in the morning and very late at night for the whole of her seasons.
The most fertile time is after she stops bleeding, so you could find a male suitor at your gate...

Thank you, everyone. I've been taking her out on pavement walks and other dogs haven't seemed to reacted much to her (I cross the road anyhow). I also booked a local enclosed field for her to run around in today which she really enjoyed :)