I was surprised today when out walking my boy in the local park and I came across a lady with a dachshound on a lead. My boy was off lead , I asked whether the dog was friendly because it looked like they wanted to meet. She asked "has he been done" to which I replied no and he is only 5 months old. "Oh" she replied surprised, "she is on heat so she might upset him". I therefore called my dog away. Is it common place for owners to walk dogs in parks when they are on heat?

Personally I think as long as she was on a lead, and being a small dog (easily pickup-able) then that's ok. When Sky was in season (before she was speyed, which she is thankfully now) I used to have to walk her at night, when no-one else was about, but even then there were strays that needed fending off.
You cant keep an animal in for the whole time they're in season, as long as you're very very careful and responsible, and keep them on a lead, and warn others (as she did), then I would say that she was being responsible :)
Now if it was a St. Bernard or something, it might have been harder for her to pick it up....;)
Lisa
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I would have to disagree, because the dog being upset might be one that could knock the owner over. A normally well behaved male can become totally deaf to command when faced with a bitch in season, and it is most unfair to put their owners unexpectedly in such a position.

I live in a big city, and walk my in season bitches around the streets when in season. fortunately there are few strays due to a good dog warden.

If I see another dog on lead then I cross the street, but would never take them where they would be likely to encounter off lead dogs.

But surely it's up to the owners of the male to keep him under control. Mind you, I can see your point, there are too many irresponsible people with dogs to risk it. In an ideal world, they'd all be neutered, so this wouldn't be a problem ;)

I would never dream of taking my in season bitch out for a walk. Nothing to do with males being around, but due to the fact that she would be more likely to pick up an infection. But then I have a garden, so those who don't would probably have to take them out.

I would think the risks were the same, in garden or out? Well anyway, our lass is now speyed. I dont think she would have got enough exercise if limited to the garden though, with her being a lurcher. I suppose it would be ok for miniature or smallish dogs?
No expert anyway, if in doubt, whip it all out ;) *lol*
Lisa
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That is somewhat unfair as the owner of the bitch has information that the males owner cannot have. The urge to mate is strong so somone with a bicth in season walking where there are likely to be loose dogs cannot blame the males owner for the attention his bitch receives.

I am a bitch only owner, and have seen how hard it is on friends males when there is a bitch in season in the same home.

Why should all males be neutered just so that the bitch es owner can give her more freedom. If bitch owners aren't prepared to be more circumspect about walking the bitch, then surely it is up to them to spay her.

Also the canine species would soon die out if they were all neutered. Though of course this would please some of the Animal liberation devotees.

I am always happy to share the information with them, Brainless :D

My point was that the lady was being responsible by keeping her dog on a lead, and with it being a small dog, it would be easy to pick it up should an unneutered dog come along and pester. As I also said, personally when my girlie was in season, we couldn't do that, as there were too many strays about, and her being a lurcher, there were no means of escape. I think it depends on the person, the dog, and the male dog's owner.
I didn't mean it should be solely the responsibility of the male dog owner, as you said, it should be both.
I personally think it's impractical for a dog in season to be kept to the garden only, as many dogs do not get enough exercise this way. I also believe that for those not breeding from their pets, they should be neutered, and save the whole park a lot of bother ;)
I never said I wanted the dog population to die out. And I take minor offence at being labelled a member of the ALF :eek
I think most sensible owners will agree, to save problems like this, neuter your pet (if not breeding).
Or am I some stark raving looney and the only one who thinks that a lot of accidents could be prevented this way...

I am in agreement.

Same sort of thinking that is in the argument that only women should take responsibility for contraception :D

Daisy

I certainly didn't mean to infer that you are in sympathy with ALF, just wanted to point out that there is a hidden agenda behind the neuter everything that moves views. In the USA PETA are interested in companion animals being phased out of existence.

As a bitch owner myself, who doesn't drive, I still think it a bit unfair if I took my in season bitches to the local park to wind up all the amles. Not everyone can mange an amourous male, or not even be aware how they might react to an in season bitch being present. There is also the risk of fights breaking out among normally equable males.

I think it only right that I keep to the streets where all dogs should be on lead. Now if a loose dog then approaches, or some idiot is walking their dog off lead on a busy thoroughfare, then they will get the shap edge of my tongue, as I don't consider my garden suffiecient excersise for my bitches.

Lisa, surely both dog and bitch owners have equal responsibility to keep their own animals under control? I have had entire bitches and entire dogs, so I know the problems faced by both. My bitches got taken in the car to a quiet place to be walked (yes, offlead but under control if there were no other dogs around. An average garden provides adequate space for only the smallest of breeds, and is by no means safe (my M-i-L's bitch was discovered "in flagrante" in their well-fenced garden many years ago!).

Neither dog owner nor bitch owner has the right to put the blame on the other! Everyone shoulders the responsibility for their own animal.

And your ideal world with all dogs neutered would very soon be a dog-free world. Not my idea of 'ideal', I'm afraid. :(

That pretty much sums up how I feel about this too Jeangenie, I think also the law would probably take the view that dog owners cannot escape their responsibility to contol their dogs either, for instance if a dog ended up biting the bitches owner who was trying to fend him off I doubt the bitches condition would be seen as having a bearing on why the dog owner did not, or as is more often the case in my experience, could not control him I think he would be charged with having a dangerous dog. I believe that if people restrict themselves to having dogs that are of a size or number that they can cope with they would have no problem keeping them entire but if they are not able to do that then neutering is their best course of action.

If you read my post above, that explains what I meant.
As for the dog free world, that will never happen. Even if all the responsible non-breeding owners neutered their pets, there would still be pratts backyard breeding, and the good breeders (not a problem with me), and the irresponsible few that just thought they'd let their dog stray the streets unneutered and pray for the best ;)
I dont think wishing most pet (not breeding stock) dogs were neutered is bad. You only have to look through the shelters and free-ads to see that there are far too many unneutered and unwanted pets as it is.