can I still take her out.  She's looking at me as if she's saying "please can we go out".

Many of us with bitches take them out when they're in season. But you only take her where you're as certain as you can be that you won't meet other dogs, so that means going to quiet places at quiet times. Don't let her off the lead, and ideally carry her from your house to the car then drive to a remote place to walk her, so that you're not leaving a treasure-trail of scent right to your door. :)

As someone who met another walker with an inseason bitch yesterday , in an area where everyone walks their dogs, please please if you take her out, take her somewhere where dogs are not normally walked.  I now have to take my entire dog (and another I walk) out in the car and walk them elsewhere, or keep him on the lead because this stupid person's lack of responsibility, I do not want to risk my dog running off, into the blueyonder or into the path of a car, just because of someone else's selfishness.  Sorry for the rant - you sound very sensible and caring otherwise you wouldn't be asking, but it's so frustrating - this happens such a lot where I live.

I agree wholeheartedly. 

As an owner of bitches the girls get lead walking around the streets when any of them is in season (experience has shown it isn't even worth taking the ones who aren't in season to any off lead walking areas as they will ahve the scent on them and get pestered).

If you are in an area with an active and efficient dog warden with no latchkey dogs yu shoudl be perfectly OK walking your girls on the streets as any dogs out shoudl be on leads.

I would not take my girls anywhere other dogs are entitled to be off lead, even at times when there is unlikely to be anyone about, as sure as eggs is eggs someoen will be there with a male when you least expect it, and it isn't worth the grief.

I must admit that I don't take my girls out whilst in season.  The back garden and a play is enough for them for 4 weeks.