Im a dog walker and today i went to pick up a new dog only to find the female was clearly in season because  as i stood speaking to the elderly owner her unneutered boy was randomely hopping on and humping the girl.I obviously couldnt walk the girl but i asked the owner if she was actually planning to have pups and she said no.I then said shouldnt you have the dogs in seperate rooms then and she said oh no he only humps for a few seconds thens stops and i never leave them alone for it to go any further.I am horrified because surely there must be some risk of the bitch becoming pregnant.I have always been under the impression its safest to keep them totally apart.I took the boy out for a walk then as soon as i got back he hopped straight back on,i would like to show her some proof that she is taking a huge risk because she is not in the position to raise a litter.

the female was clearly in season because  as i stood speaking to the elderly owner her unneutered boy was randomely hopping on and humping the girl

Not being funny or anything but the above doesn't say anything about the bitch definitely being in season -any male dog can hump any female dog at any time, whether she's in season or not. But yes, when the day and time is right, it may only take a second or two for the pair to tie (especially if they have practised!) and then it's too late to do something about it -can't separate them then.

Bitch is definately in season which is why i couldnt walk her.I did tell her a tie could occur fairly quickly but what he seemed to be doing was humping then hopping off and im sure i read that they can become pregnant without the tie,thats what i was trying to explain to her and but she just dismissed what i was saying to her.

I think you need to warn her regardless that if they tie theres not much she can do about it and by the sounds of it, it probably will happen!

are they the same breed etc as this could also cause complications? could you not advise her to get the bitch speyed, if she needs help financially there maybe places like pdsa I think it is who could help.

don't forget a tie is not essential for puppies to ensue!

they are the same breed and she definately doesnt need help financially and as far as im aware does not intend to brred,they are just pets so i am baffled as to why they are not neutered.She says she doesnt leave them alone ever when the girl is in season and that the boy goes no further than mounting her and humping for a few seconds but i want to show her this post just to make her aware that you dont always need a tie to produce pups because she certainly is in no position to raise a litter.

Hi kenzi, not to add to your concerns, but might the owner later blame you if her bitch becomes pregnant? E.g. "I'm always with her and it's never happened before--this new dog walker hasn't been careful enough and has allowed her to be mounted by a dog while out walking"--I think in your position I'd be walking away from this job.

JAY15 youve took the words out my mouth so to speak!!

Have you explained that (a) you don't need a tie (b) it only takes a few seconds of humping to achieve either a tie or a slip mating and (c) if they do tie, she can't do anything to pull them apart?! I would be saying fairly strongly that she MUST either keep them in separate rooms or neuter one of them.

I went to look at a lovely litter of NINE puppies recently that were the result of a mating without a tie :)

Oh my goodness i hadnt thought of that but so far i have only walked the boy and have never been on my own with them both which is a huge relief.At one point when the boy was humping the girl i pulled him off and said no and his owner said oh leave him he never stays on for more than a few seconds!! I think i might say i cant walk either until season well and truly over just incase!

Some older people believe that they dont need to neuter their dog. I wouldnt keep onto her at the moment about them mating because she maybe one of these people who knows everything and tries to prove a point by leaving them together over night or something. I wouldnt walk either until at least 1 week after her season jsut to be safe yu dont get the blame.

Maybe it might then be a good idea once the seasons over with to sit down and explain the benefits of getting her girl especailly neutered! At least if shes done there should be no accidental litters. Then you can nag about the male! Id tell her all about pyo and other nasty infections and also types of cancers dogs can get in there reproduction track

Its not just her having pups id worry about but what if the bitch turned and attacked him when in an actual tie?? She might be a complete softie but it only takes a second for either him or her to turn and what if they did tie and she tried to pull away or sit down when fed- up? The damage to the male or bitch could be extensive, that's why many people do assisted matings and never leave dogs and bitches together on their own when in heat.

I agree totally I would never leave my unspayed bitches around a male whilst in season nor would I leave they tie alone but thers nothing you can do if shes not going to co-operate just now! I honestly would try to forget about it and as soon as the season over talk to her. She sounds not meaning to be offensive but as if she knows everything about anything!

I would go on the internet and print off as much info as I can on cancer, pyo and a few other things on the bitch! then if you can persuade her to spay her 3/4 of the battle is done, becasue there much less risk to the 2 dogs if theres no seasons.

If shes still adamant she wont spay her dog, maybe ask her to use the contseptive injection, it is a greater risk than spaying yes, but it still limits the risk between the dog and bitch fighting/tying!

> Then you can nag about the male!

No need to neuter the male if the bitch has been d9en, and with the level of ignorance being exhibited by the owner it's definitely the girl that needs doing.

If she doesnt intend to breed I would encourage her to neuter the male, if he smells another bitch in season he might try to get to her, and could end up in a accident because of carlessness, not trying to sound mean but shes obviously carless when it comes to seasons and she may open the door and he goes from being a good little dog waiting to a maniac darting down the road to the female esspecailly if he does not manage to mate hell just be more determined the next time (hopfully he wont mate at all though!), Im not sayng her animals are neglected but she clearly does not see the dangers/concequences of her actions!

Just thought id add an update on this subject.I went back to walking both dogs as normal once the season was over but the last few days the dog has started going crazy for the bitch again trying to mount her and crying to get to her.She snaps at him and wont let him near her but can anyone explain what this is all about?She was definately in season a few weeks ago and has been finished for some time now.Both of them have been fine until now.

Has the vet checked her for an infection?

could also be her anal glands my boy was going mad to mate a spayed bitch and it turned out her glands were full and she had to have them popped x