In my local country parks I seem to be coming across more and more owners who are walking their bitches in season. They are under the impression that their bitch is safe if she is on the lead, without realising that there are many entire dogs around who are not on leads.

I had a terriefying experience when I was a young teenager and the family dog decided to mate with a bitch we met on a walk, he turned on me and became very very aggressive when I tried to intervene. I really don't want to experience that again or be responsible for an unplanned litter, so when I am walking entire dogs what should I do if I come across a bitch in season?

Is it irresponsible to walk bitches in season in such public areas? I drove miles into the hills to avoid this situation when Selma was in season.

Lots of Q's there, sorry!

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I have a male but to me thats very irresponsible. They should find some other way to exercise the bitch while shes in season rather than end up possibly with a litter of mutts or a dog fight

Will be interested to hear what people say. Our bitch has just started her first season, first noticed signs on sunday morning. Since then we've kept her to own house and garden, but she's getting bored and a bit wound up! Am I being over cautious? I assumed that everyone just kept their dogs under lock and key for 2 weeks!

I always went far into the countryside to walk my bitches.
It can cause so much havoc for entire dog owners

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I worry about dogs fighting amongst themselves too because the hormones have a strong effect on them.

Would you say anything to the bitches owners? I find myself just tutting and marching off which doesn't solve anything

__________________
Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

I'm sure the dogs of the area let you know

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http://www.save-me.org.uk/
.......... I HATE TWO FACED PEOPLE...ITS SO HARD TO KNOW WHICH FACE TO SLAP FIRST!

Unfortunately it can be a fair bit longer than 2 weeks! The "average" bitch will be ready to mate at around 13 days, obviously some earlier and some later, but one of my dogs mated (deliberately) a bitch on day 22. You will need to keep her away from entire dogs until her vulva is back to its normal size, usually nearer 4 weeks.

I have never confined any of my bitches just to my garden when they have been in season but I've always been fortunate enough to be able to put them in the car and find somewhere where there weren't any other lose dogs.

They should develop a dog version of Persona.