Question/survey on intact dogs

 As the owner of an intact female, I consider it my responsibility to keep her safe from intact males while she is in heat. If she is off our property when she is in season, it is with dogs I know, handlers I trust and people who know she is intact and in season. She would never be in public in season, or off leash (except in our backyard) in season -- that's as good as asking her to be bred in my opinion. When she is in our yard and in season she is loose but on a long line and always has DH or me with her.

Basically, when she is in season, I assume that some strange, intact dog is going to come out of nowhere and bred her all the time.

 ETA: typo fixed!
 

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

Basically, when she is in season, I assume that some strange, intact dog is going to come out of nowhere and bred here all the time.

See, I think that's how I'd be too and it surprises me when people allow their females off-lead during that time, it made me wonder if I was missing something.  Should a loose, intact male come along, it could mount and tie in the time it takes for one owner to ask the other if the male has been fixed or not.   Although I've never seen it happen, I could imagine that if the owner of the male said "no he's intact" when that happened, there'd be a big row over who's fault it was.

I think it's the female's owner's responsibility to keep their female well supervised and contained, but I also think the owner of an intact male should strive to have a dog that won't bother a female in season when asked.  I think a recall and leave it cue needs to be proofed against all distactions relevant to a particular dog and an intact, in season female is one heck of a distraction to most intact males.

The SAR dogs that are intact on the team must still work when an in heat female is around, but she runs last to minimize the distraction.  I think the same principles should apply to an average pet owner.

stardog85

I think the same principles should apply to an average pet owner.

Oh definitely, a rude dog/owner is a rude dog/owner no matter what, and no dog should just be able to do what it wants including mounting a female.

I most definitely think it is the female's owner's responsibility to keep their dog on lead, especially in the scenario you described. That owner is the one who will be whelping a litter if her dog is bred accidentally.

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

 As the owner of an intact female, I consider it my responsibility to keep her safe from intact males while she is in heat. If she is off our property when she is in season, it is with dogs I know, handlers I trust and people who know she is intact and in season. She would never be in public in season, or off leash (except in our backyard) in season -- that's as good as asking her to be bred in my opinion. When she is in our yard and in season she is loose but on a long line and always has DH or me with her.

Basically, when she is in season, I assume that some strange, intact dog is going to come out of nowhere and bred here all the time.

Exactly what PPA said!!!

I do not take Lillie anywhere not even to class when she's in heat. She is only allowed outside on a leash. No putting her in the kennel while she is in heat either unless I am outside watching her. If I go inside for any reason she gets put in her crate or is with me. 

I had an accidental litter with an Aussie I had a couple years ago my fault for not getting her spayed when I should have and I will never put myself or my dog in that position again.

stardog85

The SAR dogs that are intact on the team must still work when an in heat female is around, but she runs last to minimize the distraction.  I think the same principles should apply to an average pet owner.

Exactly. Luna has an intact male in one of her obedience classes, and he doesn't even look at her while she is in season, because he's been trained to leave it alone. I also trust his owner completely, and make sure she knows I am bringing Luna and that she is in heat. I don't bring her if one of the owners expresses that they would prefer for her not to be there. Two months off of training is part of the deal with an intact girl -- the worst part in my opinion!

That class is one of the only places she goes during lock-down and she doesn't do any recall work, or distance work, or off lead work.

are we speaking of "if the law allows it" here I am assuming? Because here you are not allowed in the majority of places to have a dog...no matter what sex or sexual status, off lead.

That being said it is specifically mentioned also in our animal statute...

"The owner of a female dog or cat in season commits an offense if he fails to confine such animal in an anti-escape house, building or enclosure constructed in such a manner that the animal cannot come into contact with another animal of the same species and opposite sex except for planned breeding"

So if you read the above it seems to indicate that the owner of the BITCH...is responsible for her containment and separation.

rwbeagles

are we speaking of "if the law allows it" here I am assuming?

Yes.  Here you can have a dog off lead in the majority of parks/green spaces.  Neither party in the example I gave is breaking the law.  

rwbeagles

"The owner of a female dog or cat in season commits an offense if he fails to confine such animal in an anti-escape house, building or enclosure constructed in such a manner that the animal cannot come into contact with another animal of the same species and opposite sex except for planned breeding"

Hmm...that's interesting.  

Ultimately I think it is the responsibility of the female.  I have no desire to deal with female in heat which is why I chose a male to keep intact and if I ever want to get into breeding, at this point I'd prefer to be training and showing studs, not bitches and puppies.  That said, I consider things like marking, humping, and being distracted by females in heat a training issue which will be MY responsibility.  I don't buy into the "neuter your dog and all the worlds problems will be solved!" mentality.  In SchH hard, dominant, intact studs compete along side bitches in heat.  Nikon's breeder prefers her males be left intact and if they are neutered, to wait at least 18 months.  If my male could not be controlled around intact bitches then I wouldn't be bringing him out until we had some training, same as I would treat a reactive dog, fearful dog, aggressive dog, etc.

many of the more archaic US laws actually allow the killing of a bitch in season at large. Many word it in various ways but it's apparently a no no lol. One of the more colorfulways this is stated is maybe...Tennessee? "it is lawful to shoot a proud bitch in the street"...so yeah...many places consider it the bitch owners responsibility LOL.

Bear in mind in that state and others in the south HUNTING is a big pasttime and has always been historically and nothing would cause chaos in such pursuits as a pack of male hounds scenting that scent....ya know? Ditto a farm dog or guard dog...so...in some way it makes sense to fine or hold especially accountable...an intact bitch owner who allows her to wander.

humans should be VERY grateful similar laws were not enacted for women with certain attributes!...LOL. Imagine the trouble, distractions, and chaos those can cause for packs of men out hunting! LOL....lmbo.

Here, dogs have to be on leash everywhere except the dog park, which is fenced.  I don't think there's a rule about intact males, but there is definitely a sign posted saying *no females in heat* which should be a no brainer ... but apparently it's not.  IMO, females in heat shouldn't be in any park at all, even on leash.  There's just a potential for too many problems.

Joyce

I think you'd have to be really stupid to let your in heat bitch off leash anywhere or to even take the dog to any kind of doggy filled event. Just curious, but how come owners of intact males often work to teach their dogs to ignore females in heat but you never hear of owners of intact females working to teach their dogs to ignore males?

mudpuppy

Just curious, but how come owners of intact males often work to teach their dogs to ignore females in heat but you never hear of owners of intact females working to teach their dogs to ignore males?

In Luna's case there isn't anything to teach her. She doesn't change when in the presence of male dogs, unless he is flirting and she isn't interested.

She can be downright mean when she is in season and not receptive to boys. If Rosco even tries to flirt with her the first or last week she'll snark at him. (He's neutered.)

I am totally OK with her correcting males for "putting the moves on." I want her to feel safe/comfortable about the breeding process (in case her breeder does use her in her program), and if I am jumping in to correct her then I don't think that helps and I don't want to discourage her from communicating how she feels about the situation. My feeling is that if it doesn't happen naturally, it shouldn't happen at all.