Scottish rules are different - dogs/kids

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

Anyone else struggling with the rules around dogs/kids? I have two rambunctious dogs and three small kids.

At present, I walks my dogs at 6am for an hour (we live semi-rurally). I usually see one other person at the most.

I then get my kids out at lunchtime for their exercise. I usually take the younger dog at that point too so tire him out. My kids are small so a walk is a painfully slow exercise.

My dogs wouldn’t cope if they only had the kids’ walk. They wouldn’t attack but it would be very difficult long term to sustain this. Our garden is tiny.

We are in Scotland and my sister (lives in city; half an hour from us) is threatening to report us to the police. She is very self righteous. I have argued that there is zero risk to a remote walk at 6am (there aren’t even gates being touched). We don’t live in a city. Even during the kids’ walk, we can go quite remotely.

I feel like we need some common sense critical thinking around the rules. I’m finding my sister very irritating!

How are other dog owners managing this?

[MaxNormal]

With sisters like that who needs enemies!
I suggest not discussing your comings and goings with her. Or preferably anything else.

[SylvanianFrenemies]

I am very pro "the rules". But commonsense must always come into play. Your sister is a twit. Don't tell her your business.

[Dreamersandwishers]

Your sister is full of crap. The Scottish police are no more strict than any others.
We live on the outskirts of town. Close to lots of open green space. Between DH &I my dogs get their normal 2 or 3 hours per day. My neighbours do likewise, walking dogs, kids, running whatever. Always maintaining distance , best I can tell. People round here are being pretty sensible and courteous towards one another. Not heard any snitching.
Your sister sounds like a real sweetheart, threatening to try to cause trouble for you. Let her have at it. Hopefully the police charge her for wasting their time.

[BillywilliamV]

My sister is being a bit of a judgy twat too, I dont tell her stuff.

[Mmsnet101]

Just tell her that you have listened to her wise advice and are no longer doing 2 outings...then carry on. There's no way she'll know without breaking the rules herself!

[hettie]

Just lie and tell her what she wants to hear. This is not worth getting into a ding ding about...pick your battles. Tell her what she wants to hear " on reflection sis, you're right it's not worth the risk so we've decided to xyz...

[2fallsagain]

Just don't tell her. People have gone crazy.

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

Yes I wish we had never had the discussion. Family WhatsApp group and all that. She resents my dogs and I think that is behind it.

Funnily enough, in her hey day she did some fairly illegal stuff stuff that shocked me, and it would be amusing if it wasn’t so annoying.

[xtinak]

You're fine. Carry on.

If she did report you the police would not be interested.

[Gingerkittykat]

I agree with carry on with what you are doing and tell her what she wants to hear.

The police have actually asked people to stop phoning in with reports like this.

And ignore the inevitable self righteous people who will come and shout at you on this thread too.

[Nanalisa60]

Tell her to fill her boots and ring the police!! They won’t be interested, then tell her don’t ever bother to ring you again!!