Can I go out more than once for dog toilet trips?

[Eckhart]

I'm a solitary dog owner with no garden.

I'm worried that we're being directed to only exercise them once a day. Is the government advocating the animal neglect that would be involved in not allowing a dog out to toilet? I have friends who will help, but given the handover, this seems more risky than just taking her myself and maintaining social distancing for 10 minutes round the block.

Horse owners are allowed to do 'essential care' for their animals, even if they go out more than once per day to do this, and yet this hasn't been stated for dogs.

I'm going to have to go out briefly thrice daily. Ive been lampooned on another thread, with 'Which bit of stay at home don't you understand?!'

Anybody in the same boat, or got any info about whether 'essential animal care' is counted in the 'essential care' exemption from the 'stay at home rule'?

[Stellaris22]

Allowing a dog out to toilet is fine. It's more that you make sure it's all your doing (not going far from the property) instead of a proper walk.

[IckleBear]

It's once a day but if you live with someone then you should go alone so then the other person can take them later.

"Although it hasn't been specified, we have to assume that occasional pee breaks are also ok as long as you keep them short and stick to the government's guidelines for minimising contagion risk whenever you're outside".

[pilates]

You have no garden and so you can’t expect a dog to have one toilet break all day. Just keep social distancing and cross the road when you see anybody. That’s fine.

[Eckhart]

Where's that quote from @IckleBear?

Thanks all.

[Blewbell]

Yes of course it's ok. No one expects a dog to only pee once in 24 hours.

[wanderings]

The holier than thou MN police will probably pounce on this thread soon, but my advice is: just do it.

[BiteyShark]

Honestly whilst you get lots of people on MN jumping up and down saying the rules state one period of outside exercise it's about being sensible.

Of course your dog can't pee/poo once a day. Avoid anyone else and let your dog toilet. The rules are there to avoid contact not to cause animal neglect.

[Circletime27]

You are absolutely allowed to take your dog out for toileting as and when needed. There was a segment on it on radio one last night and this was covered.

[Eckhart]

This is most reassuring. I've been called a selfish fking twt, that my dog should be locked into a small room until she toilets indoors, that I'm cruel to even have a dog if I don't have a garden, and that I must be thick as sit if I can't understand 'STAY AT HOME'. Oh, and 'Poor little Fido can't have his walks? PEOPLE ARE DYING!!'

MNetters can be savage.

[BiteyShark]

Eckhart I find a section of MN to be very odd compared to RL but unfortunately they also tend to be the most vocal on MN and sometimes damn right nasty for no reason.

I went for a dog walk yesterday and happened to walk into town and despite a number of people being out everyone kept their distance and crossed the road to avoid contact. I imagined all the time I was walking some MNers to be waiting round the corner to froth at everyone to be indoors

[elQuintoConyo]

Stay off the internet, much better for your health. I drift about MN a little , but no more flitting about then having to lie down in a dark room! yt?

I'm in spain we've been in total lockdown nearly two weeks, you're allowed out with your dogs as often as necessary, but not far, just do their business then go home. Majority of people live in flats, so it's necessary. I'd say the UK has similar rules.

Take your dog out. Ignore rude comments. Small walk around the block then home.Poundland quite a conscientious dog owner, not likely to be striding across the moors

[okiedokieme]

We are taking ours out 3 times a day as normal, but avoiding talking to other people, I'm not putting anyone else at risk so don't feel guilty

[NeedsAnotherGin]

Our dog is having one big walk a day. DH combines it as his once a day exercise and luckily we have a small garden to let her out for toilet breaks in between. As long as you're not too far from your property and maintain social distancing then absolutely take it out for toilet breaks. I think it would be cruel not too. There's no way I would lock up a dog in a room until it finally toilets indoors! That's awful. Dogs shouldn't be forced to do that after being trained to go outside.

[Eckhart]

No country, even the strictest lockdowns, has banned dog toileting trips. They've also had it made clear to them that they're allowed, though, and we haven't. Just that if we have more than one person, we can all take it out once so that it gets more walks.

I don't understand why the government has clarified the situation re horse care, but not dog care. Well, maybe I do.

[1300cakes]

Firstly, stop asking on here I'd say - you don't need our permission or to convince us. Second, just use common sense. If your dog needs to go just take it out for as short a period as possible and don't make a big deal out of it.

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

Absolutely take your dog out. Don't listen to the bile people spout. Some people need to follow instructions down to the last letter because they can't engage their brain and use a bit of common sense.

[Eckhart]

Yes, 1300Cakes, it was proof of legislature I was after rather than validation. Peoples opinions are irrelevant in this situation, but boy, did they make them clear.

The number of people advocating animal neglect on here is disturbing.

[1300cakes]

Don't worry, on another thread today I saw an OP who said they had just left the house for the first time in 12 days, for food shopping. One reply said they had probably killed all their relatives by doing that

Every situation can't be specified in legislation so just don't worry about it.

[Eckhart]

I shouldn't laugh, but that's so ridiculous!

I've checked with a police officer this morning who says 'toilet' walks are 'essential care', must be brief, few, close to home, and observing social distancing rules. This is everything my dog needs. So, a happy ending.

I've also let the other, abusive thread know this. They can stick that in their pipe and smoke it :)

[VetOnCall]

I think best not to ask anything about CV on Mumsnet at the moment, at least not in the CV board or AIBU, it seems to have brought out the sanctimonious batshitters in force. I guess they really do have nothing better to do right now.

Anyway, of course you can take your dog out to toilet, as long as you exercise common sense re. distancing and stay close to home etc. Unless you said you were planning on taking him or her out 8 times a day to pee against the door of your local Tesco then ignore the 'every time you open your front door you kill 10 people' lunatics.

[MaryLennoxsScowl]

I’ve been walking my dog more frequently than technically allowed too - we live directly next to the park gate, in a flat with a tiny shared back garden. I can’t get out of the garden to dispose of his poo without going back through the stairwell and out the front door, and I can’t leave it there or the other 48 flats that share our garden will kill me. My DH and I take him for a walk each as our exercise for the day, but one of is still taking him out very early morning to avoid people in addition to the walk each, plus last thing at night. There’s never anyone else out at 10pm any more, so there’s nobody to spread it!

[tabulahrasa]

I’m still walking twice a day tbh...

I’m fostering a tiny dog with hip dysplasia - he only gets 10 minute walks.

If we were self isolating I’d absolutely restrict him to the house and garden and he’d cope fine with me doing other things instead.

But I’m failing to see how my two 10 minute walks are in any way more dangerous to anyone than someone doing a real length walk that would be much longer.

[Eckhart]

Thanks vet. I'm assuming you are a vet, so thanks especially because your opinion actually carries some weight.

I was naive enough to think that people would understand my situation and appreciate that I was asking for clarity rather than just break the rules without a second thought. Someone told me I needed to give up my dog because obviously, the law states I can't provide for her needs adequately during the crisis. Codswalloping sanctimonious batshittery indeed. It's worthy of new words being invented for it!

[IckleBear]

I saw it on www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/articles/can-i-walk-my-dog-during-the-corona-lockdown

[Eckhart]

Thanks @IckleBear, much appreciated!