Walking the dog. WWYD?

[Jasmin82]

I'm a little stuck for what I should do. Have had my collie for a number of years. Until the lock down, I've always driven her to a reservoir that's around an hour drive away (it's now closed because people wouldn't follow the government advice) for her off lead exercise, after my health deteriorated meaning I can only shuffle along. I also used to book a private field a 20 minute drive away for an hour once a week in the summer as it meant I could sit down while she raced around for 30 minutes.
Since lock down, we've been doing a walk round the local area and lots of mental stimulation. Yesterday, I decided that, once a week I should give her a longer walk. So we walked to the local park and back, she was on her lead the entire time.
The problem is, that longer walk has wiped me out.
So my dilemma is:

1. Drive 5 minutes to the local playing fields where she still can't be off lead, but it won't be as long to shuffle for me.
2. Book an hour once a week at the further away field so she can run off the excess with the little walks the rest of the week. The field can only be booked and paid for online and would be contactless as you have to wait in your car for the previous person to leave and get back in their car before you access the field for your hour.

I honestly don't want to do either as I'm petrified of being pulled over by the police. I can't get a walker for her so have no idea what I should do. I just feel like a crap owner because right now, due to circumstances out of my control, I can't give her the exercise she needs. The third option is to stop beating myself up over it and just keep doing my best.

You can do both 1 and 2

There are currently no restrictions on driving a reasonable distance for exercise.

I would think 5 minutes and 20minutes is fine until the government states otherwise.

Oh also do option 3! We are all just doing what we can!

Drive 5 minutes to the playing field. The government have said this is ok. What they done want is people driving off out into the countryside or to the beach. I do the same with my dog.

Does your local community have a coordinator organising help for people? We do, and it includes people who are happy to walk dogs (eg my DS) for anyone who is 'shielding' (ie very high risk) - I bet there are local people to you who would walk your dog a few times a week so they all get some exercise. Try looking on Facebook?

@TerfTerfTerf I spoke with one of the local councillors who is organising help and they aren't allowing people to volunteer as dog walkers (we discussed everything to do with my health and home) as there's a risk of dogs running off, or volunteer and dog not getting on. This was a couple of weeks ago, so will speak with them again and see if anything has changed.

Oh that's a shame. Maybe the official coordinators don't want to bear the responsibility if there was an incident, which is totally understandable. We are in the country where there's High dog ownership so maybe less of a risk. I wish I could post you my DS because he'd love to walk your collie! (We don't have a dog, I am scared of them)