People walking their dogs early in the morning

[SinceWhenDid]

All winter in the dark and cold I've been walking my dogs in the woods close by. All winter I met ONE person (plus some creepy, silent, hooded figure - I didn't go down that path again)

Now it's light in the mornings I meet so many people. I feel they didn't put the hard slog in over the winter so they shouldn't be allowed to spoil my solitude and enjoyment of these beautiful mornings...

Of course I know it is unreasonable to feel this way really

No, OP, you're right. They should stay indoors because they didn't go out when it was cold. Back inside, all of you!

YANBU. I feel the same about weekend dog walkers. During the week the dogs I meet on my daily walks are generally well trained nice dogs. Weekends seem to bring out the bad mannered dogs. Hate it.

I think you are being unreasonable of course, but if I had a dog, I’m exactly as grumpy as you so would feel the same.

Tell us more about the hooded figure

I feel similarly about my 4am/5am shops when dh gets back from work and watches tv and entertains the youngest. I dash round the supermarket in peace. Suddenly there's queue at the till. I am hoping the novelty will wear off.

Ah a people hater, just like me. It's like when I was swimming yesterday evening and I was the first one in the slow lane... then someone else got in too. I had to share MY lane with two other humans!

So just reasonably unreasonable then?

Hooded figure - I had forgotten my torch but it was just light enough to see with the combination of moonlight and snow on the ground. I was heading down a path when suddenly the dogs ran forward then stood stock still. In front of the was a dark hooded and cloaked figure. I said "Sorry, didn't see you there!" The figure stayed totally silent. I legged it! 😂

In the winter we take dog out after work when needed (she usually has a daytime walk with dog walker on Work days) but on light mornings in the summer we sometimes take her out before work. Mostly for our convenience but on really hot days we prefer morning walks in case pavements get too hot (all our walks involve pavement before grassed areas).
She’s a black dog and taking her out in the dark is an effort to keep her safe/properly exercised and I don’t think either of us are ready for it first thing on a cold winter morning.

You sound like my husband! The moors are just for him and not for the fair weather walkers - where are they when it’s dark, foggy, wet or frozen?

I’m with you. There’s a small hardy group of us dog walkers here who take their dogs down by the river then up the field no matter what the weather. Then there’s all these fair weather walkers who only appear when it’s glorious sunshine (so like 2 days a year up here in Scotland) and their dogs tend to be so badly behaved! I do wonder where they are the remaining 363 days each year.

Oh OP me and my mum had the same conversation. I have walked my dog in all kinds of weather ive had the rain beating my face, the wind howling round my ears and snow freezing my hands and feet! I never normally see anyone in the mornings except a very select few that we all acknowledge each other with the same sympathy. Yet now the weather has be lovely suddenly everyone is out spoiling my walk.

Yep, totally get this. Although, I don't take mine out in the dark because I don't have to. I couldn't... just couldn't... walk in dark woods so all her daily walks are condensed into daylight hours and summer is so much nicer! I think it's since we made a gruesome discovery - had it been dark it would have been significantly worse!!

I notice that cycling through a nearby park. In the winter only the commuters are to be seen doggedly cycling through whatever the weather; in the summer you have to negotiate hordes of cyclists in day-go lycra and ultra-flashy bikes.

I feel that way about parks - all winter in the rain and snow me and my children are wrapped up, trudging round swing parks, exercising the dog. As soon as the sun comes out all these people appear demanding time on the swings, having a nice time on the grass and generally behaving like it’s a pubic park and they have a right to be there. I don’t like to share

My ddog is scared of the dark and won't/ can't go out if it's too cold or too hot or wet . I'd love to do the early morning private rambles I did with my last dog. We could do that very polite nod and studious ignore that two happily solitary people do when forced together.

Where i lived previously there was a little group of early walkers and we met up at a ridiculous time each morning to walk around the woods together.Whatever the weather.Wind,rain snow we were there. After the initial struggle out of bed it was a great camaraderie. We even bought head torches!We often commented on the fair weather walkers who suddenly appeared as the clocks changed and temperatures rose.And agreed their dogs probably only got the briefest pavement walk or wee in the garden before work for much of the year.

Damn straight. Fairweather walkers

Even though I haven't got a dog, I totally get this too on my walks.

Where were they when it was all ankle deep in mud and constantly raining? I've earned my solitude damnit.

where do all those fair weather walkers go the rest of the year! I know what you mean, so many walkers out and about

oh yes and cyclists. All of a sudden there's nowhere left to lock my bike to. I swear councils only count usual of bike racks in the winter so they never need to build more. Fair weather cyclists

Im like this with my 6am gym sessions, in thd winter hardly anyone goes and now its summer all the treadmills are used up, can only get on the cross trainer and kettle weights. I want 75% of the gym to myself DAMNITT!

I'm like that with my Saturday morning parkrun. I have hardly missed a week all winter and now it's a bit warmer Parkrun is suddenly mobbed.
Go home fair-weather dog walkers and runners. Leave the lovely mornings to those of us who have earned them.

Can I add fair weather lido swimmers? It's summer opening but even then you get cheeky gits taking up the lanes first thing on hot days and not bothering on the cooler days.

But why??? Why do it unless it’s a nice sunny spring morning with the birds singing and warmth and hope springing.

Me and my dog hate the cold wet snow fog rain wind etc so we only venture out to walk early about now.

Clearly I am one of those people op and my dog is one of those dogs

The hooded figure sounds well scary. You wouldn’t catch him out on a sunny morning either

YANBU.Where I lived previously there was a little group of early walkers and we met up at a ridiculous time each morning to walk around the woods together whatever the weather. Rain,wind,snow we were there.We even bought head torches!It made scrambling out of bed more bearable ,and there was a great camaraderie. But I would have walked my dog regardless.Indeed thats how we met.We had many a conversation about the fair weather walkers.Where were they half the year?Did their dogs get the briefest pavement walk or just a quick garden wee break?And yes to badly behaved weekend dogs. Crazy becsuse not exercised enough.One of the reasons I quite like winter really !