Dog walking during lockdown

[Gruffalomom]

Is anyone else getting enraged by some dog walkers during lockdown?

Walking with my two small children and taking lots of care to keep our 2m distance and every 5 minutes we have a dog off the lead running up to us .

My littlest one freaks out with that at the best of times after a bad experience as a toddler but we have no idea if dogs can transmit the virus or not.

Even if they can't transmit the virus, the dog walker who comes running up to us to reign in their dog certainly can!!

Aibu to think dogs should be on the lead in the current circumstances if their is any chance of them running up to other people?!

I really don't care if your dog is friendly, we don't like them running up to us!!

And the increase in dog poo ..

And yes I feel very sorry for the dogs of owners saying dogs should be on lead at all times 😕 ok at the moment in urban areas fair enough but generally dogs need to be off lead for exercise

theres suddenly a lot more dog poo on paths around me too, disgusting and no idea why people have suddenly lost the ability to pick it up.

It's really lovely to hear so that so many dog owners are walking earlier or later. I'm assuming this allows your dog to enjoy the walk more as much as it prevents them jumping up to children but I'm grateful none the less!

I don't think it's asking much to put dogs on the lead if they can't be prevented from approaching people in the current circumstances

The extra dog poop is probably the fact people who don’t usually walk the dog suddenly walks to walk it. There’s usually dog walkers paying no attention too; usually on the phone or not checking where the dog is. Amount of times I’ve seen a dog poop when the owner is miles ahead. Annoys me

@TheFuckingDogs
Yess! I agree.

We walk our dog up a wagon way which is a disused train track that's now a pathway that connects two parks.

It's usually pretty quiet and it's now sooo busy.

We normally let our dog run off his lead here but we are getting tutting glances and disapproving stares from random people who aren't normally there... and probably live miles away.

Vetinari completely agree about the inconsiderate arseholes.

I'd put the owners of dogs who let them run up to people in that category...

I don't let my children behave as you've described, I would find that frustrating too.

What @TheFuckingDogs said I am walking my dog at 6.30am at the moment and my local normally empty woods is full of people walking and jogging. My dog has food recall thankfully, though I am very cognisant of people and even other dogs at the moment so as soon as I see someone through the trees I recall and put him back on the lead. They do need to be off lead though to get proper exercise especially when there is a restriction on where, when and how long we can now exercise.

We walk our dog in our local forest as normal on a lead (nervous rescue, poor recall) and the number of idiot owners who let their loose dogs come bounding over to us is unbelievable. It’s bad manners normally and reckless now. I shout from a distance now to ask them to put them on a lead, most comply but some look pretty shocked & gormless about it. Probably the same people still having family bbqs.

Its a consequence of not allowing people and dogs to roam the country side. I'm a dog owner. I wish people would pick the bloody crap up, otherwise people tar us all with the same brush (also an undesirable behaviour)
Dogs shouldn't be off lead if their recall isn't reliable at any time. Lots of people are in parks now that wouldn't normally be, at times they wouldn't normally be. It's a big adjustment for the dogs and the people. There's bound to be a bit of friction.

Just to be clear, Im not complaining about dogs of the lead that can be completely trusted to not run up to my children.

Most of the dogs we see off the lead fall into that category.

I tell my child not to panic so they don't scare the dog and he sees that they just carry on with their own walk.

But for the people that know that their dog will approach people, why aren't they on a lead at the moment? Surely that's a small adjustment in the circumstances? And if you have to break the 2m gap to retrieve the dog it's just irresponsible.

But you should also get your kids to be comfortable around (well-behaved) animals tbf, for their sakes as much as anything. Animal companionship and a love of nature will do them so much good!

People take priority over dogs, now and indeed at all times. Now that parks and other outdoor spaces are being more heavily used dog owners need to adjust their behaviour just as everyone else is. Children can’t run around freely at the moment and neither should dogs.

We had this. I’m high risk. Being shielded. But before that. I was taking my kids to the first for 2 hrs a day. My eldest is very frightened of dogs. Purely because when we walk in the forest. Big dogs often go up to them and jump on then. It frightens then so much. We’ve not been out for a few weeks now. But we had 4 dogs pull their dogs from my kids. One man even told me that they must be the way they are because of me!!!! One man recorded ya walking in an obscure place (he was the only human we came across in the 3 hrs!)

We often go for forest walks before this. It’s been hell staying in. But I’d rather do that. People are being so weird about the whole thing.

I feel so strongly about this, and have posted twice on other threads about it recently. It is totally unacceptable, particularly now, for dogs to be running up to people. Dogs probably cannot get the virus themselves, but can transmit it on their fur. (An article in the Times recently by an Irish vet said dogs should always be on a lead during the present crisis for that reason). Cue loads of people on Mumsnet saying their dog is always reliable when called, they only go places where few others are etc. etc., some even say their particular dog must be off the lead and exercised several times a day - please people think of other PEOPLE, not just your dogs. You are not a special case.
You must keep distance, and that includes your animals, and let's face it they will only come when called if they feel like it in nearly every case. Keep them on a lead for the next few weeks, a short lead, so that they do not go near anyone else.

To those saying I need to get my child ok with dogs, I understand in theory but come on his fear really isn't irrational is it?

When you are about 1m tall and almost every day a big dog comes and jumps at you, it's a fairly rational fear?!

They don't need to be intending to do him harm to knock him over and give him a fright!

I can socialise him with dogs as much as a like (he is quite familiar with the dogs in our family) but until dog owners stop their dogs approaching him he is quite right to be nervous!!

Quite frankly as a dog walker (also parent of young children) I’ve been feeling the opposite! Our places are now over run with the general public who aren’t usually there!!

I feel the same. So many people roaming around squinting in the sunlight who I am quite sure have never been for a walk before in their lives.
My dogs always on the lead but I feel like there are lots of kids looking nervously at dogs because they've never been for a walk somewhere that isn't a shopping centre before and that's on the kids parents not me.

And before anyone says. My kids are ok with dogs. Only fearful of ones that come up to them bounding on them!! They are fine with house dogs.

It’s NOT my child’s problem. It’s the idiots who can’t recall their dogs!! And say. Oh sorry.

@fourpeasinapod

Why are you going out multiple times a day?

"our dog walking areas"? There are areas reserved for walking dogs?

@Hoggleludo I don’t go out unless I have to for work or shopping or to see my elderly mother through the window.

I do walk my dog about 4 times a day. Nothing wrong with that as I stay well away from people.

I am a dog Walker, but I totally understand what you mean.
Me and DS took our dog for a walk yesterday (on her lead), a dog comes up to us and wouldn't stop following us...the bloody owner comes right close to us to get the dog back... so cross, so much for social distance!

But there is something wrong with that?!?

Walking your dog 4 times a day?!? Which part of the legislation did you not understand?

It’s people like you that will make people like me unwell

Glad I’m not going out anymore.

I won’t be replying anymore. It makes me so upset. I could honestly cry at the people saying

Oh. It’s ok!!!! I don’t see anyone. I’m out 4-6-8 times a day. But the rules don’t apply to me!!!

Take care all

Rollercoasterride exactly! We all have to make adjustments at the moment, whatever is needed to keep everyone safe.

Yes I agree.. it's more ppl going to the places that are ordinarily only dog walking spots. Dogs can't transmit the virus.. it's only possible if on their fur/ collars etc which would only be a possibility if you touched the dog. Dogs need off lead exercise

@Hoggleludo oh good god. Calm down.

I don’t go out at the minute apart from work or to see my elderly mother. I only go to the shop if I need something, I usually just get my son to get my groceries when he’s working as he works in a supermarket.

Like I’ve said, I’m not interacting with other people whilst I’m walking my dog. I stay well away. I’ve never been too close to anybody these last few days whilst out walking.