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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog walking during lockdown

151 replies

Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 15:17

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 Angry.

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 .. AngrySad

OP posts:
FizzAfterSix · 30/03/2020 19:37

@Gruffalomom as you are ‘immunosuppressed’ you shouldn’t be terrifying yourself in these poorly policed public areas while having to deal with all these rabid, badly-behaved dogs.

Wouldn’t it just be better for your challenged immune system to just stay at home?. Stay safe.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:38

Fizzaftersix you are showing yourself up..

OP posts:
sahbear · 30/03/2020 19:40

This is a very small problem in the scheme of things. Humans seem to desire to control others because they cannot control the virus and their own anxiety.
You would have much more effect speaking to individual dog owners in your local area than posting on Mumsnet.
My lovely dog will be off the lead and under control, as normal.
Given your vulnerability and your sons fears it might be worth avoiding parks, dogs and people.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:42

Sahbear if your lovely dog is under control then it is not part of the problem I'm raising.

It's the dogs that come bounding into my children and need to be retrieved by their owners that cause the problem.

Currently there are not may options for spaces free of dogs and people so we have to be considerate of one another and keep the 2m distance.

OP posts:
Hoggleludo · 30/03/2020 19:49

@FizzAfterSix that's a bit far......

Santaclauswhosthat · 30/03/2020 19:54

Re dogs being on leads, we now know that the virus survives on surfaces for varying lengths of time depending on the type of surface. On hair this time is twelve hours which is why key workers are told to shower immediately on returning home from work. Indications are that the same is true of pet hair and dander and animal paws.

Now it isn't proven absolutely that surface transmission is responsible for the spread of it but while we don't know people are being advised to take steps against this ie sanitising shopping, washing hair and clothing etc. For this reason the SSPCA has instructed dog walkers to keep their pets on leads when out of their property at all times.

I realise that the RSPCA hasn't said this but the virus isn't behaving differently in England to how it is in Scotland. And the RSPCA guidelines do state that pet hair can transmit and advises owners to wash hands for twenty seconds after contact.

Therefore until it's been absolutely confirmed that your dog can't transmit via its hair, dander or paws, surely you could leash it while out in public?

Obviously it's up to you if you don't want to wash your dog every time it's been out or wash your hands for twenty seconds every time you touch it both measures being quite onerous and impractical, but given that few pet owners can do that, surely they can at least take steps to avoid transmitting to others not in their households?

Otherwise, why are we all even bothering to stay in, close down businesses, make thousands of people unemployed etc? If it can all be undone by dog owners wanting their dogs to go where they like? It just doesn't make sense to me.

cockapoocrazi · 30/03/2020 19:58

@Gruffalomom apologies I read it as you were venting at them visibly (in front of DC) also.
My dogs a cow anyway and decides when she will come back to me if nothing else of interest is on offer so she ends up on the lead a lot.

@Abraid2 you know what, my dog as above is normally on a lead, hasn't affected her in anyway at all. It does not make a dog a 'poor sod' because they are on a lead and doesn't mean they are any less loved or cared for or exercised. The amount of people who's dogs run off because they've caught a scent or want to play with other dogs is astronomical. And don't get me started on the owners who say 'my dog has never done that before' so what, they have now. Just because they have never done it before doesn't mean we should become complacent.

PositiveVibez · 30/03/2020 20:00

Why would there be an increase in dog poo? There aren't suddenly more dogs being taken out for walks surely

I totally agree. I have noticed this too. I think it's because there is nobody around so irresponsible dog owners think, 'oh fuck it. Nobody will know'

I am a dog owner/walker and I do keep her on the lead/pick up her poo.

The only time I let her off the lead is in an area where People don't really go to walk because she does need a run about.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 20:01

No worries cockapoo Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 20:04

Thanks Santa. I didn't know the sspca had made that call already. About time England followed suit then until we know different about how the virus spreads

OP posts:
Winesalot · 30/03/2020 20:05

my dog has never done that before

Grin I hear it all the time!

cockapoocrazi · 30/03/2020 20:06

@Winesalot does my head in!!!!

Santaclauswhosthat · 30/03/2020 20:11

@Gruffalomom yes they updated their instructions the first morning of the lockdown so they've been in place for over a week now. I also wish the RSPCA would follow suit - the fact that they're telling owners to wash their hands shows that they know transmission via fur, dander and paws is a possibility so it seems crackers not to tell dog owners to do all they can to prevent this between households.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 20:16

It's really a shame these things need to be mandated at all and we can't trust common sense.

If there is a possibility that dogs can spread the virus, then they need to be kept 2m away from other dogs and people.

I can't imagine having managed that without putting my dogs on a lead...

OP posts:
Eckhart · 30/03/2020 20:19

Why would there be an increase in dog poo? There aren't suddenly more dogs being taken out for walks surely

Because they're not going out and pooing in the countryside anymore, they're concentrated around where the housing is.

Winesalot · 30/03/2020 20:32

cockapoocrazi it is always accompanied by a look of innocent shock!

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 15/04/2020 01:23

It's great to see the government guidance has finally caught up and they are staying that dogs should be on a lead.

Whichever side of the argument you sit some clarity to the guidelines must surely be welcome.

OP posts:
HopefullyAnonymous · 15/04/2020 02:36

@Gruffalomom care to link to this guidance?

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 15/04/2020 13:33

It's here : www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces

My local police and council are stating that fines will be issued for those not compliant

OP posts:
Easilyanxious · 15/04/2020 13:37

We have a dog and he’s only off lead if no one is around even though he isn’t one to approach people anyway and had good recall as there’s always a first time . No more dogs pooh than normal though round here thankfully just the same couple of irresponsible people .

Trying2310 · 15/04/2020 13:47

My 8 Yr old son is terrified of dogs after an incident as a toddler when a huge dog off lead sprinted, jumped and pinned him to the floor. It's owner laughed and said it wouldn't hurt a fly. We try to rationalise with him, walk where there are dogs to help him. He is very comfortable now walking past dogs on leads but not when off lead.
We live beside a nature reserve and forest. There has been huge increase in dog walkers and other people we do not normally see. There has also been a big increase in dog poo and poo bags left on the paths.
If dogs are excitable, unpredictable or don't have decent recall they should be on leads at all times in public spaces!

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 15/04/2020 13:50

I'm sorry to hear about your son's experience trying.

It's natural that he would be anxious after that it sounds like you've done a great job of making him more comfortable.

It's a shame some dog walkers choose to brush off these incidents as if they should just be expected :(

OP posts:
slartibarti · 15/04/2020 14:36

There are a lot more people taking their children out for walks. Unfortunately many seem unaware of the risks of letting them run up to a strange dog.
My dogs are both on a leads when there are people around and I always take avoiding action when I see a family group coming towards me, often turning round and going back the way I came but still get small children running after us waving sticks or shouting that they want to pat the dogs.

Moondust001 · 15/04/2020 14:44

presumably they were always being walked before coronavirus either way.

No many of them weren't, as evidenced by the weight of the dogs! I have used the same park for dog walking for over a decade now, and I have never seen so many dogs that I have never seen ever before. Usually there's a slight resurgence of never seen before dogs the first few sunny days of the year, then almost never again. Now there are huge numbers of dogs that I haven't ever seen before.

And yes, there is also a big increase in dog poo. The regulars pick up because (a) it is the right thing to do and (b) it carries potentially infection more dangerous to our dogs than to humans (not saying that humans aren't important, simply saying that I want my dog healthy too). These occasional walkers don't care about their dogs or anyone else - if they did they wouldn't be occasional walkers!

Daftodil · 15/04/2020 14:48

It's here :www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces

My local police and council are stating that fines will be issued for those not compliant

@Gruffalomom, personally I'm delighted by this and hope that the media does more to highlight this. My 2yo was knocked off his feet by an alsatian that was the same height as he is. The owner said "he won't hurt him". I said "well, he has hurt him!" (My son was scared, hurt and screaming). And the owner mumbled "calm down" and walked off. No apology.

If you can't control your dog, you probably shouldn't have one. Get a pet rock instead.

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