To go walking early alone with my dog?

[Catslovepies]

I walk my dog for an hour each morning from around 6-7am through the local streets, but now it's light out earlier I'd like to do something different. I live local to a beach with lots of trails through the sand dunes. If I were to walk my dog along those trails we wouldn't run into anyone else the whole time, as usually no one else gets there before around 8.

This area isn't really high crime or anything. Would you feel safe walking the trails alone so early? I'd have my phone with me and would tell someone where I was going. I've done it once before and it was amazing although a little bit spooky!

Yabu= too scary/dangerous
Yanbu = sounds fun, go for it!

I would do it but I would set up the SOS app on my phone, no headphones and maybe carry a heavy torch or something.

For everyone saying it won't happen because it's a quiet beach or sand dune . There have been loads of murders like this . I do listen to crime podcasts tho lol my own worst enemy . But look at the Pembroke murders . Two people just walking along a track off the beach

And how many people have walked along Pembroke beach day in, day out, and not been murdered? When assessing the chance of something happening, you have to look more widely than just 'well it happens to hundreds of people'. Over what timeframe, and in what context? As pp have said, you have a much greater risk of being killed on the road. And attacks by strangers are rare - it's more likely, if you are attacked, that it will be someone you know.

Yes, there are risks. I wouldn't walk on my own on Wimbledon Common as I grew up near there and know its reputation. Then again as a teenager I routinely walked on routes that Levi Bellfield used to stalk his victims, and was mercifully unaware of it. It's up to individuals to assess risks, but I just find it so sad that women curtail their lives in this way.

Due to shift work I used to walk my dog/s at 0400hrs in the pitch black.
It's fun,nobody around,
Just remember to take a torch so you can see where they go to the toilet and pick up.Only mention this as lot more poop around when irresponsible owners use the dark to not pick up.

Sir Sniffs Alot and I go walking every morning at 6.30am in the (isolated) woods. Even in winter when it's dark and I need a headtorch to see.

Am not sure the dog would defend me but he's fairly big, suspicious of strangers and has a deep bark - so that'll have to do

I hike alone all the time in pretty remote areas. I tend to just not wear headphones so I'm aware of surroundings. I pull in and let people pass if they are behind me, turning to face them. There is a great feature on Garmin sports watches that sends out an alert you can trigger with your GPS (sends to your nominated contact) if you are worried you are in danger/ it auto goes off if you fall and get hurt. I've never used it as I do think if someone was waiting to attack a woman they probably would be closer to the town where they would have more targets rather than looking for sweaty women up a mountain!

I’d do it. But I would keep my ears free of headphones and probably carry a heavy torch and rape alarm, plus make sure someone knew where I was. Depressing that we have to do this but I wouldn’t let fear stop my enjoyment. The walk sounds lovely!

I would and I have, I used to walk my pair on open fenland at 5.30 in the morning before a long shift at the hospital because my lazy arsed ex was too bloody attached to his bed to do it before he started work

Go for it, I think it sounds lovely and so peaceful. There are always risks in everything we do. You just have to be vigilant and sensible , which I'm sure you are.
My dog is only little and doesn't walk far, but when it gets warmer and brighter, I'm going to take him for an early walk, bring him home, and go out by myself. My insomnia has gotten so bad, I need a plan. And I love walking !

I would and do. I live in a very very low crime area.

I've never felt unsafe. Lost occasionally!

Genuinely I'm more worried about meeting people who walk their dogs early as their dogs are reactive. And mine is a floppy, happy, little mut.....without any sense.

I would go

I only voted YABU because of the sand dunes. They are unpredictable and can shift without notice which makes them the hazard rather than unpredictable people.

Otherwise I'm all for exploring more secluded nature spots for early morning walks. I don't feel unsafe doing the same.

No I would stick to safe routes that are not secluded so many weirdos about ! It’s not worth the risk
That’s when these things happen x

Is it legal to get a taser?

To the poster spending most of her working life with offenders who don’t get up before 11am, I’m sure that’s true but on the secure unit I worked at, most of the sex offenders committed their crimes early morning. It was an observation me and my colleagues couldn’t help but notice.

Obviously I know my perception is skewed.

I'd do it but I generally feel safe in the area around here, plus I've got a JRT who would go for anyone who tried anything.

@Hairobsessed123

No I would stick to safe routes that are not secluded so many weirdos about ! It’s not worth the risk That’s when these things happen x

More people are attacked in cities than on beaches. Does that mean you never walk alone in a city?

How do you define a "safe route", anyway?

I certainly feel much safer alone on the beach than I do alone in a city.

YANBU

I often walk my dog alone at night.

Never had any issues.

I wouldn’t - been a victim of too many crimes ( 2 mugging, 2 indecent exposures and an armed robbery) - I don’t walk or cycle anywhere where I might be vulnerable and I do think opportunist attackers deliberately lurk in areas where lone women may be preyed upon

I walk my dog through quiet farmland and woods early morning (6-7 in winter and 5-6 in summer) - I very rarely encounter another soul between late-autumn and mid-spring. On the odd occasion I do, it is actually a bit unnerving, though I've never actually had any sketchy encounters.

It's a really lovely time of day to walk at point in the year. I wouldn't tell anybody else to do it, but I personally feel much safer walking early morning than early evening. My dog definitely prefers it too.

I wouldn't. The vast majority of sexual assaults happen between 6am and 10am in the morning. Not late at night like you would imagine

@IndiaMay

I wouldn't. The vast majority of sexual assaults happen between 6am and 10am in the morning. Not late at night like you would imagine

Isn't that because something like 90% of sexual assaults are committed by someone you know and/or at home?

I would be weirded out if the majority of stranger/outdoor assaults happened early in the morning.

It's a lot more dangerous to assume you are "somehow safe" because it's 10 am!

I wouldn't, but 5 women have been sexually assaulted 30 seconds from my front door in the last month (and I live in a 'naice' 'leafy' suburban area).

Yes, why not? You're taking your phone, someone else knows where you are etc. If you're planning to do this regularly, vary your timings and days. I think you're more likely to bump into dodgy folk in urban areas

Go for your walk!

The majority of sexual assaults/rapes are, sadly, by people known to the victim eg husband, relative, boyfriend or date. Sadly I (like pretty much everyone, it's sadly common) have friends who have been assaulted, one by a cousin, one by an abusive partner etc. These generally don't make the news. But way more likely. You are also overwhelmingly more likely to get murdered by a partner than a stranger.

Do we say never date? Never meet up with your cousin just in case? Never get married because there's a tiny chance you'll get murdered or even murder him yourself??! Come on. Go for that walk lol.