How safe would you feel walking your dog on your own at this time of night in your area?

[cheesecadet]

Feeling a bit blue, all alone on Christmas night and contemplating walking the dog, as that always helps my mood. Would you?

Would feel safe taking DB’s black Labrador out round here.

@cheesecadet

I'm in a town with medium crime rate. Yes it's baltic out there and I've never really known how my dog would react if someone attacked me, I have a feeling he would be a wimp, but he goes for me if I try to get something out of his mouth, so who knows?!!

Not related to your question but you should never take anything out of a dogs mouth- its theirs so you have to exchange, otherwise you drive possessiveness which is not good as you have found out. Always swap, wait for drop, walk away with treat.

Depends on the area, depends on the dog.

We had the softest lab growing up but he went for a delivery driver he took an instant dislike to and also protected my sister against another man he took a dislike to, when she was walking him one night.

Labs are medium sized, stocky dogs though. They can be intimidating if they feel the need. Not sure I'd feel as safe with a frenchy / pug / cockapoo.

Where I live, yes I would, other areas no I wouldn't. Really depends where you live imo.

We don’t have a dog but if I had one, I definitely would here. Very safe area and I never felt uncomfortable even walking home drunk in the middle of the night after going out for drinks in the city.

No, but I think most people would. It's a relatively nice area not considered unsafe, but unless I had a dog that at least looked like it would see someone off I wouldn't feel comfortable and these days I'd feel less safe walking a 'popular/wanted' dog than I would walking alone.

I had an accident earlier in the year & feel very vulnerable now, there aren't many places I'd feel comfortable walking alone at night, big change to how I used to be, it's horrible.

I feel safer walking my dog in the dark at night than I do during the day. The joys of being disabled, I always walk slowly and with a limp, some days I just need a walking stick, other times I might need crutches or wheelchair. During the day I've had milkshakes and kebabs thrown at me, I've had men walk behind me trying to set my coat on fire, I've had gangs of kids who can't be more 12 try to steal my bags, phone or purse, or they've snatched my crutches and run off. I've never once had anything happen at night. I try not to go out during the day at all anymore.

Fucking hell @DimplesToadfoot that's horrific.

Strange I should find this threat this morning.
I took my daft old Labrador for a walk late ish last night. This dog has never shown any signs of protecting anyone, fab with other dogs, no agressions ect.
A bloke with 2 German shepherd's starts shouting rubbish at me, sounded pissed but fairly aggressive. My ddog went apes apeshit, snarling and barking. Honestly I couldn't have been more suprised if he had sprouted wings and flown away.
Just goes to show that even the most passive pooch can be protective in the right circumstances.

OP sorry to hear you’ve had such a shit week.hope you’ve had a good sleep and feel a bit better this morning.

@DimplesToadfoot that sounds horrendous. Can you talk to you local police about what’s happening? It beggars belief how many feral people we have out there.

I live in the country in a small
Village and run and walk my dog along the country roads in pitch dark I feel perfectly safe

There only you knows your area other people experience irrelivant .

I love walking on my own at night. Very safe where I live ( suburbs) wouldn’t think twice about it

I walk mine after work a lot on my own. So 1-2am in the morning. I feel perfectly safe.

He's a large dog and very protective of me, so I think that helps.

I would but I have a large breed dog that I can trigger to look aggressive. She wears a halti head collar that I remove if someone makes me feel uncomfortable. I make sure DH knows my route and always take my phone and something to protect myself with.

I have a St. Bernard who doesn't really like people to walk by, he translates it into standing on his hind legs and barking (we're working on this). Because of this it's not really a factor to me what time of day it is, only if I can be bothered wrestling him 😂

@FrangipaniBlue

I know what mine would do....

a few week back I was walking him at about 7pm in the dark and 2 dodgy looking characters deliberately changed direction and started crossing a road towards me.

FrangipaniDog lost his shit, said dodgy characters hesitated then retreated 😂😂😂

(He's a 30kg bull terrier so definitely not to be messed with!)

Mine has done this before. It's fascinating - do they tell from our body language or our scent (or make their own minds up)?

I always feel safe walking our dog, even in the dark woods across the road. I couldn't think of living somewhere I felt unsafe ever.

I don't know @PanettoneDisappointment he's never reacted that way to anyone before (except a new vet once 😂) but for whatever reason he decided he didn't like these two!!!

I would feel fine...dog however is absolutely petrified of the dark and refuses a walk... he will go for a wee in the garden but only if the outside light is on.

I wouldn’t think twice about it but I live on a small housing estate and it’s very quiet.

Safe as houses own huge German Shepard highly trained sniffer dog, but would feel just as safe taking out a poodle if owned one

I would but mines a lab and she is very protective over me and a bit weary of the dark in general.

I absolutely would but being honest, where I live, I wouldn't be going out with any less of a dog than ours (who is a 55kg protective loon).

Well done OP.

I walked my dog in the dark down farm tracks and across fields (checking for livestock which I would avoid especially disturbing at night). Medium terrier.

I reckon I was less at risk from a random stranger or whatever than walking down narrow country lanes. But you know your own area, and glad you and dog had a walk!