To walk dogs alone in the woods?

[Mouseorchestra7]

I walk my parents’ dogs (two small-ish cockers) in the woodland and countryside around the busy-ish seaside town my parents live in. I absolutely love our walks, and find them so good for my mental health. I’ve never had any scary experiences (touch wood) in the year or so I have been regularly walking them (discovered the joys of it during the pandemic), but I do sometimes wonder whether I should be going out on my own for long walks as a solo women (late 30s). Part of me wonders whether I should even be asking this, as I know I’ll have to continue whatever people say, as I love the walks so much, as do the dogs!

I was just reading up about the Julia James murder, and it got me thinking (and worrying). I don’t have an OH, or friends in the area that can come with me unfortunately. If you walk on your own, are there any precautions you take? Hate that women have to worry about these things!

I walk & run in the dark in woods & beaches & coast path with my dog all the time, I love it.
I feel more vulnerable walking a city street.

I walk, hike and camp alone, without dogs.

The benefit to your mental health is apparent so don’t talk yourself out of it.

Do you think your age makes a difference?

I feel safer walking along around rural lanes, bridleways and woodlands than I would in the dark in some city areas. I go out alone most days. The main thing I worry about it being seen by traffic.

I don't mind open fields and coastal walks but I don't do woodland walks on my own. I have tried but spooked myself so don't bother anymore. My dog is small but quite feisty when needs must so I don't doubt he'd try to protect me and I worry he would get hurt.

I walk two black labs by myself at night. One of them is a bit of a hard case, I feel safe with him. I wouldn't feel safe with a smaller dog though.

@StScholastica I can see why that would have made you anxious.

@TwoBigNoisyBoys it is awful we shouldn’t have to be fearful. Unfortunately one of my dogs is a pain when she’s on the lead and very yappy with other dogs and people, so can’t really take her to busier places. She loves the beach though, but got unwell the last time she went so have avoided it lately.

@foxlover47 my (parents’) dogs would be neither use nor ornament in the event I was threatened! I would never walk in the dark.. always early afternoon.

@HotPenguin yes, and that is where I have had the most ‘creepy’ experiences (I.e. urban areas and parks and woodland near urban areas).

@Clymene glad to hear that. And agree that the risk is so small. It’s such a joy for me, that I am loathe to give it up. Especially as I much prefer walking on my own than with others!

I don’t anymore, but then I found a flasher in one of the walls and that made me feel very vulnerable, I knew that if he had tried anything more I wouldn’t have been able to out run him.

I also saw a woman being mugged, she got a good kicking, so bad her abdomen had shoe marks. I was the “witness” who called the police, I don’t go out in my own there anymore, as if I bump with him I’m sure he would recognise me.

Walks not walls

Yes I do. And I go off running alone in the countryside too.

Never really worried about it. If I see a man without a dog looking shifty - I run a bit faster!

My dog isn't very big but he's a terrier and quite a tough little sod. If anyone went for me, I think he'd bite them and hang on for dear life!

But seriously the reality is that most women don't get attacked out and about on our own and apart from Lin Russell, I can't ever remember a woman being assaulted when she had a dog with her

I used to but not anymore. My dad 'told me off' when he found out I went on a local remote walk early in the morning before work with my dogs many years ago and frightened me. I wasn't worried before that.

I used to hike alone/with dogs but my anxiety gets the better of me these days and now I won't even do the 40 min local woodland walk loop alone 😢

@Mouseorchestra7 it's like you said , awful that we even have to think about it but we do , I don't wear earphones though on wood walks , I always feel the need to be "on alert "

I walk alone a lot. Never really worry about it as I assume the chances of being attacked in a field outside my village are low ( but maybe I’m wrong ).

I don’t take any precautions but a few time have be freaked out by noises in the woods and got my phone ready on 999. That was overactive imagination.

I had an incident with a flasher a couple of years ago but that was by my local Tesco not in the countryside.

I don’t take any precautions but a few time have be freaked out by noises in the woods and got my phone ready on 999. That was overactive imagination.

Yes I use this tactic sometimes too.

Oddly I worry more walking with my 2 children. I saw a man walking once when I was with them and suddenly thought about the poor Russell’s. Now I worry more with my kids because it made me realise I’d have to defend us all not just myself .

I have a Rottweilers On Board sticker on my car, even though my dog is a much less threatening/ protective breed. I don't worry at all, but then again have never had a bad experience.

@Infinitemoon

I don’t take any precautions but a few time have be freaked out by noises in the woods and got my phone ready on 999. That was overactive imagination.

Yes I use this tactic sometimes too.

Literally I thought to myself once… If im attacked I’ll press 999 and just shout the description of the person into the phone first off.

I also thought about having my camera on so I could say “ I’ve texted your photo to my husband already”

I doubt anything would really help though would it. If someone was determined

I do all the time DDog is big and scary looking she barks at anything more out of fear but people don’t know that. She loves a walk through the woods the best

@CalIie How horrid, and infuriating!

@Momicrone Not sure tbh. I have always walked the dogs alone in woodland and jogged alone in woodland (from my early 20s).

@GrandmasCat there’s an area near me notorious for flashers. It’s a beautiful woody area that leads down to a secluded beach. Generally only go there with friends. A guy flashed me and my friend in the beach (in fact, worse) then followed us back to our car (30 min walk through woodland). He waited for us and told my friend that she was beautiful. I wasn’t scared at the time, but was just livid! How dare he behave that way? It’s a shame, as it would be a perfect dog walk, but there are too many creepy men around there.

@Chesneyhawkes1 I’m always ready to run if I have to. Also look behind me a lot to make sure I am not being followed .

I take my dogs on long walks, I then have moments of absolute dread of not feeling safe and have to calm myself down. I think I’d feel safe with a big dog but not sure any would be murderer/rapist would be scared away by 3 chihuahuas.

Although saying that I think one of them (chihuahua x Jack Russell) would have a good go at protecting me 🤔

I used to have had one creepy experience where dog was acting very off, and noticed glint in bushes, kept moving and happened to turn around and saw someone in full camo. So close yet I just saw a glint it did in nerve me to think my family had literally no idea where I was and no one would have sussed anything for hours. Started letting my partner know where I was going after that then over Xmas a local lady was attacked on our local walk broad daylight middle of day on very public path. Sad to say I haven’t been since our dog then would have alerted me to anything untoward and was very aware. Our new rescue is a big lump with zero guarding ability and I now only go with my partner, I now walk locally on roads or the local big park and open fields that are clearly visible from roads. Had so many experiences with dodgy people and no faith in my fluffy lump I just don’t enjoy it anymore

I regularly walk my small dog through woods and fields on my own and very rarely feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I see lots of other people, sometimes not a soul. Lots of other solo people without dogs walk around here happily, though I am always slightly surprised by the number of lone females walking wearing noise cancelling headphones!

Not alone, but would happily do it with company. Also concerned with the rise in dog thefts.

@TheFlis12345

I regularly walk my small dog through woods and fields on my own and very rarely feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I see lots of other people, sometimes not a soul. Lots of other solo people without dogs walk around here happily, though I am always slightly surprised by the number of lone females walking wearing noise cancelling headphones!

When I came across a flasher I was wearing head phones. Listening to a bloody true crime podcast…. Not a good combo.