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 grew up near Epping Forest. The only time I ventured in on my own was when I had a friend's staffie with me. Seeing how the local teens broke apart for us on the pavement to let us through (whilst eyeing her with trepidation) gave me the assurance no one would dare come near.

I now live in the middle of nowhere, and don't think twice about heading out on my own.

I do but I have a collie who is very protective, an ambulance would be required if anyone tried to hurt us (and he refuses to eat whilst "working" so cannot be bribed unlike most dogs)

I walk alone with my dog in the woodland and countryside around our town. If anything were to happen and I screamed, odds are somebody would hear me.
I wouldn't walk alone in forests nearby (talking very big ones). I have a friend that regularly walks alone in quiet, remote forest areas because her dog is nervous. I totally understand why she does it but I do worry about her safety. If you were in these areas and you shouted, the likelihood of you being heard is low.

@FangsForTheMemory Precisely. In remote-ish countryside walking spots, there is really nothing that I have been able to find. Seems to be places closer to cities and towns that are riskier (e.g. urban parks and woodland).

@LadyFanny that’s terrifying! This is one of my biggest fears.

@lljkk agreed! The remoter the spot, the less risky it is in my view, as the attacker would have to lay in wait for a long time!

I walk on public footpaths in wide open countryside (where you can see all around you) everyday on my own. My village is rural and has lovely walks. I do tend to do the same couple of routes at the same time though (on my lunchbreak) which I know isn't great but I do carry a rape alarm and am constantly looking around/ behind me/ don't wear headphones etc. My dog would be useless but I do feel safer with her with me.

I wouldn't walk in woodland alone, no. I'd feel too hemmed in and there's too many places for weirdos to hide.

I love to walk and especially in woodlands and scenic places, I often go alone (I don't have a dog). I've never really thought a lot about the risks - but the risk is so low and the benefits are so great that I can't imagine choosing not to go walking out of fear for what might happen.

I go running alone.

My promise to myself is not to fear going to places that DH wouldn't have fear about going to.

I walk in the local woods in the day and the chances of being recognised by a regular dog walker is high.
I wouldn't run there at night mostly because of the risk of tripping over a stick or uneven surface.
I did a rural night walk with my then 10yo and the pheasant noises were unsettling Company, even that of a child was reassuring. I felt totally safe from humans though.

I'm happy in remote locations because the chance of an opportunist preditor waiting around is minimal. I'm more cautious and aware in quiet but "known" places where it could be worth hanging around and several minutes before the risk of disturbance. There are also shady bridges by the river in town that I evaluate on approach as sometimes people loiter there. I have diversions.

In my early 20s, the majority of my walk to work overlapped the final route of a girl a couple of years older than me who never made it home after a night out. It was years before her rapist/ murderer was caught. It is something I'm mindful of, but I feel strongly that women should not feel compelled to limit their lives in order to live them.

l do and l think l probably feel more confident because l am taller than alot of men and l can still also outrun many, l am aways very aware of who is around, l used to carry an alarm and a pepper spray but unless you are actually continuously holding it in your hand its not much help. l walk very confidently, l take my phone and tell people where l' m going and what time l will be back.

I go out on my own. I don’t think a pervert would lie in wait for hours in the dark and the cold on a moor. They’d probably die of exposure before they managed to attack anyone.

I don't have a dog but I live near woods and I walk through them by myself. There are lots of other walkers around usually.

It's good for my mental health being outside, and I walk most days so don't always have someone to come with me.

I used to walk my dog in local woods a lot. I did have a few anxious moments though. I stopped when I became a mother - I worried what would happen to my son, if I got bumped off. The Russell family do stick in my mind too. My dog died, but I think I would be even more nervous now. We have had undesirables and a wanted man approach women in the local country park (near the wood) We have also had a lady assaulted during an attempted dog theft. She had 3 dogs and the attacker had a knife to cut the leads. Fortunately she was kicked.rather than stabbed. I did a lot of walks in the dark, but I stuck to built up areas.

I don't have a dog but it is definitely one advantage of having one - I don't think most rapists and murderers would take on a dog, the Russell case aside.

I also agree that the more remote the location, the less likely it is someone would be lying in wait, although they might take an opportunistic approach if they happened to be walking in the same area and came across you on your own.

I'd probably be more worried about the dog being stolen from me, and my being hurt during the process.

I had a horrible experience in the woods about 15 years aog. It was twilight and my date was running late. Warm summer night so i got out of my car and wandered a few meters from the car park into the trees to kill a bit of time. I heard rustling and assumed an animal/my imagination. I walked a bit more and the rustling and the movement actually 'followed' me along the bush line. I knew then that there was something going on and became very scared.

As i turned to go back to the car this guy in camo gear came out of the bushes. He was sort of running at me while crouching down low. He didn't say anything just ran straight at me. I'm ashamed to say i just froze solid. I just stood there. I couldn't move or speak AT ALL

Thank god just before he reached me i heard BFs car arrive. The bloke must have heard it too and stopped running and stood up straight. I still couldn't move! Then i heard BF shout my name and my phone went off and i heard BF coming through the trees towards me and as this all happened the bloke started running away. BF looked at me saw the bloke running away and yelled and swore at him. We reported it. I was so shaken up!

The only time since that night i have ever been ok to walk in the woods without another person was when i was walking my great dane. Even then i got twitchy!

No dogs now and i wouldn't go into the woods alone.

@Laiste

I had a horrible experience in the woods about 15 years aog. It was twilight and my date was running late. Warm summer night so i got out of my car and wandered a few meters from the car park into the trees to kill a bit of time. I heard rustling and assumed an animal/my imagination. I walked a bit more and the rustling and the movement actually 'followed' me along the bush line. I knew then that there was something going on and became very scared.

As i turned to go back to the car this guy in camo gear came out of the bushes. He was sort of running at me while crouching down low. He didn't say anything just ran straight at me. I'm ashamed to say i just froze solid. I just stood there. I couldn't move or speak AT ALL

Thank god just before he reached me i heard BFs car arrive. The bloke must have heard it too and stopped running and stood up straight. I still couldn't move! Then i heard BF shout my name and my phone went off and i heard BF coming through the trees towards me and as this all happened the bloke started running away. BF looked at me saw the bloke running away and yelled and swore at him. We reported it. I was so shaken up!

The only time since that night i have ever been ok to walk in the woods without another person was when i was walking my great dane. Even then i got twitchy!

No dogs now and i wouldn't go into the woods alone.

I can relate to that. When a man came out of the woods at me, I did the same. Fortunately when he got hold of me I did try, and managed, to get away. It's rare, something like that happens I guess. But it's also under reported too I would think.

I love walking our dog is some Forestry Commission woods that are very isolated but will only do it with my adult son. The only time I went alone I felt very uneasy. I absolutely hate feeling like this.

@FindingMeno - ''When a man came out of the woods at me, I did the same. Fortunately when he got hold of me I did try, and managed, to get away.''

Did you sort of snap out of it?
bloody hell

Even though it's so long ago i often think about it and wonder what would have happened if he'd touched me. At the time i thought that if he touched me i'd have just fainted :( It seemed to take forever those few moments between him emerging and then the sound of the car. My mind was racing i just couldn't move.

When people talk about how they'd do this and they'd do that if x y z happened i keep quiet. You just never know how you'll react and i'm quite embarrassed that i froze.

@Laiste I think on contact action became instinctive.
When people say they'd do this that and the other I feel concerned that so many people have high expectations of themselves in such a situation.

@Clymene

I do it all the t8me and I know lots of other women who do. Women are statistically much more at risk from the men they live with than random strangers.

Go for walks. Don't let fear make you stay in.

It's easy to hold this view if you have never been followed, or attacked. Unfortunately it changes you.

I walk in woodland alone but I take a spray that would dye anyones skin red - I also take a big heavy dog chain on a lead that I could use to defend myself. I actually got these in case someone tried to take my dogs but I feel safe having them.

[quote Laiste]**@FindingMeno - ''When a man came out of the woods at me, I did the same. Fortunately when he got hold of me I did try, and managed, to get away.''

Did you sort of snap out of it?
bloody hell

Even though it's so long ago i often think about it and wonder what would have happened if he'd touched me. At the time i thought that if he touched me i'd have just fainted :( It seemed to take forever those few moments between him emerging and then the sound of the car. My mind was racing i just couldn't move.

When people talk about how they'd do this and they'd do that if x y z happened i keep quiet. You just never know how you'll react and i'm quite embarrassed that i froze.[/quote]
I ran when I was being followed on an isolated path behind a housing development. The guy started to pick up pace. I had a double buggy and a 7yo with me so made it a game for them by "having a race". I was able to outrun him, and thankfully caught up with a dog walker in the distance. Suddenly he stopped running when he spotted the dog walker. I have never done that route since, on my own. Always with older DC or my giant breed dog.

I agree with you Laiste you just never know how you will react until in this situation yourself. I am sorry for your ordeal too💐 wish we could just be left in peace to walk where want any time of the day!

I was walked at just before 10am on a Sunday morning in winter. Daylight hours.

*walking

@Thebedistoohot

I walk in woodland alone but I take a spray that would dye anyones skin red - I also take a big heavy dog chain on a lead that I could use to defend myself. I actually got these in case someone tried to take my dogs but I feel safe having them.

These heavy dog chain leads could be taken and used against you by any attacker. I understand your train of thought though from a defence point of view...

I don't take precautions about weirdos in these kinds of settings. In terms of risk factors I think there are bigger ones, and I don't really worry about those, so I am not inclined to worry about something even less likely.

If there were people actually being attacked in the area or something that would be a different thing.

Mind you I do occasionally worry about zombies and alien abduction when walking in the woods alone at night, so I guess that is not all that logical.