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Original poster

Self isolating

63 replies

Neptunesgiraffe · 07/03/2020 10:44

Hi! I really dont mean to add to any panic surrounding coronavirus, but I was wondering what you would all do if you were unfortunate enough to have to self isolate. We have a very lively small dog who needs 2 walks a day. Anything less and he would go bonkers. At weekends he has an extra long walk both days (usually a few hours of walking.) Our garden is small and he doesn't play fetch so we cant even exercise him much at home.
Thanks to anyone who read this.

OP posts:
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 07/03/2020 11:13

Drive to the park and avoid other people - you can only get it if you're within about 2m of infected people anyway.

TeddyIsaHe · 07/03/2020 11:17

I’d go out v early hours and late evening somewhere deserted with a torch. Hopefully it won’t come to that, but at least you’re preparing!

HasaDigaEebowai · 07/03/2020 11:20

If you are self isolating on advice then you are not allowed out of the house. You are not even supposed to go to the door. If you breach these rules you can be quarantined in a quarantine centre.

You need to make a plan with someone else to be able to walk or care for your dog if you really can't contemplate him not being able to go for walks.

Original poster
Neptunesgiraffe · 07/03/2020 11:20

2m? I didnt know that. That's useful if I'm not feeling too bad, I guess.

If I end up self isolating it will be because I'm ill so I guess my questions should be more along the line of, if I'm too sick to go out.....

I dont know how a dog walker would feel about collecting a dog from the house and handling things like the lead.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 07/03/2020 11:23

I appreciate its difficult. I have a rough collie who spends most of his life running around.

BrokenBrit · 07/03/2020 11:23

Dogs will cope inside if needed for 2 weeks.
Just like and in season bitch when they can’t be walked.

Ideas to keep a happy dog include play in the garden, a sand/ dirt pile to dig in, a ball pit, food games, tug, stuffed kongs, scatter feeding round the garden/ house, scent work, chews, trick training and more rest/ being calm.

Self isolation when applied properly means not leaving your property.
Not ideal for dogs but a needs must at times. Even going out early/ to the local quiet field etc doesn’t mean you won’t see anyone and you could be putting lives at risk if you have been told to isolate and you don’t.

Wolfiefan · 07/03/2020 11:24

You can’t go out.
You can’t have a dog walker coming and going.

Original poster
Neptunesgiraffe · 07/03/2020 11:30

Tbh I believe self isolation is exactly that. No going out at all for the duration. I may ask around the dog walkers in this area to see if any would be prepared to take my dog out should the worst happen. Thanks to those who replied.

OP posts:
jinxpixie · 07/03/2020 11:34

I guess we are all going to have to make major changes the dogs included. They will be fine with less exercise and will have to "dog" up to deal with it.

Mental stimulation will help - you may also be surprised how calm they become

GeraltOfRivia · 07/03/2020 11:43

I have a garden that's small but big enough for us to play treat hide and seek. We'd do lots of training and brain games. We also have a small green grass patch out front of our house that's public. I could go there for fetch early doors and late on and not bump into a soul and not touch anything other than my house. We'd manage.

YgritteSnow · 07/03/2020 11:48

If you breach these rules you can be quarantined in a quarantine centre.

I haven't heard about there being quarantine centres and forced internment into them. Not here in the U.K. anyway. Do you have more info on this?

BiteyShark · 07/03/2020 11:51

Have had to keep the dog inside on numerous occasions when he has cut his paw pad. One time was almost three weeks so I don't think two weeks isolation will be too hard.

Plus I have a garden which is big enough to throw a ball. Then we have agility equipment and could do scent training if we were really bored. However, as long as he has his ball he is happy Grin

Honeyroar · 07/03/2020 11:54

Surely getting someone else to come to the house and handle something you regularly handle (as in the dog) would not be effective isolation though?

Fannia · 07/03/2020 12:02

I was reading there is a dog in China that has become infected and they are monitoring the situation to see how dogs are affected, if they can be carriers etc.

HasaDigaEebowai · 07/03/2020 12:42

Surely getting someone else to come to the house and handle something you regularly handle (as in the dog) would not be effective isolation though?

You're not supposed to handle pets when you're in self isolation.

For some people I guess it would be possible depending on their home set up. We could probably do it since we have a large front garden. But no you're right you should either hand over the dog at the beginning of the isolation or it will have to get used to not being walked.

Original poster
Neptunesgiraffe · 07/03/2020 12:58

@BrokenBrit some great ideas there, thank you!

OP posts:
Luckypoppy · 07/03/2020 13:00

Get some snuffle mats and new toys so that you can amuse them. A ball thrown up and down your stairs can tire them out. X

dudsville · 07/03/2020 13:02

The idea of self isolating in our home with a dog is not possible in its purest sense. The dogs wouldn't understand why one of us wasn't engaging with them and we love them too much to leave them to feel punished. So, if one of us gets it the house gets it. Thankfully we have a garden. It's not big enough but we could make up games.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 07/03/2020 13:03

I've read those guidelines now and they're terrifying. I'm self employed, if I don't leave the house I don't earn a penny, with the result that I'd be unable to pay the rent and would ultimately become homeless. I'm not even eligible for SSP, not that that would cover my losses anyway.

I'd honestly have to avoid seeking medical attention for fear of being isolated. I can't possibly be the only one in this situation. The government is going to find it far harder to contain the virus if they don't start paying to cover people's losses.

Scattyhattie · 07/03/2020 13:05

It wouldn't be that different to dog being on restricted rest due to injury, though easier as can do more activities.

I'm not sure what those with dogs & no gardens are supposed to do, my garden isn't attached so can't just let outside to go toilet.

Original poster
Neptunesgiraffe · 07/03/2020 14:01

@luckypoppy I've been looking for new toys. That's a good suggestion. I'll buy planty and get them out as necessary.

@dudsville I also cant imagine how the dog would cope if I didnt interact with him. He's a very affectionate dog and I think he would think he had done something wrong.

OP posts:
simbobs · 07/03/2020 14:10

But if you can walk in places where you meet nobody then you can not be a risk to anyone, surely? A healthy, lively large dog, used to 2 good walks a day is not going to be able to cope with being kept in. May be different if they actually are unwell. And what about dog owners who live in flats, where the dog needs access to an outdoor space for toilet reasons?

Floralnomad · 07/03/2020 14:52

If you are too ill to go out your dog will adjust very quickly . I have a patterdale mix who usually has 60-90 minutes off lead per day , a couple of years ago I had a serious illness that took 6 months to diagnose and sort out and towards the end when I was literally unable to stand he didn’t get out at all and he was just fine . He can’t go off lead with anyone but me and doesn’t like other dogs so a dog walker / daycare would be his idea of hell . Often I just took him out for a drive in lieu of a walk and that also worked well .

Gingerninja4 · 07/03/2020 15:14

I wondered on this as my dog will need to go out to get to the toilet and if I am self isolating so are my children

I am going to speak to my dog walker /home boarder and hope if it came to it she will come grab and keep him at hers (she uses own lead and has outdoor washing option so could always shower him when get to hers