Lock down - dogs are allowed exercise but not children?

[Strangerthanstrange]

So it sounds like in countries in lock down people are allowed out to exercise their dogs but children must remain inside? Surely fresh air and exercise is as important as food and water? Is this right? How can we expect elderly people to also manage with no access to fresh air or exercise for 4 months? Especially those who live in flats.

That's what I thought but unfortunately it's true (in Italy at least). The first two weeks after school shut down we still went to the park and our cases continued going up so they decided it really had to be more drastic. My kids are going a bit crazy, as am I.

Dogs need to walk to do the toilet. Children do not.

I think the difference is that you can exercise your dog at any time day or night but that's far harder to do with people.

People are far more likely to wind up being social. Children will gravitate towards playgrounds. There they will interact with others, play on the toys together. Think how easily headline and worms spread amongst small children. This virus will do the same.

Dogs can't spread it. Dog walking is a pretty low risk activity, as you are outdoors and not touching play equipment.

I think its a hygeine thing, most people in Milan/Bergamo etc live in flats - where would the dogs go to the toilet?

Fresh air and exercise are important for physical and mental health but there is no comparison with food and water! There are lots and of ways to exercise at home, many people have balconies or gardens, those that don't need to open the window for fresh air. I'm in Italy and would love to take my hyperactive toddler for a walk and a play in the park, but we can't because of the risk of places getting crowded, which was happening initially. People can walk their dogs near home so they can go to the toilet, that's it. It's a crisis situation with lives at risk therefore measures are drastic.

I’m assuming people lucky enough to have a garden can use that.

I am more worried about people’s mental health than anything. A single mum stuck in a flat with two kids is really going to struggle 😪

Dog walkers are very sociable. Surelty the chance of transmission in woods/parkland (not equipment - which can be easily blocked off ) is very low whether you are walking dogs or not. People in prison have time outside as its vital to health. It will be scary to see the legislation being brought in that will enable them to enforce this.

I hope the bbc steps up and help out with mental health broadcasting if this happens. It is - at least for the moment - a public corporation.

It's not for exercising but toileting. If you live in a flat you have to take them out, if you have a garden, you don't.

The dogs don’t go round playing on the equipment, touching everything and spreading germs.

Dog walkers are sociable but they have some common sense.

I have an active, energetic one year old and no garden. We’ll be going out for walks in the area as we live very rurally and never see anyone when we do.

Oh and I meant on lockdown, not when self isolating due to symptoms

When we were still going out (sigh.....seems so long ago) it was really strange at the park to see everyone socialising (dog walkers included) but keeping their distance.

Dog walkers have common sense ~ then you could argue so do parents? Playing in the woods/out rurally is minimal risk. Even if you have to drive to get them there. Lockdown for indefinite amount of time must put people's lives at risk too. Especially those who already have poor mental health. Walking a dog is very different to popping outside for them to do their business.
@seventyone72seventy3 sounds tough. Rates are still going up now too though aren't they? Are they giving you any idea of how long it will go on for?

stranger it's ridiculous, dogs need exercise but people apparently don't. Even though stressing people out will worsen diabetes/ blood pressure and therefore presumably make people more likely to suffer badly/ die.

Spaniard here. My friends with dogs are allowed a max of 5 mins or so and back home. So it’s not as if they’re allowed to exercise loads

People can exercise inside dogs can't. They also can't sit on toilets and use the copious amounts of toilet roll everyone has.

Dogs aren't affected by the virus, can't spread it. Children would run up to each other and touch things.

I'm a single mum with two small boys and a very hyperactive springer, 6 months! All of them drive me mad unless we get out for exercise. I don't know what I'll do.

Children can go to the toilet inside, dogs can’t.

Both children and dogs can exercise inside.

I live abroad and schools are closed where I live. I have 3 school age children and work in a social care/ health care residential setting with young adults.

I did a 24 hour solo shift yesterday with 14 young adults with mental health issues all in one big house. We're based on the edge of a village near woodland and you can bet I sent those able to go out aline for walks in the woods. They're rarely all home together for 24 hours under normal circumstances and it was very tense as one very dominant personality had develooed some unrealistic convictions about the virus spreading in the outdoor air and needing to hermetically seal up the house - his constand window shutting was making the place noticably smelly, and 15 people were breathing the same air.

Given that a couple of flakey colleagues have decided to go sick with non corona fake illnesses the rest of us will be doing long solo shifts and if the residents can't go for walks it will be intolerable for everyone.

Children would run up to each other

Not if there isn't anyone there they won't. If children can exercise inside so can dogs. I don't think either can and be healthy or sane in truth.

Not if there isn't anyone there they won't. If children can exercise inside so can dogs. I don't think either can and be healthy or sane in truth.

Do you keep your children on a lead?

Dog walkers have common sense ~ then you could argue so do parents?

Not too sure, from the threads here.

Do you keep your children on a lead?

That has to be the most stupid question I have heard on mumsnet.