Isolating and have a dog

[Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave]

Both my husband and I and our two children have covid, we are all therefore isolating. It’s day two today. We have a dog to walk and can’t. Even if we can get a dog Walker (where we live they are so popular it’s hard to find one, especially this close to Christmas). Our dog is also in season so it makes it even trickier as it either has to be at 6am or 9pm when no one is around. How on earth are we going to manage? She is a high energy breed that is 9 months old and needs walking twice a day. Any suggestions please? We have no one near by to help, my parents are both frail and would be dragged along by the dog.

You are winding up the local male dog population and seem completely oblivious.

Genuine question. I walk with a number of dogs some of whom come into season, and none of the male dogs (all neutered obvs since they are pets) show any interest at all in the in-season dogs. Rather than 'local male population' do you mean 'local male unneutered population' (which in the UK must be very low)? Or are the (neutered) male dogs I know unusual in their lack of interest?

Re. The OP's question, just walk the dog doing all you can to mitigate any theoretical risk - wear a mask, go at a quiet time, cross the road if you see anyone etc.

I use borrowmydoggy, but would never let someone I don't know who isn't a trained dog walker take rookiedog out ( and I'm not a particularly precious dog owner).
Also I'm not sure who'd be rushing for the opportunity to get infected themselves this close to Christmas.

Go early/ late and just go as quiet a route as you can.

Sorry I meant I always go out on the first walk with the borrowmydoggy person, so they can get used to rookiedogs ways and I can assess if they are capable of doing it.

Of course you can’t take the dog out.

Ask a neighbour or post on a community Facebook page for someone to help out.

Apparently 1 in 3 people have no symptoms sonare walking around with it so you going for a dog walk is no different. Put a mask on and walk the dog. I live in a flat so would also have to go outside to take the rubbish out etc.

@icedancerlenny

It’s amazing that 2 years on people don’t know what isolation is (not you OP).

To be fair - the rules have changed multiple times in that. Isolation and shielding and tiers and full lockdowns have all had different rules and many have mixed them up. First time round so many people on here were convinced we could only go out once a day for 1 hour. That was never a rule, but so many were convinced it was.

OP - hope you are ok. I echo the "do a Boris" suggestion.

@TedGlenn

You are winding up the local male dog population and seem completely oblivious.

Genuine question. I walk with a number of dogs some of whom come into season, and none of the male dogs (all neutered obvs since they are pets) show any interest at all in the in-season dogs. Rather than 'local male population' do you mean 'local male unneutered population' (which in the UK must be very low)? Or are the (neutered) male dogs I know unusual in their lack of interest?

Re. The OP's question, just walk the dog doing all you can to mitigate any theoretical risk - wear a mask, go at a quiet time, cross the road if you see anyone etc.

Yes the dogs are fairly unusual. Many neutered males will show interest. Even my female dog shows interest when another female is in season. You'd be surprised how many un neutered male dogs there are. Plenty owners these days don't neuter in case it changed their temperament and it has become quite popular to neuter later too especially in big dogs to allow them to fully mature with all their hormones intact. This can mean dogs are 2 or 3 before it's done

To be fair - the rules have changed multiple times in that. Isolation and shielding and tiers and full lockdowns have all had different rules and many have mixed them up. First time round so many people on here were convinced we could only go out once a day for 1 hour. That was never a rule, but so many were convinced it was.

The rules on isolating if you have covid or are a close contact isolating have never changed though (I know now not everyone has to isolate as a contact but where they do and when they did it was/is the same)

Oh really? So do dogs in season miraculously develop the ability to use human toilets then?

Op has a garden

It has to be done, we live in a flat with no garden so had to take our dog out several times a day when we were isolating so he could do his business. There was no other option. We stayed very local, masked, and avoided other people. They can’t expect animals to stay indoors / limited outdoor space for 10 days.

@underneaththeash

Of course you can’t take the dog out.

Ask a neighbour or post on a community Facebook page for someone to help out.

Common sense bypass

Going out early in an isolated spot - no way, too risky! And more importantly, it's "not allowed". If something isn't allowed then that's absolute. My kid could be dying but there's no way I would go at 31mph in a 30 zone to get him to A&E because it's "not allowed" and the fabric of space-time will open up and destroy me if i did so.

Meeting neighbour daily to pass them the dog (and then when it returns from the walk) - absolutely fine - no risk in those repeated encounters at all, and somehow doesn't count as not being in contact whilst isolating.

You can absolutely walk an in season dog. My lab was in season for 3 weeks at 9 months old and obviously needed exercise during those times. She was kept firmly on the lead and I walked her earlier or later in the day and didn’t go to open fields/dog park etc. Other dog owners wouldn’t expect you to not walk your dog for almost a month just because their dog might be interested in sniffing her so please don’t worry about that. Regarding being in isolation, legally you’re not allowed. However I would do a very very early walk when you won’t see anyone

Yes I wondered about that @Hazelnutbean . Much more likely to pass on covid when handing over dog, lead, treats etc. , but RULES are RULES to some .

@rookiemere

Yes I wondered about that *@Hazelnutbean* . Much more likely to pass on covid when handing over dog, lead, treats etc. , but RULES are RULES to some .

I bet half those who insist on following every rule to the letter on MN don't actually do so in real life. They just like to be bossy.

@Querty123456 you’ve chosen to leave your dogs unspayed. It’s up to you to keep them away from off lead dogs in season. Or deal with the consequences.
You can walk a dog in season. On lead. Away from off lead dogs.
You can’t take the dog out if you have covid.

You are required to isolate with covid at home for 10 days and it is illegal to go out. At all. Unless fleeing DV (or presumably house burning down) or for urgent medical attention. "we want to walk our dog" really isn't a good enough reason.

So whatever challenge it takes, you really ought arrange dog walkers or ask on covid line - if councils are still doing them - for help to walk a dog. You need experienced dog walker as DDog is in season

Don't know why you're not asking friends and family here OP? - even one hour long walk a day would be something.

I don't understand why you would chose to breach Public Heath legislation, risk a fine and also risk others health when you know you are infected with covid19- an airborne contagious virus.

Whilst you may not meet anyone whilst out, if you had an accident whilst out - how easy it is to slip, a car driving too fast near you or others children barrel round the corner on scooters - it's still fire service and paramedics that have to help you. Still A&E you'd be going to. And you have covid. You never think it will happen to you but then it does.

Early morning and later evening is often when CEV people avoiding others may be going out to reduce their risk of infection.

Stay home when you have an infectious disease. No excuses.

I know it's not you saying you'll go out OP and you initially asked for advice on what to do , it's terrible some MNers on here are encouraging you to do something illegal and dangerous.

If you read the OPs posts, her family can't cope with the dog, and she doesn't have local friends she feels she can ask. She needs someone who can cope with the dog, not just a neighbours teen.

I would contact all the local dog walkers and explain the situation, it will be pricy though. Failing that, mask on, go out at 5:30/6am and stay away from other people.

Its meeting your dogs needs, not driving to Barnard Castle.

@MargosKaftan

If you read the OPs posts, her family can't cope with the dog, and she doesn't have local friends she feels she can ask. She needs someone who can cope with the dog, not just a neighbours teen.

I would contact all the local dog walkers and explain the situation, it will be pricy though. Failing that, mask on, go out at 5:30/6am and stay away from other people.

Its meeting your dogs needs, not driving to Barnard Castle.

OP said they were going to put feelers out with some friends, hopefully has managed to arrange something

[quote Wolfiefan]@Querty123456 you’ve chosen to leave your dogs unspayed. It’s up to you to keep them away from off lead dogs in season. Or deal with the consequences.
You can walk a dog in season. On lead. Away from off lead dogs.
You can’t take the dog out if you have covid.[/quote]
Just until they’ve had a season actually. Then I spay them. In terms of consequences I’m always concerned about off lead entire dogs with absolutely no recall crossing roads blindly in their desperation to get after in season bitches. That’s why I’ve always neutered male dogs on maturity and kept them on leads until then.

@Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave

Both my husband and I and our two children have covid, we are all therefore isolating. It’s day two today. We have a dog to walk and can’t. Even if we can get a dog Walker (where we live they are so popular it’s hard to find one, especially this close to Christmas). Our dog is also in season so it makes it even trickier as it either has to be at 6am or 9pm when no one is around. How on earth are we going to manage? She is a high energy breed that is 9 months old and needs walking twice a day. Any suggestions please? We have no one near by to help, my parents are both frail and would be dragged along by the dog.

Friends? Neighbours? Colleagues? I am just back from walking the dog of an isolating colleague.

Honestly? I had Covid last year when it was rife but I live in a flat and my dog needs to piss, shit, and exercise. I took him out first thing in the morning and late at night. Wore a mask the whole time and didn't touch anything.

Just take your dog out. Unfair on the dog to be holed up all day.

We had to isolate earlier in the year and also have a bouncy dog. A few days she didn't go out at all (apart from garden) and the majority of the time she was walked by a friend or a dog Walker. I had to contact about ten before I found one with space. It is illegal to walk your dog if isolating. Otherwise people could "pop to the shops" for eg. I do feel your pain.

@Querty123456 you keep entire dogs on lead until they are old enough to be neutered? Mental. Many in my breed say don’t neuter unless medically necessary. Regardless they shouldn’t be neutered until maturity. I’m not keeping a wolf hound on lead for three years.