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Original poster

Isolating and have a dog

153 replies

Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave · 19/12/2021 05:43

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.

OP posts:
RedCandyApple · 19/12/2021 15:28

Who knew having a dog meant you didn’t have to isolate! Can’t believe someone also thought you could exercise if you were isolating, that’s never been allowed 🙄

catsrus · 19/12/2021 15:32

Your dog will not suffer for not being walked for a couple of weeks - in fact it is good practice to teach a dog to cope with not being walked. All sorts of things can happen, cruciate problems, OCD, surgery.... dogs who are never taught to settle or engage their brain find it very difficult when they have to be confined for health reasons.

All of mine will accept not being walked, they would prefer to be out and about, but don't climb the walls if they are not. I have two young dogs who are high energy breeds and a couch potato.

I also never walk a bitch in season. It's just not fair to other dogs.

Just use lots of enrichment activities, hiding food etc.

Chloemol · 19/12/2021 15:46

If you have a garden then just okay with the dog, do some training if you are up to it

But please don’t go out you have covid, it doesn’t matter what time you go you may meet someone, what happens if you have an accident and the poor emergency services have to come?

It’s 10 days, the dog will live without walks

orchid2021 · 19/12/2021 15:50

You can still take your dog out. We did and we just avoided people

invisiblereally · 19/12/2021 15:57

@RedCandyApple

Who knew having a dog meant you didn’t have to isolate! Can’t believe someone also thought you could exercise if you were isolating, that’s never been allowed 🙄
Exactly!!! Well said Red there some ridiculous excuses and posters on here today!!

Irresponsible MNers on here giving terrible advice . Illegal to fail to isolate when you have Covid-19.

It's not like the global pandemic has been going almost 2 years already... And all those dog owners have had ALL THAT TIME to think through what they'd do to get DDog walked if they had to isolate at home.

What have the rest of us been doing? ... Stocking up on extra tinned food slowly, buying in long life milk, some bread recipes just incase had to isolate. Working out who's walk the dog. Updating our wills (if CEV) and working out who's take DCs to school if we had to isolate at home . Some of us - CEV have had to work out who's care for our DCs when admitted to hospital with covid, and manage all those months shielding at home where we couldn't go out. That was living 100s miles away from any family.

Gosh it seems like some of us had a lot harder things to work out and plan for than walking a Dog.

SarahWoodWould · 19/12/2021 16:09

I paid my neighbour’s teenager £10 per walk when we had to isolate (twice).

Whattochoosenow · 19/12/2021 16:11

For those getting upset, can you please explain what the risks actually ARE of walking a dog late at night or early in the morning when no one is around?

invisiblereally · 19/12/2021 16:44

@Whattochoosenow

For those getting upset, can you please explain what the risks actually ARE of walking a dog late at night or early in the morning when no one is around?
The same as those risks of going out with an active Covid infection as that is what you are doing. Having a dog is irrelevant it is not recluse for ignoring Public health advise and legislation which is to isolate at home. PPs have already give some examples of what can happen but I believe public health published considerable reports about risks and why people should remain at home To curb infections whilst infected. Perhaps read those @Whattochoosenow . They've only been available since March 2020... and published on HMGov website...
JuergenSchwarzwald · 19/12/2021 16:47

For goodness sake OP just take the dog for a walk early morning and late at night when hardly anyone is around. Do you really need permission from MN?

JuergenSchwarzwald · 19/12/2021 16:48

@Whattochoosenow

For those getting upset, can you please explain what the risks actually ARE of walking a dog late at night or early in the morning when no one is around?
There aren't any. There are people who seem to think that every time you go out you will fall over and need to call 999. In the real world, it doesn't happen. And the chances of catching covid outside are vanishingly small even if you don't wear a mask.
Mojoj · 19/12/2021 16:52

Is there something wrong with you? Apart from having the virus I mean? Why on earth would you be asking how to walk your dog? Is this a serious post? What is it you think is going to happen when you get outside in the fresh air? That any virus you might breathe out will instantly go up the nose of any passers by? FFS get a grip.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 19/12/2021 16:53

@Mojoj

Is there something wrong with you? Apart from having the virus I mean? Why on earth would you be asking how to walk your dog? Is this a serious post? What is it you think is going to happen when you get outside in the fresh air? That any virus you might breathe out will instantly go up the nose of any passers by? FFS get a grip.
Is this directed at the OP? I think some of the other people on this thread are the ones who really need to get a grip.
Kshhuxnxk · 19/12/2021 17:06

I have two reactive dogs so walk them at 6.30am and 10.30pm. We never see a soul and would continue to do this if we had covid. Don't need to touch anything where we walk. Never not walked a dog in season either - what a lot of rubbish.

Original poster
Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave · 19/12/2021 17:09

@Mojoj how do you think it spreads then? Such a dick comment. Educate yourself perhaps.

OP posts:
Siameasy · 19/12/2021 17:09

I too would walk the dog at a less popular time.

Mojoj · 19/12/2021 17:12

@Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave common sense has left the building clearly. I think we know who the dick is🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Potatodrivers · 19/12/2021 17:16

I walk my dogs on a night to avoid people. I never see a soul from 9:30 onwards. If and when I catch covid, I will continue walking them at that time. Knowing there is nobody about, and it's far safer than having somebody else come to me to collect my dog to walk them. Theres a higher chance of passing the virus on to the dog walker than there is walking a route you know nobody is on.

DrWhoNowww · 19/12/2021 17:45

It has always been legal to break isolation for animal welfare reasons.

So yes, you can walk your dog, but do it at quieter times where you will encounter the least people.

Whattochoosenow · 19/12/2021 17:50

@invisiblereally seriously? Do you think the virus hangs around in the air for hours at a time so if OP walks her dog at say 6am someone passing that airspace a couple of hours later will catch it?

Original poster
Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave · 19/12/2021 17:56

@DrWhoNowww unfortunately that’s not correct. I wish it was as this whole thread wouldn’t have occurred, it’s been an interesting discussion!

inews.co.uk/news/uk/walk-dog-self-isolating-can-rules-isolation-when-isolate-how-long-explained-667087/amp

OP posts:
Branster · 19/12/2021 18:00

If you or your DH feel well enough, just go walk the dog OP and avoid other people. As she will be on the lead anyway, it very doable.
Forget about all this nonsense and consider wearing a mask if you think you might get near any people.
There's hardly anyone else about at 6:30AM or 9PM.

DrWhoNowww · 19/12/2021 18:30

@Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave that advice has changed since I had covid then.

I was able to tend to my horses whilst isolating when I couldn’t get anyone else to care for them.

Personally I would think it cruel NOT to walk a dog that has been used to it for 10 days, if you can’t find someone to take them out then You should do it yourself whilst mitigating the risk of passing covid on to anyone else.

EinsteinaGogo · 19/12/2021 19:27

@invisiblereally

You to know that plans change, don't you?

You do know that dog walkers are people, often with families, who have their own lives, sickness, child issues and beyond.

Do you really think you can make a plan at the beginning of a pandemic and expect it to be still actionable months and years on?

Settingsss · 19/12/2021 19:33

* Your dog will not suffer for not being walked for a couple of weeks - in fact it is good practice to teach a dog to cope with not being walked*

Got to love the mumsnet ‘advice’. I expect some peer reviewed evidence to be sent next. Absolutely bizarre.

I take a dim view of dogs not being neutered and think some of the claims on here are at best spurious. But- walk the dog, outside, at unsocial hours.

Settingsss · 19/12/2021 19:34

[quote DrWhoNowww]@Didireallyjusthearthatcanthave that advice has changed since I had covid then.

I was able to tend to my horses whilst isolating when I couldn’t get anyone else to care for them.

Personally I would think it cruel NOT to walk a dog that has been used to it for 10 days, if you can’t find someone to take them out then You should do it yourself whilst mitigating the risk of passing covid on to anyone else.[/quote]
Spot on.