Do you have different 'types' of people on your dog walking route at different times of day?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

I walk my dogs at various times through the day. As a result I have noticed there tends to be certain 'types' of people at certain times of day and they all seem to have similar kinds of dogs.

Early morning: 6:30am to 8:30am seems to be pensioners time. I like these people, they all know each other and each other's dogs and always very friendly and happy to see you. A lot of them carry treats and ask if they can give my dog(s) one. They tend to have elderly JRTs or Labs. Those with the JRTs often have more than one. Their dogs are usually off lead and happily plod along behind their owners ignoring the world.

After this it's the school run mums. There seem to be two groups of school run mums. There are the middle class 'yummy mummy' types with their small, fluffy breeds. These ones are not very sociable. They seem to use Flexi leads a lot, their dogs are kept mainly on lead and aren't often seen playing.

The other group is normal mums. They tend to have mainly terriers, labs, retrievers or collies. They walk mainly off lead and all of their dogs play together. They seem to have a reasonable amount of control over their dogs. They use lots of different types of leads.

This group has a tendency to disappear when the weather is bad

Midday to Mid Afternoon is the unemployed and teenagers. They seem to prefer the stereotypical bull breeds and lurchers. Surprisingly their dogs are very well socialised and friendly with other dogs as are the people. I like to walk puppy at this time so he can chase the other lurchers. They seem to use chain leads or no leads at all and have very little control over their dogs.

After this is the school pick up group. These are mainly grandparents. They often have retired greyhounds or lurchers. A few have Yorkies, the Yorkies tend to be snappy and unsocialised and are treat like replacement children. You get puppy walkers at this time too, who likes to use the school children to socialise their pups, although this is good idea, I think.

I go to the beach at night. These are the 'proper' dog walkers, imo, they have lots of different breeds, mainly off lead, have good control over their dogs and are out in all weathers. They're very friendly but due to the size of the beach aren't often in groups, they stop and chat when they see you.

It's very interesting to watch (if you are nosey like me)

So does your park seem to have 'types' of people using it, or is it just mine?

My friends get cross with me if I walk our dogs in the dark. But I have a German Shepherd that people cross the street to avoid during the day so I think I am fine early morning/late evening. It isnt something I have ever thought about before though.

and btw he is the gentlest, big lump ever, although his bark is enough to deter any lurkers. My old lab, well I could be raped, pillaged or murdered and he would still be trotting forward. That is why he is on a flexi lead! he keeps moving, even when I stop! And if he is off lead he is remarkably quick for an old boy.

See 'Walking with Dogs'. It's that lot plus my friends who asked not to be filmed. Mixed bag o' folks. MadLab watched intermittantly until the greyhound who nipped him the day before came on screen. That woke him up.

Oh people cross the street to avoid BigDog as well. That's why I walk him at night with his friends and DH walks him at 5:30 am before work.

He would be more likely to try and make friends with anyone that tried to attack me, but LittleDog would see them off.

We have the eleven o'clock ladies, all retired with westies and terriers. They meet at the playing field at eleven every day and walk very very slowly.

I sometimes walk with a couple of friends, we all have rescue dogs they remind me of the Hairy McClary books. We don't look like yummy mummies as we are out in all weathers, but scrub up well.

We have two unsociable staffies, but then we live in the middle of Salisbury plain, so its not very often we see anybody

Actually they are not too bad when we do happen upon another dog.

The biggest problem was we got them at 14 weeks and 13 months, the older one went into season as we got her, so needed to keep her away from other dogs, then as she finished the younger one came into season.

Its really weird when they have their flashy collars on watching the light hovering on top of the Plain!

I forgot - there's the lady with the flotilla of miniaturelong-haired daschunds that everyone tries to avoid because of the constant shrill yapping.

Aww DOoin now I've just cried thinking about your old man waiting for his dog.

DOoin, the old man missing & waiting for his dog has made me cry...and grab my hound and hug her!

It's awful isn't it? I have never met his sons but dislike them immensely. You would think one of them would have agreed to keep the dog wouldn't you? Or at least looked for a friend or family to take it.

I've been looking at dogs to rescue recently - and have seen a number of 13 and 14 yo dogs needing new homes

I rescued a 14.5yr old lab and he is ace. still loves a stroll and adores my daughter and husband. DS and I are just the ones who feed him! He is hilarious in his doddery old way. Wouldnt be without him.

Have just returned to this thread since yesterday - D0oin I am in tears thinking about that poor old man hoping to see his dog again. That TV programme on Monday night brought it home just how important dogs are to some people, particularly vulnerable or lonely people.