Do you feel vulnerable when you walk your dog?

[AwsomeMrsFox]

I often walk my dog alone during the daytime and lately I have noticed a couple of strange people around on lonely paths. I try to stick to routes that are relatively well frequented by other walkers, but I don't feel as comfortable any more. I'm just wondering if this is common or if I'm just getting old :-) I actually really enjoy walking on my own and love the dog being able to run free in the countryside, but I find myself getting 'creeped out' sometimes and wonder what I would do if someone did come for me.

Yes, I do - dog would likely be off sniffing at something and not notice me being attacked

Worse, I felt really weirded out last week when out for a run at 11am without the dog - there were woods next to me and I could hear men in them but couldn't see them.

I don't know for sure if my bigger dog would try to protect me,he is soppy. But he did growl when a random knob end came into our back garden (thought he could access my neighbours back yard but he was wrong) but he does love me so I would hope he would. He's a border collie.

Little dog would scare no one!

Have pretended big dog bites when some idiot tried to pick him up last week but that was because he wanted to use him as bait to encourage his own dog to come back

No, I don't feel at all vulnerable - the only exception being when I'm out walking at dusk and suddenly realise that I'm wearing all black clothing. Usually I wear a reflective belt if I go out when its dark & I'm going to be walking in the lanes as some are very narrow & I worry about getting run over.

I always feel mortified when ddog barks at random strangers when we're out; usually he's fine but he has a thing about some types of hat. I think he considers them fashion crimes

oooh great idea about pretending to be on the phone meeting someone! There are other walks I could do, but they would either involve a car journey or walking along roads which would be such a shame.

AwesomeDog is a wussy spaniel, and definitely does not look like a deterent, plus he would probably be off somewhere not paying any attention.

I actually feel less vulnerable when I am running - probably kidding myself I am so fast no one will be abel to catch me ha ha! I guess I need to get my trainers out more :-)

I was thinking this this morning as I walked my dogs at 5.15 in a dark field. At least it wasn't foggy today....

I used to take a Maglight with me for self defence but it's usually too much of a pita to carry and I'd only end up getting clanged with it myself probably :o

I have a relatively small dog and am quite young, I took her out at about 8 in the morning, on a foggy morning and she got quite spooked because she couldn't see people properly and there were quite a few men whereas normally its women out walking dogs at our local park, she started barking at anyone who came close and started foaming at the mouth. Her being spooked made me freak out a little because I thought she could see something I couldn't and normally shes a bouncy, happy and soppy dog when it comes to other people. But she does tend to bark at anyone who is wearing a hoodie, hat or even scarf.