Self isolation and dogs

[3teens2cats]

So like many other people we are making plans incase we or others have to stay at home. From what I understand covid-19 can be transferred via pet fur if touched by an infected person. What are others planning to do with regards to caring for their dogs and maintaining a level of exercise and stimulation? He's only a year old.

Run the dog in the garden. He’s small enough that it will be enough for him.

I read something from a woman in Italy today saying she has to get a permit to take her dog out. I presume she’s in a city though. I live semi rural and have fields across the road I could use, I can’t see me having to get a permit first. But who knows?

The RSPCA advice is far from consistent itself. Keep your dog inside or confined to the garden, but let your cat go in and out as normal?

Well you don’t go with your cat... so...

Fair enough - I was more thinking of transmission on pet fur, as per a previous suggestion.

Cats aren’t hugely likely to be touching people when they’re out though, (I mean the odd one or two does, but in general they don’t) someone’s having to touch the dog to walk it.

I have been wondering about this...

Guess we will have to wait and see

I heard today in Italy that one of the justifications for being allowed out of your house is that the dog needs to be walked. There is now a brisk trade in dog walking opportunities.

I'm keeping my Chihuahua in as much as possible tbh

I wouldn't walk my dog if I were ill. But without any illness I would.

I live very rurally, can drive to an area (using my car on my drive) where I can see people for 500m in all directions. I am very good at avoiding people and unless there is any evidence that CV can survive in the air for 10 minutes after passing through it, I can't see how I could transit or catch anything.

One of my cats is revoltingly friendly and in-yer-face to all comers. Might need to keep her indoors if any of us come down with symptoms.

Mine won't go to the toilet in the garden..so as long as I'm not self isolating I'll take her out for walks. But I'm in a rural area, can take my dog out in the car and not see a soul.. I do that now!
If I end up self isolating I hope that a family member will still be able to go .. if we are all ill, then I will ring round non ill friends and hope someone can take her out!

My friend is self isolating and was told he could walk his dog as long as he stayed at least 2 metres away from anyone else. This was when he asked the doctor who told him to self isolate. Others have been told the same.

I'll be following the mist current NHS guidance on this, if I need to self isolate.

If in lock down you're still allowed out to buy food. There's a local food shop that's dog friendly so I'd have to start getting inventive with reasons to go out - like daily trips to that shop to buy a single item.

If DDog doesn't get walked for a fortnight he'll be more of a danger to human health than coronavirus ever was

I'm dreading lockdown situation as we have 3 working-type spaniels and a garden which would be cramped if it was a window box!

As it is the dogs will go bananas if they can't get a run, and as a PP has said - we will also become much less fit.

I'm not worried about people touching my dogs, because I've never encouraged them to go to strangers (due to fear of dog theft - I don't want them near anyone), so they don't approach anyone unless they are told to.

I can't imagine what sort of hell we'll be living in if they can't get out - and they'll become very depressed.

If I couldn’t walk my dog without meeting other people or touching things where the virus may still be live (gates etc) then I wouldn’t walk my dog in case of lockdown BUT as long as I can walk him without doing those things then I would, as long as it’s allowed. In Spain individual dog walks are still allowed

I'm keeping DDog away from DS (suspected) and practising good hand hygiene ourselves to try and make sure we don't put anything on his fur.

Have agreed with dog walker that she'll text me when outside, I'll put his harness on and leave him in the front porch where she will collect him and use her own lead so that she doesn't have to touch ours.

She's already carrying sanitiser in her van so will use it on her hands after she brings him back and she's not taking him in the van, just walks local to our house.

I'm self isolating because of a cough and headache. I'm not letting anyone walk the dog because I don't want to spread coronavirus via her if it does happen to be that. My ex would come and walk her if I asked but I'm not going to because he lives with his mum who has other health conditions and I don't want to be responsible for her or anyone else's death.

I will be playing with my dog in the garden, teaching her some new commands and whatever else I can think of.

She is an 18 month old Cocker spaniel so I will definitely feel being locked in with her, but there is no other sensible and moral option.

I'm self-isolating due to a cough and slight fever. DH will still take the dog out.

Hope you feel better soon adaline

Hope you feel better soon @adaline

Finding this very stressful. Me and ds are self isolating due to cold symptoms, live with elderly fil so keeping well apart within house, Dh still fine. Dog who has terminal cancer suddenly had a big spike in pain levels last night. Had no choice but to have her in vets today, with dh obvs. They have upped her meds but want to see her again on Friday. We have to do it but strictly speaking now dh shouldn’t be going out!

Thanks @Wolfiefan and @jinxpixie

Surprisingly don't feel too bad overall but the cough is horrible!

So sorry about your dog jacqueline.

I know there will be people on here who will roll their eyes at being upset over an animal, especially in the current situation, but when you love, you love and your heart must be breaking.

I hope that you, your DH and your FIL remain well.

And your DS - sorry!