Anyone want a support system for people struggling to walk their dogs?

[Befop]

I have 3 small breed dogs all over age 6.

In the last few years my anxiety has taken over to the point I'd say Im agoraphobic.

My dogs are little and don't need a huge walk so I'm just going to try and take them out everyday.

It also doesn't help that years ago my dog was attacked and ended up getting run over after escaping from attacking dog.

So I'm scared to go parks etc now.

A few days ago I took them park and TWO separate people let their dogs run over unleashed.

And I literally shake because I think it's going to happen again.

But my dogs deserve a walk everyday. Even if it's just the streets, not park

They're so spoilt. Best raw food diets. Probiotics Toys. Snuffle mats. Licky mats. We spend all day playing and cuddling but a walk is important.

I have to try harder.

oh definitely @SirChenjins it is very stressful . I think doing what works for you the family and the dog works best.

I took them out with DH.

We went for a pavement walk but went passed the park, it's very small and noone else was in there so we went round the park too :)

Dogs were really happy.

Someone came with an XL Bully but he was muzzled and kept on the lead and was at the opposite end so I felt alright.

Lots of sniffs and happy dogs.

Am definitely going to go again tomorrow.

Am also going to try and increase the games and mind work inside house as suggested.

Also I'm not against dogs being off lead if owners put their dogs back on leads when other dogs are around. It's the people that let their dogs run at everyone and have no control.

But in all honesty I think dogs should be on leads at all times in public. And if you want to do training off lead you need to book time on a private field.

I'm glad you got out and had a nice walk yesterday! I've often wondered if it's scary having a small dog. My large (but not giant) girl seemed absolutely massive compared to toy dogs and terriers etc.

I think there are a lot of preconceived ideas about dog walks that aren't helpful for many of us. I feel sadness on walks sometimes (for different reasons to you) so I'm trying to work through overcoming this 'ideal'. My girl is super friendly so has to be on a lead while we keep working on recall, and walks often aren't what I imagined when I got a dog. We do so many pavement sniffy walks, and tbh for a 13 month old, she is incredibly calm at home. So clearly her brain is being exercised enough. I would stick to pavements and feel no guilt about it. The being able to sniff is so enriching for them.

@Befop I just don’t think that it’s feasible or practical for dogs to be on-lead at all times - ‘in public’ means anything from busy streets to remote countryside and everything in-between. Not everyone has access to a secure dog field for a myriad of reasons.

I agree that dogs shouldn’t run at everyone although with the best will in the world, sometimes things go wrong and dogs don’t behave as they should. I don’t mind if the dog is curious rather than aggressive or jumping up (but that’s because mine is often happy to have a sniff at other dogs), and the owner takes immediate action to get the dog and apologises if the other person isn’t happy. I know that’s not what everyone wants though, but it’s impossible to change other people’s behaviour - all you can do is minimise the chances of it happening to you by having short pavement walks and lots of enrichment indoors or in your garden if you have one.

As another poster suggested, I absolutely implore you to get on to the Borrow my Doggie website. They were a godsend to me. One lovely couple who cared for my little fur ball in their own home from 7 am to 7 pm twice a week for 3 months ( and walked him of course.) Another lovely young couple who had him 7.30 til 5 most weekdays for several months. The second couple have become family friends and adore the bones of my little rascal. The only charge is a one off insurance fee. Any walking after that is free. I would definitely give it a try.

My dog {small, well trained, gentle} would be depressed if she had to be on a lead all the time- she loves the freedom of being off lead, even though she stays close to me most of the time.

They love to be able to sniff what they want, to have a little sprint if they feel like one, and to say ALL dogs should be on a lead in public is a move too far.
On pavements, yes.
But parks and open fields, a well behaved, well mannered dog should be allowed off lead.
There are always idiots though who don't have control, and who are buried in their phones not watching their dogs.

My personal gripe is so called 'professional' dog walkers who have a milling pack ,all off lead, and these can be an absolute pain.

I try and keep as far from these irresponsible walkers as possible.

The more dogs, the more money- and no matter how much they whistle and call their errant mutts, the mutts don't listen.

Probably kept crated for most of the day, so the 45 minute manic ''pack walk'' as they are advertised as is all they have to look forwards to.

Can I request however as this is a supportive thread that the generalisation of 'people who walk their dogs off lead does "insert all sorts of bad things" stops.

I hadn't noticed anything on this thread in relation to generalisations, but as someone who has always walked their dogs off lead, and they walk around, play ball and don't approach or bother anyone else, the generalisation isn't unfounded to be fair. We are approached every time we go out by dogs off lead, and I'm not talking about walking past people as that is fair game if you have both sets of dogs off lead, I'm talking other side of field, running over, complete lack of control on their part, I've had dogs for 25 years and it seems to be more of a problem now then it has ever been.. BUT it is down to poor dog ownership and people being completely oblivious/inconsiderate, I'd say in my personal experience the majority of people who walk their dogs off lead should have their dogs trained better and don't seem to care that they don't.. they just seem to rely on the 'THEY'RE FRIENDLEEEE' approach.

No, not everyone should be tarred with the same brush, but I'm not surprised people are starting to feel that way, more so with nervous dogs, dogs that have been attacked previously or any dogs that are on leads, because being approached by a loose dog not under control can have quite a significant impact and I personally see it all the time in open spaces.

Ones like you who are considerate to other people are pretty rare.

Why can't your DH walk them at least 3 days/week ?
In covid time, we Cin Trust volunteers were told things like a small dog might only get graded to be walked 2-3x/week.

Would you walk with someone else or is with your DH the only acceptable option?

Don't think OP would qualify to get volunteer walker with CinTrust without being registered disabled, and honestly, a lot of dogs signed up for CinTrust are on waiting list, there aren't enough volunteers.

'' I'm talking other side of field, running over, complete lack of control on their part, I've had dogs for 25 years and it seems to be more of a problem now then it has ever been.. BUT it is down to poor dog ownership and people being completely oblivious/inconsiderate, I'd say in my personal experience the majority of people who walk their dogs off lead should have their dogs trained better and don't seem to care that they don't.. they just seem to rely on the 'THEY'RE FRIENDLEEEE' approach.''

Couldn't agree more.
Have had dogs since 1992 of my own, and used to walk them for others before then.

DEFINITELY far more dogs around, and far more large, unsuitable types they are ''Boisterous''
Why oh why do people buy a 'working' breed while living in a city?
It's insanity.

''Oh Ruby is a WORKING Cocker'' {Ruby is absolutely mental and frantic}
''Fly is a working line Border Collie'' {Fly is absolutely mental and frantic}
&c&c. They specify ''Working'' as if it is better, but don't give the dogs the outlet they are genetically selected for.

Far too many unsuitable dogs for people's lifestyles I think.

Hi, what a lovely thread to start,
I was seriously ill due to intentional overdose of medication in January last year but had secondary complications such as sepsis 2 x from separate infections and gangrene in my left leg.
I was bed bound for 5 months from being in a coma for 8 weeks to 3 months just being able to take a few steps with a walking frame,
Now I'm around 70% recovered I hit a platue so we decided to get a pup to get me walking more and to strengthen my leg properly and to fully heal my leg where I had to have several surgeries to get the dead tissue, muscle, nerves out,
It has been the hardest process I've ever had to go through and then it's been 10 x harder with Milo ( we've had him for 3 months now) BUT it has been the best decision to get milo, he assists with my anxieties and mental health issues but Importantly keeping me active to strengthen my leg and I'm happy to say that after 12 months my leg has healed ( very lucky to have not lost my leg)
BUT there are some days where I am so tired I do struggle massively to give him the walks I normally do ( I have a husband to support when he finishes work)
It's hard suffering with physical/ mental health issues but it doesn't make us bad owners.
Xx

For everyone suggesting borrow my doggy, and asking other people to walk OPs dogs, she has already said that she'd never let anyone walk her dogs and I'm in complete agreeance to be fair.

I do think it's a good thing, and valuable to a lot of people but personally, I would never allow anyone but myself or my DH to walk our three dogs, they're all sweethearts, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to them, I've had various levels of dogs attacks happen during my time with dogs and I KNOW I would lay down my life in an attempt to stop it, I've literally wrestled attacking dogs, grabbed hold of them and put my hands and arms in to intervene with no absolutely no regard for my personal safety while their stupid owners stand their mouth agape watching it happen.. It's very rare anything that serious, probably only had to do it 3/4 times in 20 years but I would never expect someone who doesn't own that dog to go to the same lengths as I would to protect them.

Dogs aside, I think you deserve to get help for yourself. You can't live like this long term whether you've got pets or not. Something like hypnotherapy or other such treatment might change your life.

I've had hypnosis, it doesn't do a thing for me.

I'm medicated and have therapy. There's not much more that can be done.

This has been my whole adult life.

There's this thought process of 'fixing' people with MH issues, sometimes this is just how people are. I have bad days, I have good days, I have great days.
My brain is just wired differently.

This is exactly how I feel. I wouldn't trust anyone else to keep them safe.
So many stories of neglectful dog walkers leaving dogs in cars or losing them etc.

Hi OP, it's great you got your dogs out today 🤗 I'm in the same boat but doing much better now. I'd second joining a local FB group, I used to walk with an elderly lady who was nervous of taking her dog out alone, then I was attacked on a walk and struggled to take my dogs out at all for a year.

Much better now, but I do get quite irritable before a walk but don't have a choice as I had 4 (now three) very high energy breeds. Now I do their pavement walk at 4:30am, and another at 1pm where I cross a knee deep river 2 miles away to get somewhere "safe" because I'm so put off by seeing off lead dogs running at me.

When it was really bad, I would do silly little games with them inside, like sitting at the top of the stairs and throwing a dog biscuit down and sending them one at a time to go and get it (stair running is very tiring, wouldn't recommend for a breed with joint problems but my breeds are fine with it), hiding treats while they're all in a sit and sending them off one at a time to sniff it out and energetic tricks like spinning and jumping in the air or jumping over little hurdles, then when they had most of their energy out I would commit to something tiny like a 5 or 10 minute walk so they got to feel the wind on their fur.

Probably won't have another dog after these go purely because all of the fun of walking has left due to people with horribly behaved dogs off lead, which is a shame because I'm a huge dog lover, my family all joke about how I'm a crazy dog lady because I love them so much, but I can't deal with the stress for another decade.

WOOT WOOT!!! Thats amazing! < does cringy cheerleading routine > Well done you

Thankyou.

The guilt is immense though. Their little faces when I said the magic 'W' word. They all ran to the front door and looked up at their coats/harness/leads. 😭

Delurking to say how pleased I am to hear that you have got on so well.

I have never actually owned a dog, but I do know that they do not hold grudges, and I doubt yours have even been resenting you for not going out, it's just that they were overjoyed that now they were going out for a walk with you. Please, don't feel guilty about what you couldn't help - and please feel proud of yourself for what you have done.

Don’t feel guilty. Feel proud you did it. That’s great.

That is so sweet 🥺

I'd just like to say thankyou for all the support on this thread, I was a little worried I would get flamed but everyone's been so nice.

Sounds like you've made huge steps voicing the issue and making steps to change things. Our dog behaviourist was very clear that a slow, sniffy pavement walk is extremely beneficial for dog's mental stimulation (he actually warned us against too much physical activity as it'll 'train an athlete' which then requires maintenance!) so especially for your small dogs am sure that's all they need. Taking each one out individually is a great idea and hopefully multiple short walks out of the house will reinforce the positive experiences and help to tackle your agoraphobic feelings; win-win! Good luck 🐕

The Cinnamon Trust us a voluntary organisation that arranges dog walking for people who can't get out for whatever reason. Might be worth contacting them to see if there's anyone local who would take your dogs out maybe weekly. Although if course it's good for you to go out too, might just be a little break.

OP won't let her dogs go with CT volunteer, she won't even let them go with a professional dog walker. Also, I doubt OP would meet CT threshold to have a volunteer.

ps: CT volunteers can't let the owners walk with us, we're told expressly not to do this, not insured (in case owner assaults us, I guess). So that's not an option either.