I'm Becoming Afraid To Walk My Dogs

[Nekhbet]

Fine bamboo cane with you. Give 3 warnings then thwack.

[piperspal]

I walk 5 dogs, ranging from tiny to pretty big. I have found that how my dogs react to the others has a big bearing on the behaviour of other dogs. If mine start to get excited, the other dogs will arc up more, if mine keep walking and take very little notice its nowhere near as bad. I intend to take them out this afternoon, and I know it will be a tougher walk than normal as I have not taken them out for a couple of weeks, so they will be full of themselves and the other dogs will have gotten out of the habit (for want of a better word) of us going past. We live rural, so there are a lot of dogs, some nice some not so nice, not all behind fence with closed gates. I also carry a piece of poly pipe that I can use if required, whether it be on mine or someone elses.

[Guest hankodie]

I am in the exact same boat Kirty, I get extremely anxious about walking my dog. The street I live on isn't so bad, but once you get past it there is bound to be at least one dog roaming I've been rushed at a number of times, it's given me huge anxiety now when I walk my dog.

Luckily like other posters have mentioned I'm at an advantage because she's small, I can often pick her up if I see a bad situation about to unfold. I won't be able to do the same with my GR puppy when he starts walking with me. I've taken to walking her at ungodly hours and using ninja scanning skills to look out for other dogs :laugh: I've also started looking out for places that aren't so dog populated, I've discovered a "secret" beach a few months ago, I haven't seen another dog yet. Sports ovals are also a good place to walk/exercise dogs.

[Kirislin]

the only place I regularly walk mine is at the park I've been going to for over 14 years now. I know most of the people and dogs there, but I'm still always on the alert for dogs I dont know, and my dogs have been attacked several times over the years. The worst one was with Penny about 3 years ago and sadly it was ME who caused her injury by instinctively yanking her behind my legs when a loose dog dragging a lead attacked her. I went to kick it and it went for me! I saved her from the attack but I hurt her neck when I pulled her to protect her.

Edited August 27, 2013 by Kirislin

[corvus]

Ah yes, everything is much worse now than it used to be. My previous dog was attacked three times outside the yard. All three were early in her life when we lived in a small town. I moved to Canberra and never had any problems. Moved to Sydney and had one scary moment with the old girl that was mostly my fault. My current dogs... never. We live in a much more built up area than the one where I grew up, there are stacks more dogs, and my dogs go to off leash areas and do street walks all the time. Twice a day. We go all over the place, yet the worst that's ever happened is Kivi lost a tuft of fur once. I rarely see a loose dog when we walk them on the streets.

Walking dogs is not supposed to be stressful, no, but I don't think there's any reason for it to be stressful. The house next door to my parents has a couple of dogs that scare my boys, so when we are there I literally drive them past that house, then park the car and get them out and walk them. I don't HAVE to walk my dogs past that house, even though it is a battleaxe block and the only way off the property is past the house. On our walking route down to the dog park there are a couple of houses with dogs that used to send one of my dogs into hysterics. Couldn't walk on the other side of the road as no verge, so I trained him to heel past them. Took a few months and wasn't much fun to begin with, but we can now walk past them while they are barking ferociously and both dogs are close, loose leash, attention on me. Much less stressful. There are solutions. Drive to somewhere that has fewer loose dogs. Scout it first if it makes you feel better. Spend some time watching the local dogs and how they interact with others. I found the dog park way less stressful once I learned to predict what all the dogs were going to do. It's not an endless parade of "OMG, do I need to panic??" More like "Ah yeah, that one's going to pull up short and wait. This one is just going to sniff and move on. That one is going to loop around us and slow down for a side approach. That one is friendly but might be too boisterous - keep interactions short and sweet..."

If you can't manage your anxiety, get professional help. We would for our dogs or our kids. Do it for yourself as well.

[Salukifan]

This is a real issue for a lot of people, me included. Dead easy for others to poo poo your fears but after a few incidents, I think it's perfectly natural to be wary, even hyper-vigilant about walking your dogs.

I have two breeds – Poodles and Whippets. Two poodles and one Whippet are seniors so I do two lots of exercise unless I can find a good free run area where the oldies can potter and the youngsters can tear around.

You do become good at finding safe, isolated places (easier in Canberra than in the burbs of a big city) and at walking very very early or late. Canberra's parliamentary triangle is pretty much a human desert after hours so in summer I often walk the dogs there – very pleasant!

One thing I will note is that walking your dog along busy roads, despite not being the most pleasant of places, does tend to mean that you don't meet off leash dogs.

I will cross the road to avoid other dogs or change direction if I have to. I 'read' the oncoming dog/s and walkers – if what I'm seeing isn't a picture of control and some sense of management of the dog, I get out of the way.

Learn to become the dog owner version of a hermit – find times and places where you don't meet others. It can be done. It will usually involve putting your dogs in the car and driving, rather than walking out your front door, but it's a small price to pay for better peace of mind.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[Kirislin]

It's a sorry state of affairs isn't it when people are afraid (with good reason) to do something as simple as take the dog for a walk. How did it get so bad and how can we be made to feel safe again?

[SkySoaringMagpie]

I think HW's advice is good and when I lived in suburbia I also used to drive to parks early in the morning to walk because there was a DA dog in our cul de sac that put one of ours in the vet. The other thing that worked for us in suburbia was to walk with a buddy, in my case, my OH, but it could be a dog savvy friend.

If we encountered a problem I would take our dogs and have them behind me standing still. OH would advance on the problem situation blocking the problem dog's access to our dogs and "speaking" with the owner. You need to be dog savvy to do this, but it almost always worked. It is much easier to deal with a problem dog and their owner without worrying about controlling your dogs on leash at the same time.

Ultimately tho' I really feel for you, especially as reporting loose dogs never got me anywhere - they either had to be actually attacking or injured before rangers would come out.

[JulesP]

Rainy days are good :) Also avoid the weekends. I find the real nuf nufs tend to come out for their once a week walk on the weekend. Oh and public holidays!

People around here are pretty good so I am starting to relax. Had a funny situation the other week when I decided to duck into a driveway to get out of the way of 2 oncoming dogs. I waited and waited and finally stuck my head out. The other people had also ducked into a driveway and we were all just waiting!!! So far I am mostly being pleasantly surprised at people's politeness in controlling their dogs.

My doggy walk is my fav part of the day.

[mumof4girls]

I'm the same, I really hate walking mine alone I normally wait till hubby gets home . This Morning I had to walk both of them by myself and I have one reactive dog :-( she is getting better but some dogs seem to get her goung more than othets .. I went to an area I know is not busy in the mornings but its the people that walk theirs not on lead that freak me out .. I'm not letting it stop me walking my guys I just will walk them one at a time ( more exercise for me i guess lol ) if I have to do it alone and grow some balls I guess lol lol..

[Mim]

I am not afraid to walk my dogs but it is no longer an enjoyable experience. There are loose dogs everywhere and both my boys have been attacked previously. One is fine, but the other is scared so I have to plan my routes to avoid dogs as best as I can. Unfortunately I don't have magical powers to let me know when idiots will have their dogs running around out of control.

[mita]

I don't walk our tibbies any more. Best we can do is a quick whirl around the shopping centre next to us.

But no walking tracks or general suburban streets. I'm not afraid of dogs. But our shelties... then later our tibbies.... became a magnet for dogs being walked not on leads. And we had some truly horrible situations. In one, I got bitten when I put my arm in front of my sheltie as a cattle dog came thundering out of an open gate. In fairness to the cattle dog, it actually looked a bit surprised itself that it'd bitten a human.... it was going for the sheltie.

Shame, because we also met some wonderful dog owners on those walks. My well socialised tibbies like meeting strangers.... & we would often gently socialise dogs that were similarly fine with others. My girls were specially good with nice, big dogs where the owners found it difficult to get willing owners of small dogs to let them be near (all on leash).

It's telling that our tibbies still go to community dog events.... where people have to keep their dogs on leads. Like Million Paws Walk socialising went brilliantly. We've always had only positive experiences at events like that.

[*kirty*]

Thank you all for your comments. :) I do try to take them out to more quiet places or places I feel safe, but I think my fears stem from the randomness of each attack. As I said, each time the attacking dog broke free of its owner to attack mine. And each time there was so warning or chance to intervene. When I saw the big dog stalking mine yesterday, the anxiety was overwhelming. It is sad that so many people have the same fears.

Kirislin, thank you for your offer. I'd live to take you up on it one day. :)

[Staff'n'Toller]

Kirty I have the same sort of issue, not that we have had dogs get loose but have been rushed numerous times by dogs who have no recall. My previous 3 would have dealt with it well but my current boy gets overwhelmed and I don't think it's fair to put him in a position where he may feel like he needs to protect himself using offense.

I put an ad on gumtree to 'rent' by negotiation a paddock or private property with no livestock, but have not had any replies. I might look at letter box dropping the properties around me though as they seem very quiet and unused.

I use Lilydale Lake occasionally, but I park at Bellbird Park and walk in - and we turn around before we get to the off-lead area.

I also use the parks victoria park behind Heide Museum as you can walk around the outside (all on lead) and sometimes the off lead park is empty. There is also a back exit to that off-lead park so if you see people coming in the front with dogs you can nick out the back. :)

The tennis racquet is a good choice to carry also, as it just looks like you are going to the park to hit tennis balls to the dogs but you could use it as a blocker if a dog came up to you. Not a guarantee but might give you enough time to accost the owner to grab their dog. :laugh:

[CBL]

Yes I am another who doesn't enjoy it much anymore. Oscar in particular now reacts to other dogs he sees and barks at them getting on the defensive (whether he needs to or not) after getting rushed numerous times. Once I had a dog race across a busy road to get to us (with his owner screaming behind him that he was friendly) - how he wasn't hit by a car I have no idea.

[JulesP]

I use Lilydale Lake occasionally, but I park at Bellbird Park and walk in - and we turn around before we get to the off-lead area.

If you stick to the high path past the offlead area at Lilydale lake you should be fine. I haven't had a dog run up there so far from the offlead area.

Dorset golf course is a nice walk. Fairly quiet. You do get the odd person with their dog offlead were they shouldn't be but it is pretty polite there. The bike riders are more polite too there than at Lilydale Lake! There is an offlead area that you might want to avoid but it is a big area so easy to stay away from other people. Rangers do lurk around fining people for having dogs offlead on the path.

Emerald park lake is all onlead. Didn't have any issues there either.

Warburton trail is onlead but the bikes can be a menace.

Actually the only place around here that I find a bit nerve racking is Warrandyte river! Just from the volume of dogs really.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Ooh, I've had a few dogs race up the hill to the high path.

Mainly because they see Geordie's fluffy tail swinging around (it's always up!) attracting unwanted attention. :laugh:

ETA: I'd like to explore Cardinia Reservoir too, but I think there are dog 'no go zones'..??

Edited August 28, 2013 by Staff'n'Toller

[Mummamia]

So many of us in the same situation... I've been walking everyday for 14 years and in the past couple of years it has gotten ridiculous... Nothing bad has happened to me personally yet but I no longer walk or go to the dogs parks at the popular times. I've been looking for property for about 6 months now and the motivating reason is for the dogs. Looks like I could offer it the good dog owners to make use of and will be happy to do so... Please follow all the good advice here and find the safest places and times so your dogs don't miss out. It's one of the most important things we do for them. :)

[Ryami]

I feel the same walking the street with my human children! I often wonder what I would do if a dog attacked my child, I know it sounds awful but sometimes think I should carry a knife in case I needed to protect them!

I agree with the others walk your dogs at ungodly hour in the mornings, the twats of this world are usually still at home sleeping at this hour :)

[Salukifan]

I feel the same walking the street with my human children! I often wonder what I would do if a dog attacked my child, I know it sounds awful but sometimes think I should carry a knife in case I needed to protect them!

I agree with the others walk your dogs at ungodly hour in the mornings, the twats of this world are usually still at home sleeping at this hour :)

Knives won't be as effective as a nice big umbrella or a bamboo pole. Umbrellas and poles aren't illegal either :)