Hi guys and Gals,

Does anyone have any suggestions of safe walking at night? Now the nights are drawing in and the mornings are getting darker, I've relented to the fact that my dog walks will take place in the dark!! ( Im out at work in the day so Jasper is walked in the evening ) As a young lady im very aware of my personal safety and feel unable to take our usual walk along the river. Does anyone have any suggestions on personal safety when walking dogs in the dark and/ or good places to go?

Many thanks, Buff

alot of people are more wary if you have a dog what sort of dog is it you have you could always take someone with you

Jasper is a 6month old Border Terrier - more likely to lick someone to death rather than bite anyone!!!

I shall have a chat with one of my girlfriends and see if she would like to join me in my evening strolls - thanks!

Buff

Please take someone with you, I walk Bronnie at night with a girlfriend and her lab, but should my friend not make it I always get my hubby to come along. I will not go on my own.

I carry a lamping light which I could bop someone around the head with and I also have the lead ready. The thing is to always be on your guard, don't talk on the mobile as you are not fully aware of what is going on around you.

We also make sure we go to open ground so there is less chance of someone creeping up on us.

Juliet :)

Talking to a friend about joining in walking is a good idea. Sal and I sometimes walk with a friend/neighbour when she walks her Yorkie.

Karen

I personally keep to the main roads and away from dimly lite places . Im new to the area and don't know anyone and I don't think my freinds would be willing to come with me in the rain and driving winds after a 20 minute journey to my home. I own a 6 month old boxer so thats a reasonable deterant and Im usually nicely wrapped up (5.30am and 8pm its cold) so I look like a walking quilt not a female. But I am lucky enough to have a partner who comes home for 4 hours in the afternoon so he can take bradley around a field after a ball.

Well Copper is a 4 yr old BT (although is a rescue) and no way would he lick anyone to death!! (well apart from me maybe) More like rip out throat!! Funny but I never feel under threat when he is with me - probably cos he is quite an aggressive dog. It doesn't make for pleasant walks though. I think having read tons of posts on here that BT's are naturally bitey little dogs although if you get a young one I'm sure they can be coaxed to be very friendly. Mine is booked into school although he doesn't know it yet!!

CG

i walk with my neo mastiffs and my big male rotti,i worry not,mummy is very protected!! Could you consider a dog walker who can excercise them in the day for you ???

I too have to walk my dog alone(afghan). no doggie friends near where i live. I just keep to well lit places, carry an alarm and hope for the best.

When it gets late/dark i just take Buddy around the main road in a complete circle. It's quite a busy road so he's on the lead. I don't feel safe going anywhere else. It only takes half an hour and i feel sorry for him not being out longer but mine and his safety has to come first. In the mornings it's usually an hour and a half around the local park. I do feel quite vulnerable when there's not many dog walkers around.
Roll on summer.
Budmag.

Sparky is not quite 6 months yet. He gets a short walk in the morning, and I pop home at lunchtime to play with him, though spend that half hour throwing balls and running round the garden like a loony (or house if it's wet), which seems to be more fun for him - he hates walking in traffic. In the evening, it's a quick walk around 4ish, followed by lots of games, training, hide and seek with the kids, you name it. It's hard work, but fun, and miles better than negotiating a muddy field in pitch darkness. Luckily, this is only 2 days a week. On the other days I don't work, so can give him lots of afternoon fun! :D

i always take mine over the fields in the dark don't think anyone would bother coming near cassie and ollie are protective and will bark at people coming towards me if they don't know them. never seen anyone over there yet only a few rabbits.
is there not a block to walk round and just do some lead walking

Just a warning but this early evening i was flashed at !! My normal walk on an evening is to stay on the road and just skirt round the park, not actually going in it.
I could see something/somebody moving about to the side of me but at a distance then i heard whistling, i looked over and this bloke was there with his tackle out ;)
I just stood there, stopped the dog and stared at him and then shouted "Do you want me to let the dog off?" and he just went away.
To me this was very funny, but to other people it could have been very disturbing.
Never ever under-estimate nutters, your dog is no match for someone with a knife or likewise however brave you think they are.
It made me re-think my route.....

Sarah
My dog is a great dane too whatever was he thinking!

hi

afraid my dog has to make do with lead walking in the week risking a dark field is not worth it ,and walking is still good exercise shes fit and healthy and very happy any way its not good to over walk your dog .

Personally I wouldn't walk anywhere that wasn't fairly public and well lit in the evening, but as an added precaution I've taught my dog to bark on command. If I have to walk past any slightly dodgy people (there are plenty in Darlo!) I get him to bark a few times. Most people then look at us because he's a big dog and has a good old bark. The other plus point is that, worst case scenario, if people think you have a vocal dog they may be much less likely to initiate an attack - it's the equivalent of having a hairy rape alarm.

Jo

Buff I would like to amend my post. The route where I walk is the place where the four year old was held at gunpoint. No where is safe anymore.
I will try and enlist somebody from training,

I'm sorry i know this is a serious issue for us women walkers but "a hairy rape alarm" :) roflmao.

Sarah