I'm sure some other dog walkers could assume I'm a fair weather walker.

In summer I walk very early mornings and late evenings, in cooler months I walk my dogs much later in the morning and late afternoon. I see two entirely differnet sets of people depending on the weather.

OMG what have I started ?I,m really really sorry if I,ve offended any of you I just get so mad at certain people who let their dogs out for a walk on their own and only take them out on a al ead if and when the fancy takes them.
The main reason I walk that early is I start work at 7am so need to see to the girls and get organised,but the other reason is because i don,t particularly want a struggle with my young dog who was pinned down as a ten week old puppy by a large breed dog and therefore is on the defensive as soon as she sees an of lead dog aproaching, I also have to be very selective where I can take her to let her run free and all because I don,yt want any trouble.
Its been a really bad time here lately and I must have just opened my mouth before putting my brain in gear the last thing I want is to upset you guys please accept my apologies if I,ve hurt any of you.

I dont think you said anything to upset anybody - just interesting reading everybodys experiences and different takes on situations.

And as for speaking before thinking - we all do that dont we at time when we are juggling home, work, dogs and children,,,

:)

Oh don't worry pavlova, no offense taken here - I just wanted to point out that some people have good reasons for daylight walking!

I totally agree with you on the fairweather folk, my brother is one of them - well, actually, he's a no-weather man, doesn't walk his dog at all.  The last I heard was his OH asking me tips on how to train said dog to walk better on a lead (doomed to fail IMO, she's a born sled dog and has been for 9 years :D) - this so the poor thing can get the exercise she needs.  Never mind that the OH has my 7 month old nephew in tow, and the dog is VERY antisocial with others on a lead (and no recall off it).  She's a big girl too.

So I'm 100% with you, some people are just absolute losers when it comes to their dogs!

Edit to say: okay, losers may be a bit strong but the whole brother's dog issue has wound me up for over 3 years :D

Its been a really bad time here lately and I must have just opened my mouth before putting my brain in gear the last thing I want is to upset you guys please accept my apologies if I,ve hurt any of you.

Well I for one wasn't upset by your post :) and didn't think you were being contentious :)

I know exactly what you mean by fair weather walkers - lots of them round here as well -  I just try and look at it from their poor dog's point of view :(  And the good bit about fair weather walkers is that the reward for walking your dog whatever the weather is you have the walks mainly to yourself :D

I think today I would like to be a fair weather walker... I think the past two days here so lovey the rain today seems extra horrible!   Its the cleaning off and getting dry after the walk I hate. When the weather is bad I tend to walk twice as far to put off the dreaded moment of having to clean the dogs and peel off my wet jeans!

Here I find the bulk of people walk same time same place no matter what the weather..you never get the reward of wet but  quiet walks!  In fact there are more people walking their dogs about because there are less suitable places to walk cos you don't drive out for miles to walk the dogs on the hills  if it is raining but walk more locally. So we all end up walking in the same places when it is winter. When the weather is warm you get the picnickers and kids on trikes and playing ball and basically the dog less population suddenly appear and there is no space in the city parks for the dogs so then we have to find other places to walk the dogs.

No, no, no! You've not offended me, I was just joining in with the discussion and was replying to other posts rather than yours.

There are certainly a lot of fair weather walkers about, usually you can spot them with their uncontrolled dogs and unsuitable clothes.

Thanks folks thats a big relief.

I'd never be able to rouse my two at 5:30.  They get up after I do!