It occured to me while walking my dogs.
I usually walk in quite isolated areas, I prefer to get away from it if you know what I mean. In the sixteen years I have owned dogs I have actually been followed or intimidated 3 times. Strangely enough all 3 occasions were in central or populated places, and not out in the sticks.
I must admit that if I did not own my GSD I would feel more vulnerable and probably not walk in some of the places I do by myself. But one of the occasions that I was followed was when I was walking my GSD. Realising I was being followed I decided to turn around and start walking back towards the man, because I was not comfortable knowing he was behind me. On doing this u turn he quickly dash and hid in a bush(!) As I approached the bush I put my then adolescent GSD on his lead, because I knew he would certainly react at finding someone hiding, and also I wanted him close, I knew that if I tightened his lead he would pick up I was anxious and certainly be a good deterant. It worked, as he spotted the weirdo in the bush he flew, he was hanging off the lead with teeth flashing and snarling and barking. The man said rather frightened that he did not want to hurt me(!) I said that my dog does not agree and he shot off in the distance.
So just out of interest have you encountered tricky situations when out walking the dogs? Do you worry about it?

Hi Becky, I love walking in isolation. I also love walking with friends when possible. Its so peaceful strolling through our lovely countryside with our dogs alongside us. However, I do feel very vulnerable. I try to avoid heavily wooded areas and keep to open fields as at least there I can see around me. There are many walks I would love to do but get too nervous if I am on my own. Owning two labs, I feel they are more likely to lick a stranger than defend me. I have to save the more isolated walks for when I have some company. I'm also nervous of someone actually attacking my dogs. I've never had a bad experience (thank goodness) but I try to keep very aware of where I am walking.
Lorna

SInce moving out of London the only problems I have is with people who assume my dogs are dangerus (Staffie and English BT)
Back in London though I had alot of problems with (this is gonna sound really bad) Gypsies in the area.
they used to vandalise everyones property and shout abuse in the street at passers by.
On a number of occasions they threatened to steal my dog and use him for fighting and also threatened they'd wait for me when I got home after work!
Because I lived alone at the time I was terrified so Bodie spent all day at my parents house while I was at work then I'd pick him up in the evening b4 I went home.
Luckily all my problems stopped once I moved.

Most of the places that I exercise my dogs are popular woodland. Having said that I have been followed on several occassions.The problem has improved since the introduction of Park's Police on motorcycles. I am lucky that I usually have 3+ dogs with me and as all are whistle trained, I can get them back to me if need be. I always keep one dog with me at all times. All my dogs are taught to 'speak' on command .....so although none of them are 'guarding breeds' they can look the part if required.
I will also turn back towards the person if I feel that I am being followed.You can usually tell by their reaction, if they have been or not. I must say that I feel safer in a remote area with my dogs, than in a busy place.

Leigh

I am lucky because my dogs look fairly ferocious (to someone who doesn't know about dogs that is!!!) and in the past felt very safe walking in remote areas, as i knew that my male Belgain Freebie would definitely protect me, and I was fairly certain my bitch would too.

They would stop still and stare with pricked ears at stranges approachiing and most people (not knowing what softies they were) would take a wide berth. HIowever a few years ago, walknig on a common with my girl (she was elderly by then and looked a lot more gentle) I was followed by a man, I too turned and walked back towards him and he jerked his head away to avoid eye contact, later i realised he had tried to double back yet again to come up behind me but I had by then gone onto the main track and although he kept looking at me, he realilsed he was discovered and, by then there were other people about. I was pretty scared though, and for a good while afterwards I kept hearing things in bushes, and imagining that a lone man walking was up to no good.

It's a truly horrid expereince. What annoys me most is that it kind of takes away your "innocence" as a dog walker, and you start to feel unsafe, so that person has affected you whether they did actually hurt you or not.

I definitely feel a lot safer with a dog though. :)))

I always walk off the beaten track and a few years ago in some local woods I was walking with my then 2 dogs who always ran around unseen but came back closer if someone was about. On this occasion I saw them close to the path I was walking and a few minutes later a 'flasher' came out from behind a tree, at that same moment the two dogs appeared barking, it was obvious he hadn't realised they were with me and he ran off, I must admit I can now see the funny side of it, watching him try to run with trousers round his knees.
I know from an innocent incident that my present GSD would protect me and he is enough to put most people off when they see him with me but it is sad that we should feel threatened and unsafe to walk where we like by a few perverted individuals like the ones mentioned.

I live in South Manchester and there is a local water park near by. I was once walking my 3 SWD's off the lead, though they only stray a couple of feet from me. I saw a family coming, the adults were in about their 70's. I told my dogs to sit and stay whilst the family went past, which they did. The next minute the man started waving his stick at me and told me to get out of his way. He was very abusive and his grandchildren were crying. At no time did my dogs move or go anywhere near them.

This is not my first problem I've had. I was once walking my dog in the local shopping area, this time it was a pomeranian. An elderly gentleman (yet again) came up to me because my dog had a wee, and told me that it was no wonder the world was in a mess and smelt because of people like me with dirty dogs!!

It's no wonder I'm 30 and single, as I prefer my dogs to people. Although I am always pleasant with people. Oh well, I'd better get my dogs ready for their training tonight.

I thought long and hard before posting on this thread but felt that even if I upset some I really should have my say.

Sometime ago someone, and I can't remember who it was, said, "All men are potential child molesters!" Think about this for a moment. This person is saying that half of the human race is evil! The half I belong to. I've discussed this with a number of people, Polly on this board to name one. But what does it mean? It means that now, when I go to a show and I see a child who has lost it's mother, that I must turn my back on it and walk away for fear that if it's mother is anywhere near and I am seen talking to the child, I may be arrested! Arrested for trying to help a lost child! At the Midland Game Fair last weekend, Polly and I were standing beside the ring watching the parade of gundogs and I offered her a sweet. She had one, "The Flower" had one and I had one. A toddler watched and then asked if he could have one. Because Polly was there I felt reasonably safe in giving him one but if I had been on my own? Come on you other men on this board, what would you do? Turn your back on the child and walk quickly away? Definitely the safest move.

If I see a woman walking in the wood where I walk my dogs I always feel I must turn round and walk in the other direction for fear that she may think I'm following her! But why should I go in the opposite direction to that which I want to go, just so she feels comfortable, and what if I then meet someone going that way? Do I go home without walking my dogs?

You see, it's not only women who have trouble! There are very few people causing problems but the effects of these people are so widespread they are out of all proportion.

What a world we live in!

John

Hi J
I hear what you are saying, and I agree that it is very difficult for men.
Your post made me think hard on whether I felt threatened when walking alone if I came face to face with a man on his own. I cannot honestly answer, but I think it would very much depend on the circumstances, because this scenario does happen and I am not living in constant fear, so what makes the situation threatening is how the other person, (which I think I would include female) was behaving. It sounds crazy if they were walking a dog I suppose I would find this normal, if not perhaps I would wander why they were walking, which is unfair as why should they not go for a pleasant walk. I do not know what makes one encounter threatening and others not, perhaps it is subtle body language. I find if someone walked very close to me or stared or appeared unstable in anyway I would feel threatened.
I have been fortunate enough to live in some beautiful countryside, Dartmoor, Exmoor, New Forest and presently on the edge of part of the Teutenburg Forest in Germany and generally walk in these isolated places so I obviously cannot feel too frightened, but I do not think I would be as confident if I did not have my big German Shepherd. Also on the few occasions I have been threatened, like Leigh has found, it has been in central and well populated areas.

Oh I am sorry but the flasher trying to run with his trousers down made me laugh.

Beccy

Hi John, good point. My husband says he feels much happier when walking the dogs if he sees a lone woman, as she is more likely to look at him as a 'harmless dog walker'. I also feel quite comfortable when out alone if I see a man with a dog. Its the poor old lone rambler who I am more likely to fear. Sad, but unfortunately part of life in the present climate.
Lorna

John, I have to agree with most of what you say, my partner is also a Scout Leader and the rules and regs governing them with regards the boys is getting tighter by the day, they would love to run a mixed troup but the minute girls are introduced they have to have a female leader as well and restrictions become even worse, yet woman are allowed to run Cubs on their own, it is sad that all men seem to be discrimated against.
I have to say that I don't worry about walking on my own and don't see every man I meet as a threat and normally pass the time of day at least, I do know that two of my dogs would protect me, the GSD proved this once, when a male hiker lifted his walking stick in greeting and was immediately confronted by him, luckily he obeyed me and backed down, and the man was very understanding and even made a fuss of him once the situation was difused, so I do sympathise with you. Ingrid

Good point John. I don't tend to walk on my own but when I do and I do see a lone man out walking, I always look for a dog. For some reason, I am not as nervous around male dog walkers. It gives them a purpose for being there. It's the people who don't have a purpose that worry me.

Luckily, so far, I haven't been approached.

Helen

When I lived in London I was followed a few times while walking my GSD.
I remember one occasion well, two large men started talking to me telling me to turn round. All did was tighten the lead and say my dog's name is a scared voice, and he turnd round snarling, barking and drooling al over the pavement. I have never seen someone disappear as fast as those two did! If I didn't have my faithful Max by my side I don't know what would have happened. Luckily Max was trained to react when I ask. This was a public busy street, I couldn't believe it!

Mistress

Ye gods! I hadn't even thought about it before. I just walk Gem and pass the time of day with whoever I see. I hope no-one felt threatened ever.

I think the problem is more with the media who like to inflate a situation to make an easy story. I stopped buying newspapers the day after 'that' picture of the then Lady Diana. Maybe that's why I don't see so many demons?

As a society we are stealing our childrens innocence as a way of showing off our 'concern' for their safety. This I think is having a knock on effect.

The end result being that it is actually easier for the dodgy characters, because we are all so busy looking suspiciously at everyone. A case of not being able to see the wood for the trees!

I really feel for eveyone who cannot relax on their walks. However do you get any enjoyment from them?
Or is it me that's odd in not seeing the dangers?

I guess that's one of the big advantages of living in a small village, although we may not KNOW each other, we do know who belongs in the village.

I am also really sorry, but the thought of the flasher and the idiots put to flight by Max, made me smile. May THEIR fear never subside.

Loose leads.

Alan

I don't think that any of "us women" walk around in constant fear of being "attacked" or see every lone male (or female) that we encounter as a threat. I often see lone individuals: joggers, "twitchers", dog walkers, dodgy looking photographers(lol) and just people out for their morning constitutional. I do not think twice about passing pleasantries with these people. But occassionally, you get a baddd feeling about someone and your gut instinct kicks in.
Its called self preservation and we ALL have it !! :-)

I agree that the media have a lot to answer for , as does Government policy. Mental hospitals were not built as holiday homes ! They were there to help those people that needed help. Those same people who now have to rely on "help" in the community. And before I get flamed :rolleyes: no I am not anti~care in the community.
I just think that "commmunities ain't what they used to be" :-)

Leigh
who is in need of her medication, looking at how many M's she just put in 'communication' .....lol

Alan, don't give it a second thought. Just carry on doing what you do ;-)

Up that medication Leigh ! Twas to many M's in Communities!! Where did you pull the word Communication from ??? *tut*

Twilly ;-)

Definitley the old instinct kicks in, for example I wouldn't give Alan (or even John swigging from his bottle LOL!!!) a second's thought, also I get a lot of my garden plants from a special nursery which is a sheltered workplace for the mentally ill, and so I seem able to recognise someone who perhaps is just a bit "dfifferent" to someone who is "dodgy"; as others have said we all have this instinct.

Since i was followed i am perhaps more cautious, and funnily enough i am aware of men who are worried that I will think the worst of them, as they tend to adjust their walking speed, smile and say "morning, lovley day" and then walk on at breakneck speed away just to prove they are OK!!!

Body language speaks volumes. I was stopped once by a man who I was very wary of, I was actually considering running away. He had stopped with his hands on hips eyeballing my 2 dogs, they were then starting to dance around him wondnering what to do. Then he asked me about them, were they safe and how should he walk past them (honestly!) and I realised he was scared of them but tryiing to show bravado.

Both me and the dogs were unnerved he was so odd!!!

Trouble is Lindsay, I could look suspicious! I often leave "The Flower" sitting on the common whilst I go into the woods on my own to put out dummies for a "Blind Retrieve" Whilst you may well know what an old reprobate was doing wearing a gundog whistle and carrying a dummy bag to others I could look like a very strange individual creeping about in the bushes!

Best Wishes from a lurker!!!!! John :)

LOL ... I hope that you don't *mutter* to yourself whilst you are doing it John ?? ;-) Leigh xx

We have quite a few weirdos who lurk in the woods (me not included!) - and during the dark winter months the dog walkers tend to pre-arrange meeting times and we all stomp round the woods and golf course together. I had two blokes make me feel very uneasy last winter (didn't touch me or anything - but acting very strange and loitering) - the thing that spooked me most of all was that they had a huge rottie type cross with them and even their dog was strange!! - poor old Scarlet wouldn't have stood a chance at defending me against that! - made me think twice about how safe I am when out though. I always take my mobile and a big metal magnalite torch out with me - could give someone a decent clout with it if needed.
Last year a local woman claimed to have been attacked in the woods - and she had her three dogs with her at the time so I do worry about saftey, but then I suppose we all have to take some risks, or we'd never do anything would we?

I think arranging groups is a darned good idea, quite apart from the safety issue.

Isn't it a sad reflection on todays society that we even need to consider it.