Ladies who walk alone....

[Spudlet]

...where do you go?

I was up until now walking Henry around a local common in the morning as do many otehr dog walkers. However after a rather odd incident the other morning I am now a bit less willing to go there. Basically, when putting Henry into the car I get him to jump in then climb in after him and stand bent over the back seats to put his seat belt on (it's a three door car, so a little bit awkward). Obviously this means the car door is open and my back is to it. The other morning this slightly older bloke walked up behind me, leaned right into the car and started making a fuss of Henry while I was bent double - it made me feel really uncomfortable and quite vulnerable

This morning he was just pulling into the car park as I was walking back in - I had to nip to the bin and as I turned back I saw he was standing next to my car and it made me feel so uncomfortable that I actually turned around and took Henry for a further 5 minute walk until he'd moved on, making me late for work as Henry then had another recall breakdown.

I'm overreactting I'm sure but I don't want to go back there in the morning anymore

The fields at work are all very well, but as the centre is full at the moment every single one has horses in, meaning I have to watch Henry like a hawk the whole time - also I am very quickly going to get bored of walking in the same place two or three times every day!

At the moment I am trying to decide whether or not to keep going to the common but use another car park which is not on my way to work and has no bin

Does anyone else have this kind of problem?

It is times like this I think I should have gone for a rotty or something else a tad more intimidating than a spaniel - Henry was no help at all, he almost pulled my arm out of its socket trying to greet the stupid man

 

[itsme123]

I'd have slapped him

How DARE he do that uninvited??

Really, I'd have asked him to sod off....

I'd carry on going where you go, just change the times if you can, or park somewhere else and use a dofferent route, or see if you can buddy up with someone else. Like a 6'5 hard as nails rugby player

 

[CorvusCorax]

Well, understandably I do not have this problem as people generally don't want to come anywhere near me when I walk mine

Is there someone you could join up with? I wish I was closer

Or, as Charlie says, change your times/locations for a while?

 

[Spudlet]

He'd walked off by the time I had put my arm back into its socket and climbed out of the car to do battle

TBH, I tend to be too taken aback by this kind of thing at the time to get mad, I tend to stew and fume afterwards, which of course is no use at all!

If I knew a hard as nails 6'5 rugby player, I'd have buddied up permanently by now!

I'll try the other car park tomorrow morning.

 

[BigRed]

I would be very worried about that too. In fact I'd probably even report it to the police just in case he has been causing problems. It is not acceptable for that man to behave that way. I personally walk my dogs from my home because I live in a rural area, and go straight onto footpaths and bridlepaths. I carry a very stout walking stick. I am not sure if I would be brave enough to use it, but it makes me feel safer. I also make sure I have a phone with me.

 

[mattilda]

I have to say I walk where I want to!! With 2 rotties and a ridgeback you don't tend to get too much interference by unwanted bodies!! Sorry not helpful.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Another one who doesn't have a problem. However this blokes behaviour does sound strange. Did he have a dog with him? Can't see it would do any harm to mention it to the police, preferably with a note of his registration number. And i would take a big stick with you when you go walking, you can always use it to beat Henry when he suffers recall failure

 

[kirstyhen]

Given how loudly I was shouting at Otto this morning (who was being very naughty!!!) I think any weirdos would have turned and legged it!

I walk with OH in the mornings, so don't have any problems, although given how wimpy my OH is, I'm not sure that is anything to do with him!!

You should have kept your whistle in your mouth and blown it very hard in his ear

 

[Spudlet]

He does have a dog, I don't think he's a perv - just totally not self-aware

I don't like anyone invading my personal space in any way - I don't really do hugs with mates even

You would expect most men to realise that a young woman walking alone would feel uncomfortable with this kind of thing but I suspect it didn't cross his mind - he had greeted Henry before but in the carpark, not in my car! It's just a situation I would rather avoid in future. I got no perv vibes - I think he just thought he was being friendly with my dog

I am liking your big stick recall plan however.

 

[mtj]

Like the others, I'm pretty certain the Aussie would snap off the nose of anyone trying that in his car.

If you are feeling uncomfortable, then follow your intuition. Whilst he is probably merely odd/lonely, rather than dangerous, it sounds as though he is ruining your stroll.

How about getting an OS map for your local area and trying some different strolls.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I have walked alone for many years, since my ex-OH was a lazy so-and-so who always whinged about walking the dogs

Walking with 4 lurchers/greyhounds was never a problem, they were always straining at the lead to try and chase something and looked quite intimidating en masse

Now I have two then I have never really given it much thought TBH - and my current two are very little greyhounds, most people think they are whippets! I know when I lived in Ledbury (small town) I didnt feel comfortable walking the dogs around the town even after dark, but usually I have lived in rural areas so I just march off across the fields on my own

When I lived on a farm I used to walk the dogs in the dark without a torch, it was great fun

 

[Goya]

I echo all the sound advice given.
Take care and keep safe.

 

[Spudlet]

Hey ho - it's quite a problem finding anywhere to walk at this time of year during the week! Work is all very well but all the paddocks are full so we are limited where we can go. After work I walk around there work in the dark ok, but tend not to go far, lunchtime we're there anyway - it's nice to branch out before work!

Basically my options are either to go to the other car park or to walk from the house around a load of fields on the edge of town - neither is ideal since both take longer than my usual route, so either way I'll be setting out before it gets light from now on thanks to this twit of a man

We'll probably find another odd-bod there and I'll end up rehoming something ginormous and scary looking to be a bodyguard for me and Henry

Thank you for the advice

 

[FestiveBoomBoom]

If he leans into your car or personal space again just tell him that your dog is very protective and might bite so to keep well away! Although if he's wagging away that might blow your cover! But then this guy doesn't sound like the brightest spark so he'll prob believe it

Either way he is being a complete chump. Although whats worse, running into the chumpy man or walking before it gets light? If it's the latter be doubly careful

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I'm sure he means no harm - probably hasn't even thought about what he is doing. Just be aware of where you are and have your phone charged and on you at all times - better safe then sorry. I'm sure you will be fine.

When I lived in the middle of Birmingham I used to walk around an inner city park in the dark mornings and the evenings - there were street lights and lots of regular doggy walkers but also joy riders and general scumbags around. I invested in a big heavy long torch - was great for lighting the way but would also double up as a club if needed!!

Mind you Kira would have bitten anyone who came near me......

 

[Spudlet]

TBH I agree that he is a harmless chump! But it is an annoying situation I do not wish to face again so will change my location.

Slinky, I used to walk around the somewhat rought bit of London I lived in with no worries or issues

Since my current task is to teach Henry some self control (our homework from the nice behaviourist man at the Dogs Trust) it's probably worth finding somewhere a bit quieter to walk in the mornings at the moment anyway.