I hate walking at night. I think in general GR's don't look all that threatening and as a pretty small female, it always makes me nervous that I'm kinda like a target. I want to get some pepper spray to carry with me, now that it's pitch black by the time I get home from work.

 

We live in a small city of only 34,000. I don't have any issues with walking on the paths or through parks at night and feel pretty safe. I'm not sure that I would do it in larger City though. Something tells me my GRs aren't the best at scaring people away!!

 

I would be very careful about that, especially if you make it a regular thing.

I've stopped walking Daisy at night, not because I'm afraid of humans but because I can't see very well at night anymore and I can't tell what's coming at us, like another dog. I used to walk her at night when we lived outside the city and I really enjoyed it, I miss it. She's a great alarm system though, if she growled I would definitely turn around and go the other way. She spooked me a couple of times!

 

we don't. too dark, woodsy. I've thought about driving to a housing development & walking at nite --- but, then, I don't know what goes on/what to avoid (loose/aggressive dogs? weird people?). If we needed to get out, I guess we could drive to town & walk around

 

I walk late at night all the time and I love it. I'm a huge night owl and DH works overnights right now, so I usually take the dogs out for a nice long walk around the neighborhood when I finish my work, which is usually around midnight (I work from home). I will admit that I feel very safe in our neighborhood, which is a cul de sac and we know most of our neighbors, which mainly consists of young families. I love how quiet and peaceful it is at night. Once it starts getting REALLY cold and snowy/icy, I'll most likely move our walks to an earlier time, but we have been really lucky this fall and have had great weather for the most part. It seems more like late October than December here right now, but that could change at any minute! :bowl:

 

Me and my 3 go for a last walk every night. My 2 old goldens are very non-intimidating looking, but my rottie mix scares the socks off people. Little do they know that he is the submissive one!

 

Absolutely. If I didn't live in the neighbourhood I do, I would definitely say "No"...but I feel really safe where I live, I don't think I would have anything to worry about.

However, if I were to walk Bailey alone at night, she would not enjoy herself...she would be growling and barking at every shadow. She seems to be very very protective of me when it's just me and her...but she is totally fine when Daddy comes along

 

I walk Dodger at night (it gets dark so early now). It's nice now with all the christmas lights! My neighbourhood seems really safe but I know there are sketchy people around (a drug-dealing involved couple killed on my street this year, syringe found in a kids halloween candy). You just never know what will happen. We have a little trail by a pond but I wont walk through there after dark as its too dark and isolated. I stick to well lit areas where someone will hear me if I scream.

 

I ski back to my house at night with the Pudden. The main danger is bumping into a cranky moose mama on the trails. So I take a strong headlamp. Once, a moose mama was blocking my driveway and wouldn't leave, so I had to get my neighbors to help shoo her away with their snowmachine. Other than that, sudden attacks by neighbor's ankle biter.

We don't have any (human) weirdos running around; our climate doesn't promote any exhibitionist behavior. Anything you let dangle in the wind for too long, ya gonna lose.

 

No. Never afraid.

I wasn't afraid pre-German Shepherd either, though. I'm pretty street smart.

 

There is a serial killer that has been killing young women about 20 minutes from my house. He's dumped 8 bodies now. So nope, I never walk at night.

But whenever I'm traveling, I always hold on to Conner if I have to walk in the hotel parking lot. He has the most ferocious sounding bark; not many people would be brave enough to mess with him if they don't know what a sweetheart he actually is.

 

There is a serial killer that has been killing young women about 20 minutes from my house. He's dumped 8 bodies now. So nope, I never walk at night.

But whenever I'm traveling, I always hold on to Conner if I have to walk in the hotel parking lot. He has the most ferocious sounding bark; not many people would be brave enough to mess with him if they don't know what a sweetheart he actually is.

Wow! I'm so sorry - that must be really terrifying. You stay safe.

 

I would never walk through a park or wooded area around here at night. I am very comfortable walking around my neighborhood though.

 

Completely agree...other than exigent circumstances (serial killers & rapists- we had a fun bout with those too/extreme weather) we've always walked or played ball in the fields or trained at night. I guess it doesn't seem fair to me to trap the dogs inside for most of the winter because of our emotional reactions to being out after dark. Especially since here, it's dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home.

 

I don't feel afraid of humans, but the critters! We have coyottes, the occassional black bear but mainly bobcats and mountain lions. There was a gal that was stalked by a mountain lion on her morning walk just about 1/2 mile from here! As our town grows more into the foothills, the cats are more into our town.

We used to walk at night, but no more. I get too freaked out and then Duke does. It's just not worth it to me.

 

Our neighborhood is safe but I still wouldn't walk (if I could still walk very far) my dogs alone at night. I'm a chicken.

 

I enjoy it but I have to say I do like having Diesel by my side.

 

I live in a neighborhood full of dog walkers....I cant remember the last time Ive walked and not run into other dog walkers...plus there are always dogless walkers and runners. I think it makes sense to walk in lit areas where others could cross your path... I don't rely on the dogs to act as a deterrent

 

I believe your gut will tell you what to do. If you are asking the question, then you are questioning it yourself. My vote for you would be not to walk at night.

 

I don't much, but I must say I listen to the dog. They tend to let you know if you should not be going into a certain area if danger is around. Noah stops and changes direction if something is off, will put his body in front of yours. Scout is not at this point yet.

Noah is big, and that sometimes makes people stay away. I have people onthe path move way over...all he would do is lick them. But I do think he would protect me if it was necessary and he could do harm with those teeth.

You just have to be smart about it.

Have your phone on you, only walk in well lit areas that are not off the path and secluded. You might get pepper spray just for walking at night. I only walk at night in areas I know well and that are busy.

 

I drive a few miles from my house and walk Brooks after dark on the main street of a little town (population less than 1000) because they have street lights and I stay on the sidewalk. I wouldn't walk near woods or bushes because someone might be able to hide. Realize that if you walk every night with a golden, you are going to be noticed by someone who frequents an area. If the person is a nutcase, you don't want to make yourself vulnerable.

 

I never walk at night not because I'm worried about crime but the road I live on has no sidewalks or street lights. It's semi rural but has become an alternate route to bypass a nearby intersection with cars driving way to fast.

 

I feel pretty safe walking with Gunner at night.
Riley, not so much.

I generally don't walk at night, though. This is a safe neighborhood. Not really much to worry about around here, but you never know anymore. I think that sometimes you're just better off not taking a chance.

 

Yeah, I change up my pattern. Most nights I am at the dog park, or walking around the always busy downtown parks and streets (large city, wealthy area) so I don't worry.

 

I find it somewhat peaceful walking at night... much fewer cars, fewer people and with the Christmas lights it's really pretty out. I never go for walks at the same time every day - sometimes we go right afterwork, sometimes we go around 8 or 9, and sometimes it's as late as 11. We are always changing our routes as well, depending on how far I feel like walking, which direction to go, or (usually what determines our path) where the closest garbage can is after Molson does his business!

Unfortunately with the winter season, it's dark when I leave in the morning and dark when I get home from work, so it won't be any better if I go in the mornings...

The only part of our walk that makes me nervouse is going through that park. I really want to so Molson can get a bit more freedom and run around a bit with the longer leash. It's pretty well-lit and open, hardly any trees, but also very few people in the winter so I don't know how many people would hear me IF I was calling for help! That's why I've been sticking to the streets and won't venture into the park until the sunlight is back - I know that it's only 25 feet to the nearest front door.