Keeping You and Your Dog Safe During COVID-19

Personally, it has been an unusual year so far. As a family, we relocated our dog walking business to our native North East, just in time for COVID-19 lockdown. It has been said by many others, but this is a strange time for all, and a scary time for many, especially those in a shielded category. This is potentially more true still for those in isolation who usually enjoy dog walking.

Lockdown also poses challenges for your pets. A dog's routine may have changed beyond all recognition, and many dogs will quickly pick up on their owner's anxieties. If you have a high-energy dog, the prospect of fewer walks a day is one that fills many with worry and no little guilt if we feel we aren't exercising our dogs as much as they would like. Ultimately, however long lockdown lasts, it is temporary, and there is dog walking help available, some of which I will mention later. Dogs are focused on the present, and when lockdown ends, they won't give these last few weeks a second thought.

You may also be asking yourself about the safety aspect of walking your dog. Presently, despite media reports, there is no evidence of dogs passing the virus on to humans. That doesn't mean there is no risk, as dog fur may carry the virus, but the risk is one that can be minimised by following this advice:

- Wash your hands when touching your dog, especially after a walk or if they have been in contact with others.

- Walk your dog in your local area, and try to maintain 2m distance from others.

- Avoid contact with other pets and keep your dog on the lead wherever possible.

- If you are self-isolating either due to falling into a vulnerable category or having developed symptoms, or you want to help someone who is, follow the CFSG protocols for handing over of dogs.

Finally, if you are over 70 or in the vulnerable category, get in touch, and, if we have availability, and we can do it safely, we will walk your dog for free. If anyone else wants to book our services, rest assured, we will maintain the strictest safety protocol.

On our walks, we make sure that:

- We wear disposable gloves.

- We use our own leads and clean them regularly.

- We disinfect anything we touch.

- Where possible, we avoid entering client's houses. If we do enter, we touch as little as possible and clean anything we do touch.