Fitting in Winter Walks/Exercise

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

I'm just curious about how everyone copes with the shorter days of Winter in terms of fitting in walks.
I work most days of the week and obviously with the days drawing in it can sometimes be getting dark when I get home, I live in a small village where street lights are minimal. My days off are not an issue, I can take Rox for a long walk in the afternoon, but on my work days she might get a short walk in the mornings before I leave and then can sometimes go without in the afternoon/evening.
During the summer it has been fine, I give her dinner at 5pm and take her out at 6, since it's light really late.
It is also an issue to schedule feeding times around this, because I like to leave at least 45 minutes between feeding and walking and I prefer to keep the times as close to the same each day. It's dinner times I struggle with, like for example yesterday, it was nearly 6pm by the time I took her for a walk, got back at about 6:45 and wanted to wait until at least 7:30 before giving her dinner, I actually forgot to give it to her until 8pm! I felt so bad since her usual time is around 5!! It's almost manageable now, but when the clocks change it's going to be really tricky!

How do you guys re-schedule this Winter time mess up of your routine?

 

[Mad Murphy]

In a way we are lucky OH is retired on medical grounds and Im his carer so we have time ...
But we walk early to avoid too many people and in summer thats around 6am and in winter about 7am . If walking in the woods where Murphy is lose then he wears an led collar so we can see him.
His last walk is about 10pm and then I put his led collar on him and carry a flashlight myself. I do live in a relatively safe place.
Winter has very little impact on our habits really..

 

[Shalista]

For me its the weather thats an issue. we get down to around -10F around here and people salt their walkways pretty rigorously and bax doesn't like wearing boots or a coat which means he basically doesn't get walks in the winter. I'll take him out quick in the early AM to pee and poo and then again when i get home from work but we'd never dream of doing our usual couple miles. feel bad for my little man =(

 

[Caro Perry]

I'm just curious about how everyone copes with the shorter days of Winter in terms of fitting in walks.
I work most days of the week and obviously with the days drawing in it can sometimes be getting dark when I get home, I live in a small village where street lights are minimal. My days off are not an issue, I can take Rox for a long walk in the afternoon, but on my work days she might get a short walk in the mornings before I leave and then can sometimes go without in the afternoon/evening.
During the summer it has been fine, I give her dinner at 5pm and take her out at 6, since it's light really late.
It is also an issue to schedule feeding times around this, because I like to leave at least 45 minutes between feeding and walking and I prefer to keep the times as close to the same each day. It's dinner times I struggle with, like for example yesterday, it was nearly 6pm by the time I took her for a walk, got back at about 6:45 and wanted to wait until at least 7:30 before giving her dinner, I actually forgot to give it to her until 8pm! I felt so bad since her usual time is around 5!! It's almost manageable now, but when the clocks change it's going to be really tricky!

How do you guys re-schedule this Winter time mess up of your routine?

Harri gets a long walk in the morning - generally 9-11.30 or so and then a short walk of about a hour in the evening. Last winter it was in the dark.

Would keeping the feeding schedule on BST rather than moving with the clock work?

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

In a way we are lucky OH is retired on medical grounds and Im his carer so we have time ...
But we walk early to avoid too many people and in summer thats around 6am and in winter about 7am . If walking in the woods where Murphy is lose then he wears an led collar so we can see him.
His last walk is about 10pm and then I put his led collar on him and carry a flashlight myself. I do live in a relatively safe place.
Winter has very little impact on our habits really..

That's lucky, wow, I would never walk Rox that late! That's when we lock up, haha! I'm a bit of a chicken in the dark

For me its the weather thats an issue. we get down to around -10F around here and people salt their walkways pretty rigorously and bax doesn't like wearing boots or a coat which means he basically doesn't get walks in the winter. I'll take him out quick in the early AM to pee and poo and then again when i get home from work but we'd never dream of doing our usual couple miles. feel bad for my little man =(

Awww that's a real shame Rox would be bouncing off the walls if she didn't get her walks! Is Bax the same?

Harri gets a long walk in the morning - generally 9-11.30 or so and then a short walk of about a hour in the evening. Last winter it was in the dark.

Would keeping the feeding schedule on BST rather than moving with the clock work?

That's good that you can take him for long walks in the mornings, I can't really do that unfortunately
I'm not sure what you mean by keeping feeding schedule on BST rather than moving with the clock?...can you explain further?

 

[Caro Perry]

That's good that you can take him for long walks in the mornings, I can't really do that unfortunately
I'm not sure what you mean by keeping feeding schedule on BST rather than moving with the clock?...can you explain further?

What I meant is that you feed him at 5pm now which will be 4pm when the clocks move. If you were to feed him at the same actual time ( ie 4pm from end of the month rather than 5pm) would that work with your routine?

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

What I meant is that you feed him at 5pm now which will be 4pm when the clocks move. If you were to feed him at the same actual time ( ie 4pm from end of the month rather than 5pm) would that work with your routine?

Oh right I'm with you now, umm, it might be awkward when the clocks change because I sometimes don't finish work until 5 :/

 

[JudyN]

I work from home so all I can offer to this thread is that I'm glad I misunderstood the topic title and Roxy isn't having fits on walks in cold weather!

Would it be worth getting a neighbour/dogsitter to pop in to feed Roxy earlier so she's ready to walk when you get home?

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

I work from home so all I can offer to this thread is that I'm glad I misunderstood the topic title and Roxy isn't having fits on walks in cold weather!

Would it be worth getting a neighbour/dogsitter to pop in to feed Roxy earlier so she's ready to walk when you get home?

Oh my gosh no! Luckily not!

There is always someone home so yes that could be an option, I would have to leave the correct amount for them though as I don't trust them to not overfeed!

 

[merlina]

I also live in a rural village with virtually no street lights. At the start of the year my OH had foot surgery and couldn't come walking so I had to do a 40 min walk with young spaniel in darkness. I did the usual things- hiviz jacket for me and a light for his collar and I just walked the lanes and footpaths. I really got to like it in the end...moonlit nights were wonderful. Mind you his flushing a pigeon out of the hedge in total blackness means I occasionally needed to restart my heart. I wouldn't do this everywhere but I'm lucky enough to live in a pretty safe area.

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

I also live in a rural village with virtually no street lights. At the start of the year my OH had foot surgery and couldn't come walking so I had to do a 40 min walk with young spaniel in darkness. I did the usual things- hiviz jacket for me and a light for his collar and I just walked the lanes and footpaths. I really got to like it in the end...moonlit nights were wonderful. Mind you his flushing a pigeon out of the hedge in total blackness means I occasionally needed to restart my heart. I wouldn't do this everywhere but I'm lucky enough to live in a pretty safe area.

That's nice you feel safe enough to do that, and I see what you mean, these last few walks have been nice because they've been at the time it starts to get dark...so peaceful and pretty ...bonus, no other dog walkers about! Hahaha, yes that must give you a fright!!
I don't think I feel as safe walking around in the dark!

 

[Josie]

I have been lucky as from last winter I have worked from home but before that it was a real pain!!

There are quite a few paths where Den can be off lead and it’s lit by street lamps where I live. Although he definitely uses being a black dog to his advantage in the winter!!

One year I stupidly thought it was a good idea to go along the coastal path as there are houses set back slightly that run all the way down the path, which I thought would provide enough light. All was well to begin with and then it got darker and darker (the houses were too far back!) and the waves were crashing one side. Then Dennis growled at something ahead I’ve never walked so fast in all my life!!

Is there somewhere you could drive to that provided some light?

 

[Kara 1]

I walk every morning all year around at 430am every morning in our local woods ...i have a headtorch that gives 400 metres of light ...i do a 90 min offlead walk and then a road walk in the afternoon. ..

 

[Rhythmpig]

I walk every morning all year around at 430am every morning in our local woods ...i have a headtorch that gives 400 metres of light ...i do a 90 min offlead walk and then a road walk in the afternoon. ..

I'm just like you, I live on top of the Pennies and I will go walking on the moors at 10:30 at night. The head torch i have sounds the same as yours. It's like having a car headlight on full beam on my head. So my routine stays the same all year round.

 

[Ragsysmum]

We live in a small rural village so normally walk narrow, unlit country lanes. In the dark we wear Hi-vis coats, the dog also has a flashing collar and I wear a head torch so both hands free. I don't mind the dark and nor does the dog. In fact, icy roads in winter are much more of a problem than dark and if the moon is out, it's quite easy to walk at night.

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

I have been lucky as from last winter I have worked from home but before that it was a real pain!!

There are quite a few paths where Den can be off lead and it’s lit by street lamps where I live. Although he definitely uses being a black dog to his advantage in the winter!!

One year I stupidly thought it was a good idea to go along the coastal path as there are houses set back slightly that run all the way down the path, which I thought would provide enough light. All was well to begin with and then it got darker and darker (the houses were too far back!) and the waves were crashing one side. Then Dennis growled at something ahead I’ve never walked so fast in all my life!!

Is there somewhere you could drive to that provided some light?

You're so lucky to work from home!
Oh my gosh, that sounds so scary!

There isn't really no

It sounds like most of you guys just brave it and get the high vis stuff out!
I'll have to buy some, all I have is a high vis collar.
I think I'll just try to walk her as soon as I get home and just feed her a bit later, at maybe 7pm (might need to set a reminder on my phone to remind me of the time change so that I don't forget again!)

 

[Walkiestime]

I am a dog owner and walk my dogs at 4.30/5am and mid morning then 7.30pm I walk other clients dogs in between so walking in dark with headlights or sun doesn’t make much differenc. If you have the right gear and walking boots and walk safe then why should it matter.
If you are in Northampton I can walk your dog for you.

 

[Walkiestime]

I'm just like you, I live on top of the Pennies and I will go walking on the moors at 10:30 at night. The head torch i have sounds the same as yours. It's like having a car headlight on full beam on my head. So my routine stays the same all year round.

Hi

What headlamp do you have? Could do with that one.

 

[Rhythmpig]

Hi

What headlamp do you have? Could do with that one.

Mine is one that can be used as a head tourch or on a push bike. I've had it for around 6 years now and still going strong. I've seen one on ebay very similar to the one I have,its a Cree 15000lm but there are others too. You've to look at how many lumens or lm the tourch puts out,that's how powerful it is. Put it this way,I've no problems walking my dog off the lead at 10:30 at night mid winter,just like I will be in a hours time.

 

[Walkiestime]

Mine is one that can be used as a head tourch or on a push bike. I've had it for around 6 years now and still going strong. I've seen one on ebay very similar to the one I have,its a Cree 15000lm but there are others too. You've to look at how many lumens or lm the tourch puts out,that's how powerful it is. Put it this way,I've no problems walking my dog off the lead at 10:30 at night mid winter,just like I will be in a hours time.

Thank you for that I appreciate your help