A Guide to walking your dog during COVID-19 restrictions

As social distancing rules evolve during this pandemic, NSW residents have largely been confined to their homes outside of a handful of ‘essential’ outings of which you are permitted to leave your home - including exercise. If you’re lucky enough to own a dog, you are allowed to walk your greyhound on a daily basis.

This is the perfect opportunity to ensure your dog is receiving the right level of daily physical activity to stay fit and healthy, as well as provide you with some fresh air and sunshine – and of course precious time with your greyhound.

The government has asked the public to maintain a minimum of 1.5m distance from others while out in public, there are also other practices you should keep in mind to walk your dog in a safe and responsible way.

Good hygiene is vital

The most effective way to maintain good hygiene is to wash your hands for 20-30 seconds before and after each walk.

It has also been recommended you do not allow others outside of your home to touch your dog. If you want to be careful, wash your dog’s paws in soap and water and wipe down their fur before entering the home.

Stay local

Current government restrictions only allow travel in cars for essential outings such as grocery shopping, travel to work, or going to the doctors or chemist. If you have a favourite dog park that you have been driving to, you will need to adjust your routine so that you are exercising your dog in walking distance from your home.

Since everyone is subject to these rules, local parks and tracks may become a lot busier than normal. Try and find times in the day that these routes may be less congested so that you can easily maintain social distancing.

When someone else walks your dog

If you are unable to walk your dog (and no one from your household has/is suspected of having COVID-19), you may have someone else walk your dog.

If this is the case, please ensure you maintain social distancing when the dog walker picks up and drops off your dog. Also, the dog walker should:

• Implement all of the recommended hygiene practices including washing hands before and after the walk
• Minimise touching your dog or consider wearing gloves for the duration of the walk and dispose of them directly after use
• Use their own leash, poo bags, and poo bag holder.
• If you are more susceptible to COVID 19, it has been suggested you ask them to wash the dog’s paws in soapy water and wipe down its fur before returning your pet to you.

If you want to volunteer to walk someone else’s dog who is self-isolating or unable to walk their dog for health reasons, please follow the above advice to ensure you limit exposure to others.