Children walking dog

**MAGPIE** · 30-04-2012, 10:20am

How old would your child have to be before you let them walk a dog alone.

**donna-j** · 30-04-2012, 10:23am

It would depend on the dog as well as the child.

**Damsella** · 30-04-2012, 10:27am

Mid teens, depending on where the dog walking was taking place.

**donna-j** · 30-04-2012, 10:40am

I definitely walked my dog when I was at primary school. I think it also depends where you live. I was in a village and there was a good safe place to walk dogs one street away. Plus it was the 70s/80s and I had so much freedom to roam about.

**Dunkling** · 30-04-2012, 11:10am

For me it is not just about age, but because we have always had a golden retriever, none of them have been allowed to walk the dog until their weight equalled or passed the dogs! The older 2 started walking at about 12, when I thought them responsible enough and knowledgable enough about her known commands. The youngest at nearly 12 still isn't allowed. But the size of child is also important I think as I wouldn't put them in a position where they could be physically outwitted by the dog.

**MAGPIE** · 30-04-2012, 11:44am

Thanks for your replies

**VivB** · 30-04-2012, 12:58pm

I can only just manage our dog so it wil be a long time before the younger children can take him out!! DS1 is 18 and he has been walking him for a few years as he was physically able to ,ds2 keeps asking to but its a no no for sure !!

**cheeky_biscuit** · 30-04-2012, 02:56pm

They're allowed to walk the dog (chihuahua) to the field at the bottom of the road and back (it's about 200 yards away, they don't go in the field). And they're 7 & 4. I wouldn't let them go any further yet. Not sure when though.

**Velvet Chain** · 30-04-2012, 02:58pm

I don;t have a doggie at the moment but if I did (hopefully soon) I wouldn't let DS (nearly 9) walk the dog at his age alone even if he could handle his dog - mainly because I am more concerned about other dogs and if there is a problem with another dog, he is not mature enough to know how to handle the situation safely.

**Bop** · 30-04-2012, 03:39pm

My 8 year old walks ours but only round the (smallish) block. My 12 year old takes her to the park - usually with her friends too.

It does depend though - we live in a very small quiet town , the dog is well behaved and the kids know how to handle her. I can think of plenty of dogs I wouldn't let them walk yet.....

Bop