Walking Your Dog After Dark: Why Women Feel Unsafe (and What We're Doing About It) - Stinky Stuff

Walking Your Dog After Dark: Why Women Feel Unsafe (and What We're Doing About It)

The clocks have gone back, and for most of us that means the evening dog walk now happens in the dark. For a lot of women, that walk comes with a knot in the stomach.

We know that feeling well. It's why we started Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs: night-time group dog walks so women don't have to choose between their dog's walk and feeling safe.

In short:

  • 88% of UK women have felt unsafe walking at night (YouGov for Active Travel England).
  • 4 in 5 feel unsafe walking alone in a park after dark, and more than a third have stopped walking in parks after dark altogether (ONS, 2022).
  • Walking in a group with people you trust is one of the simplest ways to keep your evening walks. You can join ours or start your own.

Why this matters to us

We're women, and we're dog owners. Our dogs need walking every day, whatever the weather and whatever time the sun sets. From October to March, that means a lot of walks in the dark.

And there have been times we've felt unsafe doing it.

I remember walking my spaniel, Smudge, when I was younger. We lived at the end of a country lane and, as if that wasn’t creepy enough, the footpath and road were separated by a hedgerow. Walking down that road used to terrify me, so much so that I’d often hop over the fence into the fields and run as fast as I could through the middle of the fields all the way home. That’s why, when I decided to get a dog of my own, I got a boxer, as I knew I’d feel much safer with a large dog. My sister, Daisy, gets a similar feeling walking back to her house now. Our village is pretty well lit for the most part, but the road her house is on doesn’t have any streetlights, so she often finds herself running the last bit of the walk or calling someone to come and meet her at the top of the road.

Then there's the other small habits we learn to adopt. Sticking the same well-lit loop time and time again. Pretending to be on the phone. Crossing the road because you're worried. Clenching your keys just in case. 

Having a dog with you helps, but it doesn't make the feeling go away. When we started talking to other women who walk their dogs, we realised almost all of them had a version of the same story. That's what inspired Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs.

How safe do women feel walking after dark in the UK?

Most women in the UK have felt unsafe walking after dark, and parks and open spaces, where most dog walks happen, feel the least safe of all. Here's what the research shows.

88% of women have felt unsafe walking at night

Nearly 9 in 10 women in the UK have felt unsafe while walking at night, according to a YouGov survey of 2,125 UK adults for Active Travel England (coverage).

4 in 5 women feel unsafe in parks after dark

In the Office for National Statistics survey, 84% of women said they felt unsafe walking alone in a park or other open space after dark. For men, the figure was 42% (ONS, Feb–Mar 2022).

37% of women have stopped walking in parks after dark

Feeling unsafe changes what women do. The share of women who had stopped walking in quiet places like parks after dark rose from 32% to 37% (ONS, 2022). For dog owners, that's not an option. The dog still needs to go out.

Half of women feel unsafe on a quiet street near home

It isn't only parks. 49% of women said they'd feel unsafe walking alone after dark on a quiet street close to home, more than three times the rate for men (15%) (ONS, June 2021).

76% of women change their behaviour after dark in winter

A 2025 OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK adults for Ultion found 76% of women change their behaviour after dark in winter to feel safe, and 69% feel less safe outside after dark in the winter months (Ultion, Feb 2026).

For some, the answer is simply not going out. Over a quarter of UK women would never walk alone at night (Bauer Media Outdoor / Strut Safe). Dog owners don't get to opt out.

What is Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs?

Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs is a Stinky Stuff initiative that brings women together for evening dog walks after dark, so nobody has to walk alone.

The idea is simple. Instead of heading out alone, you meet up with friends, family or other trusted dog owners and walk together. More eyes, more torches, more company, and dogs who get a proper walk instead of a rushed lap round the block.

  • Who it's for: any woman who walks a dog and feels uneasy doing it after dark.
  • When: the darker months, roughly from when the clocks go back in late October until they go forward in March.
  • Where: Anywhere! Just pick a well-lit, safe starting point.
  • How to join: Just get a group of women you trust and start your own Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs group. 

We can't be everywhere, so we'd love you to start a group of your own.

How to start your own night dog walking group

  1. Start with people you know. Message friends, family, neighbours or the dog owners you already know. Aim for at least 4 people that way if for any reason you do get split up, you're still in 2s. 
  2. Set up a group chat. Use WhatsApp or similar to agree times and let people say if they're running late or can't make it. 
  3. Pick a regular time and place. The same evening and meeting point each week makes it easy to keep going. Choose somewhere well lit, with parking, that everyone can find. 
  4. Plan a safe route. Walk it in daylight first. Stick to lit paths, avoid dead ends and know where the nearest busy road is. Have a shorter backup loop for bad weather.
  5. Get to know the dogs. Do a first meet in daylight so dogs can say hello calmly. Keep reactive or nervous dogs on lead, and agree spacing so every dog is comfortable.
  6. Light everyone up. Head torches for people, and LED collars or hi-vis vests for dogs, make the whole group easier to see for drivers, cyclists and each other.
  7. Agree how you'll get home. Decide whether you'll walk back to cars together or message the group when you're home. The walk isn't over until everyone's back.
  8. Share it. Tag us at [@stinky_stuff] with [#GirlsJustWannaWalkDogs] so other women nearby can find you and join.

Dog walking in the dark: quick safety tips

Whether you walk in a group or not, these help:

  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Keep your phone charged and one ear free of headphones.
  • Carry a torch, even on lit routes. Don't rely on your phone.
  • Make sure your dog is visible and has an up-to-date ID tag.
  • Trust your gut. If a route feels wrong tonight, change it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe for women to walk a dog alone at night?

Many women don't feel safe doing it: 88% of UK women have felt unsafe walking at night (YouGov for Active Travel England), and 84% feel unsafe alone in a park after dark (ONS). Walking with others, sticking to lit routes and telling someone your plans all help you feel safer.

Does having a dog make women feel safer at night?

A dog can help you feel less alone, but it doesn't remove the worry. Many women who walk dogs still change their route, cut walks short or avoid parks after dark. Walking in a group adds a layer a dog alone can't.

What is Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs?

It's a Stinky Stuff initiative that organises group dog walks after dark for women, and encourages women to start their own walking groups with friends, family and trusted dog owners.

How do I start a dog walking group?

Start with four people you trust, set up a group chat, pick a regular well-lit meeting point and route, and introduce the dogs in daylight first.

How do I keep my dog visible when walking in the dark?

Use an LED collar or lead, a reflective or hi-vis vest, and carry a torch or head torch. Make sure your dog's ID tag is up to date in case you get separated.

About the authors

Georgina is one of the founders of Stinky Stuff, a UK natural pet and personal care brand based in Yorkshire, making supplements, balms and shampoos for dogs, horses and humans. Georgina also has a boxer dog named Roy, he's our favourite clown. Girls Just Wanna Walk Dogs started from our own evening walks.

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Sources

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