Dog owners who walk their dogs at higher risk of contracting Covid19

[Leigha]

There is no conclusive research that proves dog-to-human transmission is possible if a dog becomes infected, however, researchers suggest pooches could spread the virus by touching contaminated surfaces in public and then walking the germs throughout their owner’s home.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/17/dog-owners...-covid-19/

Hmm. So, I thought that surface touching isn't considered to be the primary way that Covid spreads, so why would dogs pose a greater threat than if we (humans) were to touch contaminated surfaces in public and ''walk the germs'' throughout our own homes?  

[Syne]

Looking at the actual study, it admits that there have only been four positive Covid tests in dogs and zero evidence of human-to-dog or dog-to-human transmission. So without evidence of causation, that risk is only a correlation, which could be caused by something else dog walkers also tend to do. Do they meet others at the local dog park? Stop for a coffee? Jog wearing a mask? We don't know, and the study doesn't rule out other causes.

[Leigha]

True, but wouldn't the dog owner pick up the same germs (separately) as the dog, if they walked through all of those places? If surface touching/transfer is not the primary way to pass the virus, why would a dog touching surfaces increase the odds? That's the part I'm confused on.

[Syne]

Yeah, lots of (perhaps intentionally) confusing info on Covid. Sounds like they're just guessing about the surface contact and it's more likely that dog walkers just get out of the house more, and perhaps interact with more people.