Top safety tips for walking your dog

The clocks have changed, and days are getting longer, but safety is still very much on our minds. So here are some of our top tips:

At Night

Some of us still need to be out early in the morning or late at night, due to working hours or not being able to let the dog in a garden for toileting. It’s important you and your dog are visible to cars, bikes and other passers-by to keep you safe on those night time strolls. Reflective vests and jackets are available for both humans and pups. Just be sure to choose a jacket where the reflective areas aren’t covered by your dog’s harness. AND keep the jacket clean and mud free so they stay visible.

As well as using reflective gear, it’s also a good idea to use either a light up collar or lead for extra visibility. There are fantastic LED collars and leads you can buy in store and online.

A headlamp is a great option to keep us humans safe and seen at night. They’re also handy for helping you find any presents your dog leaves you in the dark. There’s nothing worse than rummaging around for poop while trying to juggle a torch!

Always carry your phone

We don’t like to think about bad things happening, but you or your dog could have an accident when there’s no-one around to help you. You may need to act fast to call your vet, a taxi or a family member.

It’s always best to walk with a friend or family member , but at the very least, take your phone with you. Your phone could be a lifesaver in an emergency situation.

There are lots of apps and tools that can help keep you and your dog safe: some of my favourites are: What3Words, which helps emergency services find you; Google Maps, which allows you to share your location with a friend or family; your dog’s microchip, so make sure it is registered and up to date at Check-a-chip; GPS trackers like Tractive; and don’t forget your dog’s ID tag, with your surname, contact numbers and postcode.

Walk smart

Always walk against traffic so you can see what’s coming in front of you. Keep your wits about you too - avoid wearing headphones so you can hear what’s going on around you.

Dark evenings are not the time to go exploring new and unfamiliar walking routes. Stick to open and well-lit paths that you already know well. Avoid shortcuts through dark alleyways or parking lots.

Mix up your route when possible; this will give your dog mental enrichment; keep walking interesting for you; and make it harder for others to predict where you will be.

Using a lead

Unless you’re in an enclosed dog park where they can’t escape, keep your dog on a lead at night. Even dogs that are usually great off lead can become spooked and bolt off in the night. You don’t want to risk your dog getting injured from running out into the road.

If your dog does decide to head off on their own to explore, it’s also much harder to find a lost dog in the dark. So keep them close, it’s not worth the risk of losing your much loved pooch.

Other times to keep your dog on the lead include: near livestock or wildlife; near other on lead dogs who may not be friendly; new and unfamiliar places; and near areas with lots of rubbish or food.

If you need a friendly dog walker who will put the safety of your dog first, come and check out our dog walking services.