Are You Walking Your Dog Safely

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We've already established just how important regular walks are for your dog, but as with most things in life, there's often a good, better, and best way to do something. So what then, is the best way to walk your dog? What might seem like a silly question is actually not as quite simple as we may first think. There are many safety factors to keep in mind when planning your daily strolls.

First of all, always consider the elements. If heat is an issue your area, consider walking you dog in the morning or evening, before or after the hottest part of the day. If you're bringing water, anticipating needing it for yourself, don't forget to bring something for the dog as well. Collapsible plastic bowls are great for sharing your drink, or even a small plastic bag works too. Think about it - if you're hot, imagine how hot you'd be in a fur coat.

In addition to heat, there can also be potential problems from cold. Especially if you have a smaller dog (under 30 pounds), consider a sweater or jacket for your pet. With pet clothes increasing in popularity, you can get a quality jacket for a fairly low price. A great alternative if your dog doesn't have a jacket is one of your old sweatshirts. Tie the arms around the dog's neck and let the body of the sweatshirt cover his back. (Just don't forget to tuck the arms of the sweatshirt into the "scarf" you made around his neck of you will come home with a wet and dirty sweatshirt.) For extreme cold, a pair of boots is not a ridiculous idea. Don't have boots for your dog? You can always make your own using some old pairs of socks. Simply place the socks on your dog's feet like... well, socks. If you're concerned that your dog's feet might get wet (or sandy/salty from the roads), you can always tie bags around the paws or cover them in Saran wrap. Yes, your dog may look crazy and may not like it at first, but once he gets used to his "boots" he will thank you. Salt between the toes is not a comfortable feeling.

If you're planning to walk your dog in the early morning or evening, we highly recommend some form reflective gear on your dog. There are a lot of options here, most common of which is a reflective harness. Your dog will be safe without even knowing it. I've also seen dogs with blinkers on their harnesses - if this doesn't scare your dog, this is also another good option. And if you want to be really safe, consider a reflective leash as well.

Last but not least, the most important thing to do is listen to your dog. There is no "one walk fits all" for dogs - you need to consider your pet's age, energy level, and overall health when planning your route. If your dog starts dragging behind on your walk, you're probably going too far or too fast. This is especially true as your dog ages - the once favorite route may need to be shorted over time. Make sure your dog sees the vet regularly as well and is healthy enough for exercise. Walks are just so much fun for dogs - they can be in pain and not necessarily show it on the walk.

Oh - and just as people get bored with the same work-out routines, don't forget to mix it up a bit for your dog from time to time. Happy trails!

We've already established just how important regular walks are for your dog, but as with most things in life, there's often a good, better, and best way to do something. So what then, is the best way to walk your dog? What might seem like a silly question is actually not as quite simple as we may first think. There are many safety factors to keep in mind when planning your daily strolls.

First of all, always consider the elements. If heat is an issue your area, consider walking you dog in the morning or evening, before or after the hottest part of the day. If you're bringing water, anticipating needing it for yourself, don't forget to bring something for the dog as well. Collapsible plastic bowls are great for sharing your drink, or even a small plastic bag works too. Think about it - if you're hot, imagine how hot you'd be in a fur coat.

In addition to heat, there can also be potential problems from cold. Especially if you have a smaller dog (under 30 pounds), consider a sweater or jacket for your pet. With pet clothes increasing in popularity, you can get a quality jacket for a fairly low price. A great alternative if your dog doesn't have a jacket is one of your old sweatshirts. Tie the arms around the dog's neck and let the body of the sweatshirt cover his back. (Just don't forget to tuck the arms of the sweatshirt into the "scarf" you made around his neck of you will come home with a wet and dirty sweatshirt.) For extreme cold, a pair of boots is not a ridiculous idea. Don't have boots for your dog? You can always make your own using some old pairs of socks. Simply place the socks on your dog's feet like... well, socks. If you're concerned that your dog's feet might get wet (or sandy/salty from the roads), you can always tie bags around the paws or cover them in Saran wrap. Yes, your dog may look crazy and may not like it at first, but once he gets used to his "boots" he will thank you. Salt between the toes is not a comfortable feeling.

If you're planning to walk your dog in the early morning or evening, we highly recommend some form reflective gear on your dog. There are a lot of options here, most common of which is a reflective harness. Your dog will be safe without even knowing it. I've also seen dogs with blinkers on their harnesses - if this doesn't scare your dog, this is also another good option. And if you want to be really safe, consider a reflective leash as well.

Last but not least, the most important thing to do is listen to your dog. There is no "one walk fits all" for dogs - you need to consider your pet's age, energy level, and overall health when planning your route. If your dog starts dragging behind on your walk, you're probably going too far or too fast. This is especially true as your dog ages - the once favorite route may need to be shorted over time. Make sure your dog sees the vet regularly as well and is healthy enough for exercise. Walks are just so much fun for dogs - they can be in pain and not necessarily show it on the walk.

Oh - and just as people get bored with the same work-out routines, don't forget to mix it up a bit for your dog from time to time. Happy trails!

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