Winter nights are colder and darker than any other time of the year, so it’s important that when taking your canine companion out for a winter dog walk at night, you keep them and yourself safe. Here are our top tips on how to keep you and your dog safe on a night-time winter walkies.
LED collars
One of the best things you can do to keep your pet safe is to invest in an LED collar and/or lead. You can even purchase a safety light that will attach to your pooch’s collar. Not only will this make your four-legged friend visible to you, but they’ll be more noticeable to passing motorists, cyclists and evening joggers.
Reflective accessories
Reflective pet jackets and accessories – such as collars, leads and ID tags – are also great for increasing your dog’s visibility. Even brightly-coloured pet accessories will help make your pet more noticeable to other pedestrians, joggers, cars and cylists.
Keep your pooch warm
As well as ensuring your pet can be seen, make sure they are kept warm too with a coat or jumper. Although it can be fairly mild during the day, once the sun sets there will be a noticeable drop in temperature. Short-haired dogs and dogs with thin coats will feel the cold more strongly so need to be well protected.
Keep your dog on a lead
Keep your canine on a lead throughout your walk for maximum safety. Dogs can easily become spooked by strange wildlife noises they can’t see causing them to run off. When walking near traffic, a shorter lead is best – if you have an extendable lead, avoid letting your pooch run the full length until you’re in a park or field. If you do let your dog off the lead, make sure it is in a well-lit area – preferrably one you know well.
Walk a familiar route
To err on the side of caution, it’s a good idea to stick to a familar route when walking your dog at night. This won’t just prevent you (or your pooch!) from getting lost, but it will also reduce the risk of any run-ins with any other animals lurking in the bushes or trees. Always try to avoid short cuts or dark alleyways and stick to the well-lit routes. If you’re walking up a country lane or road with a narrow pavement, always walk against the traffic so you can see what’s coming.
Carry a torch
Always carry a torch with you. This will help you to avoid tripping or falling over, and to also spot potential dangers like other dogs that may not be on the lead, or wild animals such as foxes. Also it is a good way to keep an eye on your dog if they are roaming freely. A headlamp will also do the job!
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