Safety Tips for Walking Your Dog

Did you know that the first week of October is Walk Your Dog Week? Of course, if you have a pooch, every week is Walk Your Dog Week. Those daily jaunts are not just important for sanitary reasons: they also give Fido a chance to get some exercise, sniff some grass, and perhaps explore a little. Just be sure to put your furry friend’s safety first. Read on as a local Columbia, MD vet offers some safety tips for walking your dog.

Basics

When walking Fido along the side of the road, keep your pet to the outside. He’s shorter, and will be harder for drivers to see, especially on curves. Also, if you are walking on a sidewalk that crosses driveways, keep your canine pal at your side when going over driveways.

Night Walks

If you are out after dark, you’ll want to take a few extra precautions. Stick to well-lit, familiar routes, and try to keep nighttime strolls short and sweet. You may also want to bring a flashlight with you.

Leash

Retractable leashes can be great, but in certain situations, they can be dangerous. If the mechanism jams on the side of a busy road, you may have to move quickly to keep your furry friend out of the street. This can also be a problem if another dog approaches.

Walking Shoes

Set aside a pair of shoes or sneakers just for walking Fido. You may also want to dedicate a specific jacket to walking your canine buddy. Keep the pockets filled with treats, waste baggies, a flashlight, spare keys, and a portable phone charger.

Wintertime Hazards

Fresh snow is beautiful, but it can also hide dangerous objects, like broken glass. Keep Fido on soft surfaces as much as possible, and keep a close eye on the ground. You’ll also want to stay away from frozen water bodies: the last thing you want is your pup running out onto thin ice.

Training

All dogs should know basic doggy obedience commands, such as Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down. This is really important when walking Fido. For instance, if you drop your leash, you need to make sure you can call your furry pal back to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us, your Columbia, MD animal clinic, for all your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!