Stay safe on a winter dog walk

Wet, muddy paws, wooly hat and runny noses are all a sure sign that Winter has officially arrived! Despite the shorter evenings and colder weather, our dogs still need regular exercise in order to stay happy and healthy.

In this blog post, we are going to share our top 5 tips to keep those wintery walks as safe as possible, for both you and your furry friend.

LED collar and lead
First up is the need to say visible! Whether you walk your dog on a lead or let it free run, an LED collar and lead is a fantastic way to be easily seen by traffic and passer bys. Most dog owners reading this will be all too aware of the wave of panic felt when their dog goes running off into darkness, only to happily return several minutes later! Well, an LED collar is an ideal solution, allowing you to see where your dog is no matter how far they stray.

Let it glow
Another way to stay visible is through a Reflective pet jacket and its accessories – such as collars, leads and ID tags. Reflective jackets, bands or badges for dog walkers are also great ways to remain as visible as possible to traffic. reflective

Wrap up
Keeping warm does not only apply to us dog walkers, but our four legged friends too. Puppies and older dogs are particularly vulnerable to the cold, as well as breeds with shorter coats. However, there are a range of coats and jumpers available to protect your dog from the cold, as well as providing a barrier against mud and dirt!If you don’t need a coat for your pooch then remember to keep a close eye on him throughout the walk. If your dog begins to shiver, it is a sign that he is too cold and needs to go home.

Many owners may consider keeping your dog groomed throughout winter in order to less muddy on walks. However, it is important to bear in mind that following a clip, your dog may need additional protection to keep warm.coat

Lighten up
Remember to keep a torch with you when out walking to light the way. Not only will this help avoid any trips, ice or muddy puddles, it means you can keep an eye on your dog as well as see any other dogs off lead.

Safety first
If you keep your dog on the lead then make sure you stick to a well-known and well-lit area – this will help keep danger to a minimum. It is also highly advisable to take a mobile phone with you and let someone know where you are going before you leave.