A Guide To Safe And Happy Dog Walks
Date: 11/6/2024
A Guide To Safe And Happy Dog Walks
82% of dog owners say daily walks boosts their overall mental health. Dogs also love their walkies, and regular activity helps them maintain a healthy weight and lowers their risk of heart disease, osteoarthritis, and diabetes. Although you may think dog walks are fairly straightforward, it’s important to prioritize safety to protect your dog from accidents and injury when out in the world. So, take time to invest in crucial safety gear, check you’re giving your dog the right amount of exercise, and take precautions in hot or cold weather, and you’ll enjoy safer and happier walks together.
Essential safety gear
As a general rule, always keep your dog leashed in public spaces. Even if your dog’s well-trained and easy-going, you may run into other people, dogs, or wildlife that may not respond well to your dog off the leash, and this can unnecessarily put your dog in harm's way. You can also improve your dog’s comfort by attaching the leash to a no-pull harness instead of a standard collar. Harnesses more evenly distribute pressure across your dog’s chest and back when they pull on the leash. This, in turn, prevents choking and protects their neck.
Your dog should also wear an ID tag, which increases the chances of them being reunited with you if they run off on a walk. Tragically, roughly ten million pets are lost annually in the U.S. And, 15% of lost dogs that are subsequently found are found because of their ID tags — which highlights just how important they are. It’s therefore important to include essential information on the ID tag, such as, your dog’s name and your address and phone number. If there’s enough room, you can also include relevant medical and/or behavioral issues.
Give your dog the right amount of exercise
Most dog’s require daily walks, although how long your dog’s walks should be depends on their breed, age, and health status. Bull dogs, pugs, and chihuahuas, for example, only need light walks to stay in good health. These breeds also don’t tolerate hot weather well and overheat easily, so it’s important they’re not overexerted during these conditions. On the other hand, breeds like Labradors, border collies, and huskies can walk for several hours every day no problem. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, this can result in behavioral issues, including destructive behavior. So, it’s a good idea to ask your vet about your dog’s unique exercise needs, so you can be confident you’re not over- or under-doing it.
Take precautions in hot or cold weather
You can also keep your dog safe by walking them in comfortable temperatures (usually somewhere between 60°F-70°F), and taking precautions throughout the seasons as needed. In the winter, for example, booties can protect your dog’s paws from snow, which can sometimes clump and cause pain and discomfort in between their toes. Grit and salt are another thing to watch out for as they can dry out and irritate your dog’s paws. Booties are a simple way to prevent both these problems. You can also use paw butter to soothe and moisturize your dog’s paws if they do become dry or irritated.
Alternatively, in the hot summer months, avoid hot pavements, which can burn your dog’s paws. Instead, stick to cooler, grassy surfaces. It’s also best to switch-up your walking times to early mornings or evenings as these are the coolest, most comfortable hours in the day.
Your dog deserves to be safe, secure, and comfortable on their walks. So, take care to invest in crucial safety gear, give your dog enough exercise, and protect them in hot or cold weather, and you’ll enjoy safer and happier walks together.