Hi!
Welcome to the edition of your very own K9 Insider eNewsletter, brought to you by the K9Magazine.com team.
The weather may be more sunny than usual, but Autumn and its darker mornings and nights are well and truly here. As dog owners, we aren't able to avoid them, and so this issue is a dog safety issue.
We'll be bringing you expert advice on keeping safe, a video from the one and only Dr. Roger Mugford, and recommending some fantastic products we think are essentials for the dark mornings and darker evenings.
Star of BBC’s Dog Borstal has compiled a number of top tips for safe and enjoyable walks with your dog.
Walking your dog at night can be a particularly hazardous event, but if you follow the right safety protocol, those evening walks can be just as enjoyable for you and your dog as the sunny days of Summer.
Here are general safety tips:
- Be safe – plan ahead and follow signs
- Leave gates and property as you find them
- Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
- Keep your dog under close control
- Take care when crossing roads or railway lines
- Wherever you are walking, always pick up mess after your dog and dispose of it responsibly
Before you go
- Prepare for your walk before you set off
- Plan your route
- Take into account the age of the dog and the standard of the walk for all members of the group, particularly if there are young children
- Check the weather forecast
- If possible, tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
- Always check for public right-of-way on any farmland or footpath
- Take a personal medical alert system for falls, just in case you trip over and can’t get back up.
During your walk
- Try not to let the dog graze as there are a number of hazards, including pesticides and disease
- Be aware that there are several plants that are highly poisonous to dogs
- Make sure you always clean up after your dog
- Use a training lead if you have one, as they tend to be safer than extendable leads
- Consider a muzzle if the dog is unpredictable or hard to control
- Make sure you are able to keep your dog under control when in a public place
- Ensure you can recall your dog quickly before you consider letting it off the lead
And that's not all, listen to Dr. Roger Mugford give his top tips here!
We hope our experts featured here this month have helped you prepare for the Autumn/Winter months - but most of all, we hope you have fun with your dog on your walks!
