Many of us have busy lifestyles, and walking your dog at night or during the hours of darkness is sometimes the only choice during the winter months. It goes without saying that when it's dark, one of your — and your dog's — key senses, sight, is severely impaired. This can lead to mishaps and an unwelcome visit to one of our emergency clinics or 24-hour hospitals. There are various dog walking safety precautions to consider when walking your dog late at night or early in the morning.
There are two things you can do to make your walks easier and safer while walking your dog at night. These are the following:
✔ Always have a torch with you. Wearing a head lamp, on the other hand, is preferable because it frees up your hands.
✔ Dress in bright colors. It's also critical that you put on a bright coat, preferably one with reflectors.
In the dark, you're far more likely to lose your dog, which puts them at risk of being hit by a car, motorcycle, or lorry. There are a variety of tools available to assist you in finding your dog more quickly. These are some of them:
✔ Reflective clothing is recommended. Consider adding reflective strips to their legs in addition to reflective collars and leads. If your dog wears a coat, you can get reflective patches on it as well.
✔ Lights made of LEDs. These lights are now lighter and brighter than ever before, and the batteries last significantly longer. The clip-on models may usually be recharged using a USB cable as well.
✔ Collars with LEDs. These can make finding your four-legged pal in the dark a lot easier.
If you plan on taking your dog on a new walking path, attempt to do so during the day first. Other things to think about are:
✔ Other canines. In the dark, meeting other dogs is more difficult, so if your dog is apprehensive, keep them on a leash or within sight.
✔ Other individuals. Take joggers on walks and bikers on bridleways as examples.
✔ Potholes and other obstructive elements Broken glass and other sharp objects that can damage your dog's feet should be avoided. Lively dogs may also try to jump over fences or walls, oblivious to the depth or drop on the other side, as well as other risks such as barbed wire.
✔ Automobiles and other vehicles Accidents involving vehicles are a significant cause of emergency admissions, especially during the evening hours.
In low light, dogs see significantly better than people do for a variety of reasons, including:
✔ Their pupils are larger, allowing more light to enter.
✔ Their retinas have more rods, which are designed to work in dim light.
✔ Because they have a tapetum behind the retina that reflects light back, they can see twice as brightly.
For these reasons, when walking your dog in the dark, don't take anything for granted. Your dog might notice something you don't and dash off to find it. Accidents are frequently caused by unexpected bursts of speed.