Walking your dog in the dark

Keep safe

Below are some tips for keeping you and your dog safe when walking in the dark

• Wear reflective clothing
• Walk facing the traffic if walking on the road
• Tell your family / friends where you are walking
• Try not to walk in a strange/unfamiliar place
• Be aware of your surroundings and any house nearby
• Check the place out in daytime so you know there are no ditches or large pot holes that you could fall down in
• Try to vary your route if you are walking alone
• Carry a torch / Wear a headlight
• Carry a personal alarm
• Carry a mobile phone

Letting your dog off lead in the dark

• Ensure your dog has a light up collar or attachment so he/she is clearly visible
• Consider whether it is safe to let your dog off, especially if they are not 100% on recall

Great post Jo - xx

Brill tips there Jo -It's so easy to take your local area for granted until you find yourself out there in the dark.

Maybe this should be a sticky post for the winter months

Good idea Liz, tis done

Great post.

We now walk in the woods in the evenings when it's dark.

We have headlights, flashing safety collars and I always have my mobile phone.

We also walk at differnet times each evening and different routes.

I do love night walks. We see lots of wildlife too.

:bump:

In my local area u also need to carry a weapon as there are a lot of gangs around & people robbing & bashing others. I avoid the park at the end of the street at night time as it's full of Bloods gang members & people doing drugs.

OMG that sounds awful

eek i tye and avid wlkiang at nght ad thi asrea us rough ti olus denzke being black i take then \the last walk round 5uish in wintet and niw at night bout half 8 then utd back eysd beifr boos boos

excellent advice!

As the dark nights are drawing in please ensure you take precautions especially if you are walking on your own

Great advice

Have checked the light up collars and bought a new one, have also checked my head torch, love night time walks!

It was dark this evening when my daughter & I took Poppy out for her evening stroll .. My daughter had hold of her ... Has we were about half way a van pulled up alongside us but on the other side of the road .. I quickly grabbed hold of the lead too so that we were both holding her .. The guy watched us as we walked past the van then suddenly drove off .. I have never felt such panic .. I will certainly be changing times and also change the route

Bloody hell, hopefully he was just lost

No idea Hun but certainly made me worry .. Headed straight home after that has was worried they might re-appear .. Won't be walking round that area with the dogs again any time soon that's for sure xx

I've heard so much recently about dog napping it's so worrying