Stay Safe After Dark: Why Reflective Dog Gear is a Summer Essential

You might think that reflective dog gear is a winter only necessity, but actually, refelctive dog gear is an all year round essential.

News reports are telling us that these hot weather peaks are going to become the norm, and by 2050, we should expect to be seeing temperatures of 40C regularly during the summer.

This means dog walkers during hot periods of weather will have to change their walking schedule on a more regular basis to keep their hounds safe. While walking your dog earlier before the heat kicks in isn't really a problem with early sunrises, afternoon walks ending up turning into evening walks - when the sun is going down or when it's dark.

Cill Dubh Houds LumiScarf


Like in winter, refelctive gear at dawn, dusk and during the night is just as important for your dog's safety in summer as it is in winter.

Walking your dog later in the evening, while the temperatures are reduced and safer for your dog, the reduced visibility means that it is hard for other dog walkers, cyclists and drivers to spot your dog, especially if they are off lead and not by your side.

This is where reflective gear is an essential item in your dog walking toolkit - refelctive collars, harnesses, leads, bandanas and coats are desgined to reflect the light from light sources such as street lights and headlights. This makes your dog easier to spot at a greater distance.

Cill Dubh Hounds Blaze Vest


Here's the statistics:

Reflective gear can reduce collisions by up to 47%.

The Estonian Transport Authority states that personal reflectors can be seen up to 300m away, and their data shows that fatal accidents with pedestrians in unlit areas dropped from 9 in 2011 to 3 in 2021. 

Why did we mention Estonia? It's been the law in Estonia since 1992 that everyone has to wear a personal reflector at night during winter.

A dog that is easy to see, is less likely to be involved in an accident.

Wait, but aren't reflective dog vests bulky and hot? Not if you get the right one!

There are reflective dog vests out there that are desgined to be lightweight, breathable and are suitable for summer night walks. These vests are designed for easy, free movement while not overheating your dog.

Keeping your dog safe is at the heart of what we do here at Cill Dubh Hounds, our gear is hand picked and contains refelctive elements to help keep your dog safe all year round.

Head over to our online store to browse of summer reflective gear:



LumiScarf


Blaze Vest


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Walk of the month: Delamere Forest

Image
We know that sometimes it can be hard to find a walk that both you and your dog will enjoy, so here at Cill Dubh Hounds we're going to tell you about some of our favourite walks. Our walk of the month: Delamere Forest. Where: Northwich,  CW8 2HZ Parking: Yes - there's plenty of parking available but remember to pay on your way back to your car. Cafe nearby: Yes! It's dog  friendly, and they serve both hot and cold food. For dogs, they have a dog menu and there's dog ice cream available too. There are also water bowls outside near the information hut. Difficulty: This depends on which route you take. The Old Pale trail is listed as hard due to the steep incline. Distance: Like difficulty, it depends which route you take. The longest route is the Blakemere trail which is 3 miles. The shortest routes are the Old Pale trail and the Doolittle trail at 2 miles. Other info: There are no bins on the trails, so be sure to take your rubbish and your poo bags back to the car...
Read more

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Image
If you’re in the UK right now, you’re probably feeling the heat as a heatwave sweeps across the country – with temperatures set to rocket into the 30’s, it’s not just you that will be all hot and bothered. Dogs feel the heat just as much as humans do, and in some cases, need extra precautionary measures to ensure they stay healthy and happy. So as a pet parent, what can you do to ensure your dog has a safe summer? Keep an eye on the temperature  While the sky might be a glorious blue and the weather warm, resist the temptation to take your dog on a walk in the heat. While they might be a little fustrated by this (Leo certainly is!), by avoiding walking them at the hottest parts of the day, you can avoid potentially blistered paws and heatstroke. Stick to walking your dog early in the morning and later in the evening. Before taking your dog on a walk, be sure to check the temperature of the pavement. To do this, simply place your hand flat on the ground. If the ground is too hot for...
Read more