Walking Your Dog After Dark: How to Stay Visible and Safe



Now that we've waved goodbye to August, it seems to be dark well before 9PM and here at Cill Dubh Hounds HQ that makes us start to think about how it won't be long before morning walks and post-work walkies will be low-light or in the dark.

It's hard to think about, what with the weather still being in the high teens and low twenties, but darker dog walks are on the way for many of us.

Autumn and winter dog walks can also mean poor visibility from rain, sleet and snow, fog and just generally being overcast.

These weather conditions don't just present a challenge for you being able to see your dog, but other dog walkers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists for being able to see them too.

We make adjustments to Leo's walking gear as the seasons change, as his post-work walk starts to get a little darker, we'll add his LumiScarf and eventually move onto adding his Blaze Vest. These help him stay visible and seen, even when there is still light in the sky.


When is your dog hardest to see?

⭐ Dusk and twilight

⭐ Darkness 

⭐ Woodland and shaded paths

⭐ Roads and lanes

⭐ Fog, rain and poor weather

⭐ Dark-coloured dogs are particularly hard to spot

Preparing now, will help you to avoid being caught out when the weather turns and the nights start to draw in quickly and help prevent any mishaps.

Why a normal collar or harness isn't necessarily enough

While your dog might have a normal collar and harness for their everyday walks, this might not be enough when the sun rises later and the days start to grow dark earlier, especially if you let your dog off lead while out on walks.

While you might walk a familiar route with your dog, the low-light conditions can sometimes make these routes look a little different and you need to be able to identify your dog visibly from a distance. Yes, you can see your dog clearly when they're walking beside you, but how well can you spot them when they're sniffing through the trees away from the path?

Believe it or not, Leo is actually in the photo below. Without his Blaze Vest on, he would be impossible to spot amongst the trees.

Dark collars and harnesses can easily blend into the surroundings.

High-vis Vs Refelctive

It's important to know how high-vis gear works vs refelctive gear, so you can pick the accessories that will help your dog to stay safe while out and about.

High-vis

⭐ Makes your dog stand out during dull / low-light conditions

⭐ Particularly useful in woodlands, fields and poor weather

Reflective

⭐ Refelcts light from headlights, torches and other light sources

⭐ Particularly useful after dark

Our LumiScarves and Blaze Vests are the best of both worlds!


Other ways you can improve visibility and stay safe

⭐ Use a reflective / high-vis coat or vest

⭐ Consider a reflective collar or lead

⭐ Carry a torch / head torch (I use a head torch so I have my hands free)

⭐ Wear something refelctive yourself (I wear a type of running vest)

⭐ Take extra precautions around roads

⭐ Keep your phone charged

⭐ Make sure your dog's identity details are up to date

⭐ Consider where you're walking and when - is this route safe after dark? It's not just the saftey of your dog that you need to consider when the light starts to fade, but yours too.

How to choose the right visibility gear

Not all visiblity gear will be suitable for your dog, or the time of day you're walking your dog. 

You need to choose the right accessories that will help you and your dog to stay safe now that the seasons are turning.

Here are some things to consider:

⭐ Is it actually visible in daylight?

⭐ Does it have refelctive material?

⭐ Can your dog move comfortably and unrestricted?

⭐ Does it fit correctly?

⭐ Can you still use your dog's harness?

⭐ Is it suitable for the current weather?

⭐ Does it actually make your dog easily visible from several meters away?

Just because the weather and the seasons are changing, and the evenings are getting longer, it doesn't mean that the adventures with your dog need to stop. You just need the right saftey accessories for your dog.

You can shop high-vis and reflective coats, vests and bandaners at the online Cill Dubh Hounds store.





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

Walk of the month: Beechenhurst

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: Beechenhurst Where: Forest of Dean,  GL16 7EL Parking: Yes, there's plenty of parking but be sure to read the signs as you will need to pay. Cafe nearby: Yes! There's a cafe at the visitors centre and they're dog friendly too! We ordered Leo some  sausage slices from the dog menu. Plus, if it's dry, there's plenty of places to sit outside, and if your dog is nervous of crowds or reactive there are a few picnic tables that are set further back from the main area. Difficulty: This depends on which trail you take. There is a mobility scooter friendly route that you can follow. We followed one of the short cuts on the scultpture trail. There are some steep parts to the trail and uneven ground. The full trail is just under 5 miles, while the smallest short cut tra...
Read more

Walk of the month: Symonds Yat Rock

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: Symonds Yat Rock Where: Wye Valley,  GL16 7NZ Parking:  Yes, there's plenty of parking but be sure to read the signs as you will need to pay. Cafe nearby:  Yes! There's a cafe a short walk away from the car park and the toilets. There's plenty of spaces outside, and even a handy place to tie your dog's lead so you can have both hands free for your sandwich and snacks. Difficulty:  This depends on which trail you take. Some aren't great in winter as they get quite muddy, so they might not be  accessible all year round for wheelchair users. Other trails include steep slopes, uneven ground and the Biblins Loop has a suspension bridge which might not be be suitable for dogs. We advise to check the Foresty England website before arriving so you have a good idea o...
Read more