LET THERE BE LIGHT
In my part of the world it's the time of year where we've got short days, long nights, and cold temperatures. Since I'm often at work during the day, I’m
outside with my dogs in the early mornings or the evenings. I also run with my dogs a lot in the evening or very early morning. Because of this, visibility is a major consideration, not only for me but also for the dogs. Just the other night, I saw a man walking his dog, or rather I saw the man, then noticed his dog as I drove by. He had on a reflective vest and we very visible, the dog was wearing a traditional collar and lead, and in that dark stretch of road, I barely noticed the dog at all, and not until the car was almost up to them did I even notice the dog. Now I'm a dog fanatic, and much more likely to notice a dog before I do a person but I barely saw the dog. You may think that as long as someone can see you your dog is fine, but what would happen if your dog managed to get loose trying to chase a squirrel?
Obviously, whether or not to go out and run or walk with your dog at night is a safety issue everyone needs to decide for themselves. But if you do,there are many products for you and your dog to wear while out in the dark. Many running stores sell products for people and might sell a few things for the dog. One website I have found that specializes in lighted gear for dogs (as well as having items for people and cyclists as well) is
http://www.keepdoggiesafe.com/ .
I use a reflective jacket and vest for myself when running at night, and I make sure my dogs have reflective gear on as well. Hops has a reflective dog vest. I also have a reflective no-pull harness and leash, but I prefer lighted products when it’s really dark out. I use a blinking light collar and leash which are lightweight and put out a good amount of light. You can put the leash on a constant mode or a blinking mode, which is what I usually do. There are several different models of clip-on lights available and some work better than others; while I have a friend who uses a Puplight and likes it, when I tried it, it bounced around so much to the point that it usually quit working after around 15 minutes. If you have a lot of snow and ice, you have to be mindful of road salt and in that case I’ll either leave the dogs at home or make sure to rinse their feet off frequently. I always bring water with us, although there has been a time or two during a long run that we ended up with mostly ice and scant water by the end of the run. Of course it goes without saying that before you start an exercise program for yourself or your dogs, you need to start out slowly. A check-up by your vet is a good idea also, and of course, your dog needs to be well trained. I’ve found that running with the dogs keeps them fit during the winter and they enjoy it. When with a group, I think the dogs look at it as running with a pack and they really like going along. I’ve noticed that once you increase your mileage, the two of you get into a nice rhythm together. It’s another way to bond, and it gets you out and active. It’s a way to keep your dogs fit during a time when you might not be able to train as much as you’d like. So, get out there with your dogs this winter and you might both end up much more fit and trim when spring comes around.
http://www.keepdoggiesafe.com/ .
I use a reflective jacket and vest for myself when running at night, and I make sure my dogs have reflective gear on as well. Hops has a reflective dog vest. I also have a reflective no-pull harness and leash, but I prefer lighted products when it’s really dark out. I use a blinking light collar and leash which are lightweight and put out a good amount of light. You can put the leash on a constant mode or a blinking mode, which is what I usually do. There are several different models of clip-on lights available and some work better than others; while I have a friend who uses a Puplight and likes it, when I tried it, it bounced around so much to the point that it usually quit working after around 15 minutes. If you have a lot of snow and ice, you have to be mindful of road salt and in that case I’ll either leave the dogs at home or make sure to rinse their feet off frequently. I always bring water with us, although there has been a time or two during a long run that we ended up with mostly ice and scant water by the end of the run. Of course it goes without saying that before you start an exercise program for yourself or your dogs, you need to start out slowly. A check-up by your vet is a good idea also, and of course, your dog needs to be well trained. I’ve found that running with the dogs keeps them fit during the winter and they enjoy it. When with a group, I think the dogs look at it as running with a pack and they really like going along. I’ve noticed that once you increase your mileage, the two of you get into a nice rhythm together. It’s another way to bond, and it gets you out and active. It’s a way to keep your dogs fit during a time when you might not be able to train as much as you’d like. So, get out there with your dogs this winter and you might both end up much more fit and trim when spring comes around.
