Dog walking dark winter mornings

rev229

Strange question i know but since we have had our dog I have been a SAHM so walked the dog after the kids went to school and before they came home in the afternoon in daylight. however I am returning to work and will need to walk the dog at 5.30am once or twice a week. I usually walk her in the park which leads on to a wood. Fine this time of the year but not too sure what to do in the dark. She is a black dog and has this walk off lead!! DH will do the evening dark walk but I prefer the early morning walk, just not when it is dark. What do others do, torch, walk on lead in a residential area??

Shepherd1

Hi there Im not sure if it's your personal safety you are worried about or not being able to see the dog. If it is the latter you can get light up dog collars.

JosieJump

I have to walk my dark grey dog in the dark in the winter and she has a hi-viz coat and a light up collar. I noticed that these were reduced in P£ts At Hom£ a couple of weeks ago so it may be worth having a look.

I also have a Led Lenser torch which, although it was really expensive, has a fantastic beam so that I can keep track of where she is.

rev229

Not too concerned about me as where I walk her is a busy dog walking area. Although not at 5.30 but the regular walkers are there. More concerned about the dog and not being able to see her!! Might have a look for reflective collar!

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi, ohhhhh, I don't even want to think of those dark freezing wet winter morning walks at 5:30!

Anyway, I have a "flasher" on his collar - you can turn off when they're on the lead on only have it on when they're off it. I also have a lead with a flourescent strip on as the street lights aren't great around me.

chelle230

Pets at Home still have the reflective collars and leads on sale, I bought mine one today fro £2, the leads are £3, they even had hi-vis jackets on sale for the dog walkers.
poundland do dog hi-vis jackets, mum has one for her german shepherd

Paradigm

Gawd.. there's always one I haven't got over the frostbite, trenchfoot & pneumonia I got walking mine last winter & here's somebody got me thinking about the next one

rev229

God, that will be me this year!!! Don't mind the getting up early its the snow and ice I dread! Dogs sees small furry animal and I end up slipping on the ice and breaking a limb! Mind you at least I will see a black dog in white snow!

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Paradigm

Cold, wind, snow, ice, rain, dark.... see what the OP's done! Ruined me bloody summer

bethie

black dog here.

flashy collar is invaluable. i find them better than just a flashing tag attachment, as the tag can't be seen if the dog is sniffing!

we have one of these http://www.visiglo.com/Visiglo-lighted-dog-collar.html and it is REALLY bright. flashes too, so it looks like she is having a party on her walk!

olias

You could always get an extender lead - the longest are about 30' long, meaning the dog can still run around in a 60' circle.

As far as torches go, I would reccomment a quality headtorch. Much easier to have your hands free, and if you do let them off the lead, it means you can put both hands in your pockets, while still keeping your torch on.

Olias