What problems do you come across when walking dogs?

andfear_2

Shepherd1 wrote: »

Totally untrue, where I live quite recently a dog died after eating some horse poo. The horse had recently been given medication not sure if it was wormer or not but please don't let your dog eat horse poo (not that most would but I know some would)

Absolutley, I have 4 horses and all wormers come with a warning. DO NOT LET THEM eat it - we lost my mums bordercollie last year to multi organ failure at 16months old and a reaction to dog wormer was prime suspect for a while... so god only knows whats in a horse wormer!!!

as to the thread

• I cant get a harness for my staffie mix, shes a houdini when out on the bike somehow always manages to slip it off!! we have 4 now :think:
• I would like a dog park, like in america where you pay to enter and inside is a few dog agility bits, a safe swimming area ect... my big lad has had multiple lacerations to his feet from broken glass ect he even sliced a ligament and nicked an artery I like safety
• I hate small dog owners who think because their dog is the same size a bag of sugar its perfectly entitled to come on over have a pop at my GSD x or my staffie - cos obviously it be all my fault if it got snapped right back at grrrrrr after all big dogs = bad dogs.... toss pots

A x

helenthemum

Poop being left especially on pavements.

Other dog owners giving (un)helpful advice whilst I am trying train my 5 month pup to walk nicely on a lead and get used to the environment around where we live.

My dumb cat who insists on coming for walks with us, causing all sorts of hassle for me and other dog walkers.

helenthemum

andfear wrote: »

Absolutley, I have 4 horses and all wormers come with a warning. DO NOT LET THEM eat it - we lost my mums bordercollie last year to multi organ failure at 16months old and a reaction to dog wormer was prime suspect for a while... so god only knows whats in a horse wormer!!!

as to the thread

• I cant get a harness for my staffie mix, shes a houdini when out on the bike somehow always manages to slip it off!! we have 4 now :think:
• I would like a dog park, like in america where you pay to enter and inside is a few dog agility bits, a safe swimming area ect... my big lad has had multiple lacerations to his feet from broken glass ect he even sliced a ligament and nicked an artery I like safety
• I hate small dog owners who think because their dog is the same size a bag of sugar its perfectly entitled to come on over have a pop at my GSD x or my staffie - cos obviously it be all my fault if it got snapped right back at grrrrrr after all big dogs = bad dogs.... toss pots

A x

Omg poor you. My 5 month old BC puppy always eat horse muck whilst out on one of our favorite walks, really annoys me and trying to teach him to leave it, but can't always catch him until its too late.

Johnmcl7

suki1964 wrote: »

You do know that because horses are vegetarian there is sod all on their poo that will cause you or your dog any problem

Nor do your shoes stink in you walk in it, indeed because its veggie it will usually have worked off on the walk home

Not that i like to walk through it myself but I'm just saying its easily spotted so avoided unlike dog poo and isn't a health risk, unlike dog poo

None of that is true, as other people have said it is not safe for dogs to eat horse poo and it most definitely does stink if you step on it or better yet have a cocker spaniel who chose to roll in it, even after successive shampoo sessions he still stank of horse manure for a good few weeks after every time he got wet. By the time it's broken up a bit it's not so easy to spot either plus unlike dog owners, I've never seen horse owners make any effort to clear up after their horse.

John

Wobblydeb

Sorry if I repeat anything, but some things that a product could help

• A lead that converts into a belt or something similar. Our leads are too big for pockets, and I end up slinging them around my neck which isn't very comfortable. Something that could be quickly undone and attached back to the collar would be brilliant - you don't want to be faffing around if there is a car coming up at speed.
• Something to identify unfriendly/nervous dogs - our two are walked off lead and do go over to greet other dogs. If I am aware that the other dog is nervous/agressive I can easily stop them doing it. Some kind of jacket, or particular collar perhaps? There is a generally accepted system of coloured ribbons in tails used by horse riders, that would be really useful amongst dog owners.
  
• We have to walk in darkness for several months a year. It is difficult to handle a dog on a lead AND pooh bags AND a torch. I feel daft, but a head torch is pretty essential kit. They don't seem to have as powerful a beam as hand held torches though. A powerful hands-free torch would be so useful!
  
• Also light up collars for walking in the dark. They need to be sturdy to survive the dogs play fighting with eachother, wipe clean for the mud, and able to be seen from a long distance. There are not a lot of decent ones on the market - they are generally too flimsy for the price. Our regular collars are sturdy, padded, waterproof/washable, don't rot from mud or seawater - I would willingly pay for similar quality for night walking.
  
• Dog boots that stay on - we've got one pup recovering from surgery at the moment, and properly waterproof boots that don't wear out and stay in place are hard to find.
  
• I'd like some way of storing / carrying full pooh bags when I end up walking somewhere that I need to pick up, but there is a shortage of bins. It would need to be fairly sturdy (we've got big dogs!) smell proof, and preferably washable for those little accidents. Something on a separate shoulder strap would be good, as I wouldn't like to pop it in with my packed lunch even if it did close securely!
  
• How about a simple washing system than can be stored in the car? I don't want anything too expensive, or able to carry massive amounts of water, just enough to do muddy paws at the end of a country hike. Others with hairier dogs might like more water though!
  
• Something to help picking up runny poop when they have a bad tummy. Those days, it is a blessing to be on the beach....
  
• How about a dog lead with an elasticated/bungee cord section? Stops those dislocated shoulder moments when a squirrel runs past
  
• Or a dog lead that can be attached to a normal bicycle? We like to cycle with the dogs, but even with a bungee cord we've experienced the occasional unplanned dismount :eek:
  

Wobblydeb

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Some bug-bears of mine:

• Modern estate cars are all streamlined with really slopey backs...again, if you have big dogs they're cramped in the boot!
• Another giant breed owner bug-bear - buying robust collars that will go round a 28-30" dog neck is near-on impossible. I have to get most of mine hand-made by saddlers.
• Motor way service stations are often dog-unfriendly. By that I mean often nowhere to tie a dog (and they're never allowed inside), often nowhere to walk them, no dog bins and if you get lucky and there's a bowl for water outside, it's often empty and there's nowhere to fill it.

I totally agree on all of these! We had so little choice of estate car thanks to the recent fashion for fastback styling.

If you're willing to consider neoprene collars, I can totally recommend Ezydog collars. Their XXXL goes to the size you need, and I can vouch for them being sturdy. Our two playfight by pulling on eachothers collars, and are regularly in mud and seawater. The collars last years, not months.
http://www.ezydoguk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=97

Johnmcl7

Wobblydeb wrote: »

[*]We have to walk in darkness for several months a year. It is difficult to handle a dog on a lead AND pooh bags AND a torch. I feel daft, but a head torch is pretty essential kit. They don't seem to have as powerful a beam as hand held torches though. A powerful hands-free torch would be so useful!

I'm pretty sure you should be able to get something suitable - I'd have a look for a Cree XML-T6 or U2 based light. Cree manufacturers these superbright LEDs which you can pick up in both torches and lights for not much money. I'm not recommending this particular one, just linking you to it to get an idea what I mean:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1600Lm-CREE-XM-L-XML-T6-LED-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Headlight-18650-SET-A2-Charger-/281014761195?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item416dc8f6eb

I heard about Cree lights on this forum on discussions about bike lights and decided to give them a go as I'd started doing night time mountain biking where good lights are very handy in the pitch black as you need to see where you are going. I was dubious such cheap lights could be any good but I've been very surprised by them. I started off with Cree Q5's which were ok but then changed to Cree XML-U2's (which seem much the same power as the T6 to me), one mounted on the bike and one mounted on my helmet which I find pretty good as they're bright enough to be able to navigate at speed on the mountain bike. I did try a triple XML-T6 version but I was disappointed with it, I expected either a much brighter lighter or much brighter spread but it didn't seem that much better than a single XML-T6.

The only issue is that many of them use a 18650 battery which is a standard type but not very common here so it means investing in new batteries and charger. Also the Trustfire/Ultrafire batteries don't seem to be very good quality as their performance isn't great and they can be unreliable. I opted for a pair of Torchy batteries and an Xtar charger, no issues so far.

John

Johnmcl7

helenthemum wrote: »

Omg poor you. My 5 month old BC puppy always eat horse muck whilst out on one of our favorite walks, really annoys me and trying to teach him to leave it, but can't always catch him until its too late.

Our pup was the same at that age as well and as you say it's difficult to stop them as they'll normally spot it long before you can, I had to walk our boy on the lead if I knew there was horse poo about (it was never cleared up) or in areas where the horses were likely to be. It also annoyed me having to avoid some of my favourite walks or keep the dog on the lead just because of completely inconsiderate horse owners.

On the plus side our pup did grow out of it after a year or so and doesn't seem to bother anymore so hopefully it's the same in your case.

John

tbourner

Lots of ideas coming in, thanks everyone.

Wobblydeb wrote: »

• Something to identify unfriendly/nervous dogs - our two are walked off lead and do go over to greet other dogs. If I am aware that the other dog is nervous/agressive I can easily stop them doing it. Some kind of jacket, or particular collar perhaps? There is a generally accepted system of coloured ribbons in tails used by horse riders, that would be really useful amongst dog owners.
  
• I'd like some way of storing / carrying full pooh bags when I end up walking somewhere that I need to pick up, but there is a shortage of bins. It would need to be fairly sturdy (we've got big dogs!) smell proof, and preferably washable for those little accidents. Something on a separate shoulder strap would be good, as I wouldn't like to pop it in with my packed lunch even if it did close securely!
  
• How about a dog lead with an elasticated/bungee cord section? Stops those dislocated shoulder moments when a squirrel runs past

I posted this earlier:
http://theyellowdogproject.com/The_Yellow_Dog_Project/Home.html
It's kind of a good idea, except most people don't know what it means, and if everyone DID know what it meant your dog would never get any socialisation and would get WORSE!!

For poop bags you can get a 'Bag Buddy', or http://www.dickybag.com/

For bungee leads look at sled dog suppliers:
http://www.culpeppers.co.uk/catalogue/?_Culpep=26633291A50oRem8kRE&cat=leads
http://www.snowpawstore.com/dog-walking/dog-collar-and-dog-lead/dog-leads/3-in-1-dog-lead-from-canadog.html

I hope this doesn't get me in trouble for advertising! Sorry mods.

con1888

Broken glass !!

I was a small fortune at the vets because of broken glass in our local park and poor boy wasn't allowed walks for a bit or training