Dog walking has many benefits for both pet owners and their canine friends. Walking your dog regularly reduces blood pressure, improves cardiovascular health, reduces stress, and helps build stronger bones and muscles. Pup obesity is linked to other medical issues, such as cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, osteoarthritis, and living disease. Routine dog walks can help avert these issues.
However, dog walking involves potential dangers. You and your pet might encounter venomous animals, poisonous plants, disease-bearing parasites, injuries, and extreme hot/ cold temperatures. As such, you should adopt appropriate dog walking tips to ascertain safety. This post outlines five dog walking safety tips.
Always use a dog collar
Pet collars are indispensable accessories designed to keep our beloved animal companions safe and secure. These collars come in various styles, materials, and sizes, catering to the diverse needs of pets, from dogs and cats to smaller critters.
Dog collars are vital in ensuring your pet’s safety and security. They usually contain pet identification tags displaying your canine’s name, contact details, and address. They have a place to attach a leash to control their pets safely. Even if your furry friend is the most behaved, the unexpected could happen during walks. Walking your dog on a leash and collar helps ascertain its safety and that of other pets and people.
Also, you don’t want your pup to get into fights with other pets/ animals around or disappear into heavy traffic. Using a top-quality collar such as a martingale collar greyhound, you can control your dog’s movement to safeguard them from dangerous situations and make them more disciplined.
Get your dog clear for physical activity
Some health conditions can impair your pet’s mobility. While the issue could be minor, including pulled muscles or blisters on their paws, your dog might be undergoing a severe health issue. Your canine friend can have trouble walking due to degenerative myelopathy, sprains and strains, spinal stenosis, intervertebral disc disease, arthritis, wobblers syndrome, and paralyzing infections. You should have your pet cleared by a vet for physical activity. The professional can advise you on how to start walking your pup.
Train your dog to walk on a leash
Keeping your canine friend under control during walks is vital for their safety. Teaching your dog how to walk on a leash is an excellent way to make them feel comfortable and safe. If a dog gets out of control on a leash, they’ll likely hurt themselves or others. When your furry friend is still new to a leash, they’re likely to keep pulling away, exerting force on their body parts, and injuring themselves.
Leash training your pet allows you to safely walk them to public spaces such as dog-friendly stores without worrying about them hurting themselves and other pets/ people. Training your pup to walk on a leash makes walking more pleasant and safe.
Begin gradually
If your canine is new to walking, start slowly to avoid putting a lot of pressure on them and reduce the risk of injuries and excess exhaustion. Begin with short-distance walks and move to longer distances gradually as you and your dog become comfortable. This strategy applies to puppies, obese or senior dogs, and those recuperating from illnesses or surgeries.
Ensure proper hydration
You and your pup should remain hydrated, particularly in hot weather, to reduce the possibility of heat stroke. When going for long walks, carry water bottles for yourself and your pet and a collapsible bowl for your pet.
Endnote
While dog walking helps maintain your canine’s weight while improving urinary, digestive, and joint health, it can be dangerous. Nevertheless, adopting these tips can help ensure their safety during walks.
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