Mary Allen
In winter it gets dark early in the evening. Poor lighting conditions create dangers when walking the dog. What precautions are recommended?
Luminous Article
So that people and dogs can be seen better in the dim twilight, the two-legged friend should wear light-colored clothing or a high-visibility vest. You can get reflective collars, harnesses, and leashes for four-legged friends in pet shops. There are also dog vests or coats that also shine when exposed to light. Patrizia Place, the SKN dog trainer from Bülach ZH, prefers flashing lights because they are easier to see than constant lights. Battery-operated flashing collars or solid light tags, leashes, collars, and harnesses are also available for dogs. Important: Do not tie on too large light strips so that the dog does not get caught somewhere. There are special toys such as light-up Frisbee discs or neon balls for a small round of games at dusk.
Paw Protection
In winter it is not only dark early, but also cold. It is difficult to see a frozen surface of the ice in the dark – special caution is called for here. Because thin ice on puddles can break quickly and severely injure the dog’s paw due to the resulting sharp edges. So that it doesn’t get that far in the first place, it’s better to only walk on illuminated paths in the morning and evening. Otherwise, special booties, i.e. dog shoes made of leather or sturdy neoprene, protect the four-legged friend from cut pads. Dog owners with non-slip shoe soles or spikes are also well-advised to avoid slipping on slippery surfaces.
Headlamp
Headlamps are extremely practical because they not only provide good illumination but also have your hands free. “A headlamp or flashlight can also help if you’re looking for your dog,” says dog trainer Place. And should the dog injure itself, for example on its paw, it is also useful to carry a lamp with you.
Traffic Rules
As soon as it gets dark, the four-legged friend should walk on the pavement and not on the unsecured roadside. “If you have to walk a bit on a street, it’s better to move in the opposite direction of travel,” advises dog trainer Patrizia Place. In addition, it is important, especially in poor light conditions, that the dog walks on the side away from traffic. Before crossing the street, the dog should stand on the pavement or sit down for a moment before being allowed to cross the street on command.
Stumbling Block
Special care should be taken with retractable lines. Only special models have a reflective rope, otherwise, the leash cannot be seen in the dark. For cyclists, joggers, and other pedestrians, long, “invisible” pull-out lines can quickly become a painful tripping hazard. The dog trainer recommends using a normal leash – “that’s the best way to keep the dog under control in the dark”.
Freewheel
If the four-legged friend does not obey absolutely reliably, he should no longer be unleashed at dusk; in the dark, it is best for every dog to stay on a leash, even if it otherwise follows well. The four-legged friend disappears too quickly in the diffuse lantern light and can then become a danger to himself, other road users, cats, or wild animals. Another argument against running free in the dark is that dogs then generally show completely different behavior than in daylight. Her urge to protect is stronger, says Patrizia Place. Dogs are also much more likely to startle, in part from mundane things like a parked scooter or someone making unusual movements.
Labeling
Dogs are more likely to get lost on walks in the dark, so it’s a good idea to attach an address tag or an engraved plate with the owner’s phone number to its collar. Although all dogs can now be identified by an implanted microchip, the chip can only be read using a special device – which is not available to ordinary people. A missing dog is reported to the Swiss Animal Registration Center (www.stmz.ch). There are also special plaques with the phone number of the STMZ that can be attached to the dog’s collar.