Vancouver midnight dog walkers, you are totally awesome! You don’t let life get in the way of your commitment to your dog’s well being and your personal health.
Honestly, I want to salute you…only if I could see you a bit better in the dark.
I wear tons of reflective decals and flashing LED lights. My goal is to let others be aware of my movement. Personal experience tells me there is nothing pleasant about hearing the slamming breaks seconds before contact.
Protecting your dog on walks is part of responsible pet guardianship.
Here are 3 tips on how to lighten up the midnight dog walk:
1) Refrain from wearing dark clothing, especially owners of dogs with dark coats. My Dad, a very cautious and conservative man when it comes to wardrobe selection, owns everything either in black, navy, or grey. He is simply too self-conscious to wear anything bright or reflective in public. I can’t undo his aversive association of neon clothing with tight spandex. However, I have convinced him to do make small changes for the sake of his dog’s safety (a tri-colour Chihuahua…mostly black).
2) Use both flashing LED lights and reflective wearables; small breeds and dark coat needs more wattage.
I like reading customer reviews of nighttime safety products on amazon.ca. Some of the coolest products are from Nite Ize. As a side note, I don’t buy visibility products marketed for dogs because they often cost twice as much yet last half as long. MEC’s turtle lights are cheap and easily attaches to leash or collar, and battery seems to last forever despite daily use.[pullquote]Visibility is my number one concern at night. Both to see and be seen, that is the challenge.[/pullquote]
3) Love them, leash them for the night. I don’t let my dog off-leash at night. With limited visibility, I can’t always steer him away from trouble before it’s too late. Common nighttime road hazards include potholes, unidentified biohazards, squirrels (Attn: dogs with squirrel fetish), coyotes and skunk (YES I have seen both), and, alas, other invisible dog walkers, runners, and cyclists who are also cloaked in darkness.
Choose your route wisely. Plan your walk along streets with better lighting, like your neighbourhood bike path.
Conclusion: We all know we need to walk our dogs, but sometimes that needs to be late into the day. The best (and only) way to enjoy the serenity of the night is to remain safe and be seen. Dad now wears a white golf cap (baby steps!), reflective band around the leash handle, and LED lights on the dog’s collar. He altered his route and uses the side of the street with less shade and better lighting.
Happy night time dog walking!
Read our post on more dog safety tips!
Share this post:
