Anytime you take your dog for a walk, it should be on a leash. A good friend of mine, Ralph, has a Golden Retriever therapy dog that he often takes to assisted living facilities. After a recent visit, he traveled back to his home on his motorcycle complete with a sidecar for his dog. The commute was less than a mile on a fairly busy street, but within that short distance, he had the unfortunate experience of hitting a small dog that was unleashed and ran into the street. The dog died from its injuries, and Ralph, a real dog lover was devastated. A few days after the incident, Ralph talked to the dog's owner, and she said it was her fault for not having the dog on a leash. She doesn't blame Ralph, although Ralph continues to grieve for the little dog.
The situation Ralph experienced is not unusual but can be avoided if pet owners would just take some precautions when walking their dogs.
1- Always have your dog on a leash. Even if your dog has been trained to stay by your side, you never know what can grab a dog’s attention, and the next thing you know, they are running across the street after a squirrel or another dog. I have a neighbor who lets his dog run free in their front yard area, and every time I walk Brody, I have to adjust his walk so he doesn’t interact with this dog. The dog appears to be friendly, but it is also quite hyper. Keeping your dog on a leash prevents it from running off into traffic or getting into an altercation with another animal.
2- Do not use a retractable leash. I have said this before, and some people have emailed me saying they love their retractable leash, and they don’t agree with me. To each their own, but a retractable leash, especially on a large dog, is not going to be strong enough to control the dog if the dog is enticed by another animal or person. I have seen many a dog walker taken to the ground because their dog, large or small, wrapped around their legs. A friend of mine was walking her Goldendoodle puppy on a retractable leash and the dog saw another dog and wanted to go play. It sprinted towards the other dog and pulled the leash so hard that my friend ended up with a cracked rib and a great deal of pain. Retractable leashes are dangerous for the owner and the dog. Please, get a six-foot, sturdy leash for your dog. A six-foot leash allows you to control the dog much easier. The dog can’t build up speed within six feet, so the inertia is greatly reduced. Also, test your leashes once a month if you walk your dog daily. All things wear out, so making sure the leash and collar are secure and stable is a good idea before heading out for a walk that should be uneventful and a happy experience for both the dog and the owner.
3- I prefer a Martingale collar. This collar is like a choke collar, but it does not slip over the dog's head like a choke collar. It is placed on the dog's neck like a regular collar with a buckle but has a built-in section that will expand and detract as needed. I don’t like traditional choke collars because to get the collar over the dog's head it has to be long enough, and the extra length hangs around the dog's neck. I know of dogs that have gotten that extra length caught on a fence or hose spigot and choked themselves to death. I know of one incidence where a larger dog wearing a metal chain choke collar was playing with its much smaller dog mate, and the smaller dog's head slipped between the collar and the larger dog's neck. The owners tried and tried but could not remove the smaller dog's head from the collar, and by the time the fire department arrived, the smaller dog had already died. If your dog needs a little correction to remain attentive, get a Martingale collar. If your dog walks great on a leash, then a regular collar should suffice.
4- Be aware of your surroundings. I can’t believe how many people I see when walking my dogs who are texting on their phones as they walk their dogs. Give it a rest people. Enjoy the time you are spending with your dogs and let the texts and emails wait for a few minutes. More than once, I have seen the dog walker oblivious to the much larger dog approaching and grabbing their smaller dog around its neck. Pay attention to what’s happening around you and what could hurt your dog.
I was walking Brody one afternoon and as we approached a house, a car backed out of its garage at 30 miles an hour and just missed us. Then the driver put the car into drive and accelerated, crashing into the side of the house. If I had been engaging with my phone, I and Brody might have gotten hit.
Please take precautions when walking your dogs. Your walks should be a fun experience for both you and your dog. Lastly, be a good neighbor, and pick up after your dog.
Remember to please adopt; don’t shop.
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