As winter brings longer nights, keep your dog safe with nighttime dog walking visibility gear such as light-up harnesses and reflective coats.
Now that winter’s here, nights are a lot longer. For many people, this means they walk their dogs when it’s dark out. Whether you live on a city street or rural road, factor safety into your nocturnal outings. You need to invest in nighttime dog walking visibility gear. Here’s what you need to ensure motorists and others can clearly see your dog.
Light-up collars and harnesses: the key to visibility
One of the best ways to keep your dog visible in the dark is to fit him out with a light-up harness and/or collar. These items may be chargeable or battery-powered, depending on the product. You can find light-up harnesses and collars in many sizes, colors, and styles to match your fashion preferences.
A self-generated light is easy to see in the dark because it doesn’t need an external source of light to draw attention to it, as a reflector does.
Keep in mind: Pairing a light-up collar with a harness for night walks gives your dog an extra layer of visibility.
Light-up leashes: keeping an eye on distance
Level up your dog’s safety by complementing your dog’s harness or collar with a light-up leash. Not only does it look cool, but it helps show other pedestrians and dog walkers where the leash is, and where your dog is in relation to you. That way, they don’t accidentally trip over or get tangled in it.
Keep in mind: Be sure you’re wearing visibility gear too, so both motorists and pedestrians can see where you are.
For nighttime dog walking, utilize a shorter lead to help prevent your dog from straying into the street or in front of other pedestrians.
Clip-on lights: a bright alternative
If you’re not ready to invest in a light-up harness or leash for nighttime dog walking, an alternative is to buy small portable lights. These can attach to your dog’s existing gear. It allows him to continue using the harness or collar he’s familiar with. This is important if he’s an escape artist who might try to wriggle free from new gear.
Attach the lights where they can be clearly seen from both sides of the dog.
Keep in mind: Check that any light-up gear is fully charged or has strong batteries so it doesn’t die on you halfway through the walk.
Reflective gear: doesn’t need batteries
Reflective gear isn’t as eye-catching at night as the options discussed above because it doesn’t generate its own light. However, a reflective harness or dog coat does allow headlights or flashlights to pick up your dog’s whereabouts.
Keep in mind: Along with boosting visibility, a reflective coat also helps protect your dog from the elements, a boon on cold, wet or snowy nights.
While reflective gear isn’t perfect, it’s very useful and doesn’t require batteries or charging. You can find a variety of colors, styles and sizes, as with harnesses and leashes — just make sure the product you choose fits your dog properly.
Depending on the situation, reflective gear can be combined with lights to create a multidimensional safety outfit that can be seen in a range of circumstances. This is especially important if you live on a busy road without streetlights.
When it comes to visibility gear for nighttime dog walking, select something comfortable for you and your dog.
Keep in mind: Try it at home first, in a darkened room or fenced-in yard, just in case the light-up items startle him.
Again, make sure all your nighttime walking gear fits your dog properly so he doesn’t escape. It should also give you excellent control of your dog – another good reason to try it out at home first. Once you’re certain everything is comfortable, well-fitted, and highly visible, you and your dog can enjoy nighttime walks with peace of mind.
