How to Walk a Dog Safely

By Melissa Maroff

Instructions

Step 1:
Adjust your dog's collar to where she can't slip her head through. Then make sure it's not too tight by seeing if you can slip two fingers underneath.
Step 2:
Put your hand through the leash handle and wrap it around your hand and wrist for a better grip. Use a harness if your dog likes to pull. Harnesses allow for a better grip and more control. Also, the pressure is distributed more evenly when you pull so that it’s not all on the dog’s neck.
Step 3:
Bring water along for your dog if the walk will be lengthy. If he starts to pant, stop in the shade to let him drink and cool off for a few minutes.
Step 4:
Adjust the pace and length of the walk to your dog’s age and health. If your dog is lagging behind, go slower rather than force her to keep up with you. Shorter and more frequent walks are better for senior dogs and dogs with arthritis.
Step 5:
Look both ways before crossing the street (in case you forgot that from when you were six). If it's at night, it's a good idea for your dog to have on a reflective collar and for you to wear reflective clothing or at least reflective tennis shoes.
Step 6:
Clear the way or walk in another direction when you see people with dogs approaching. Only allow your dog to approach another dog if the owner says it’s OK. Also, try your best to steer clear of stray dogs and cats.
Step 7:
Keep your dog out of bushes; there may be cats, other small animals or perhaps stickers or poison ivy. Also, steer clear of parked cars. Cats often hang out underneath, especially when it's cold. Plus, your dog could bump his head on the fender or bumper. Steer clear of metal signs and poles for the same reason and keep your dog from walking under chain link fences that often have sharp edges. Also be mindful of sprinkler heads on which your dog could hurt a paw.
Step 8:
Leave your dog's leash on at all times when walking in public. The only time it's OK for a dog to be off of a leash is at a designated off-leash dog park.

Tips & Warnings

If your dog gets into bushes, always check the coat for burrs, stickers and thorns.
There are portable dog water bottle/tray combos that have a string attached to wear over your arm on a walk. Pet supply stores also carry lightweight doggy backpacks for dogs to carry their own water.
Some people prefer retractable leashes that allow the dog more room to wander and can be pulled back when necessary. Just keep in mind there have been reports of people injuring their hands and losing fingers, and dogs getting hit by the handle or wrapped in the leash. Also, it's illegal in most places if the leash extends out more than 6 feet.
Never tie your dog up in the street or in a parking lot while you are running errands. You are risking your dog's safety and the chance of being stolen. You may also be risking the safety of passersby if your dog gets frightened.
Use a choke collar for training purposes only, and only if you know how to use it properly. Choke collars can cause whiplash, dislocate neck bones and even injure a dog’s voice box. They can also bruise and damage the skin. These collars may also become embedded in the fur, especially with longer coated dogs. Prong collars are more humane and work great for training.
Don't walk dogs on hot pavement; it can burn their pads. Check to see if the ground is too hot by placing your hand or bare foot down. If you can’t hold it down for more than a few seconds, chances are it’s too hot for your dog. Save summer walks for the early morning or evening hours.
Keep your dog from drinking out of puddles or eating grass. Puddles may contain harmful substances such as motor oil or antifreeze and grass may contain toxic fertilizer or insecticides. Don't let your dog eat off the ground period—there could be any number of dangerous substances including rat poison and even fruits that are toxic.

Photo/Video Credit

Photo Courtesy FreeFoto.com

More Puppy Pages

Collars & Tags for Rescued Pets

I'm Sylva Kelegian with Expert Village and I'm going to show you the collars and the tags I use when I, collars and choke chains rather I use when I rescue animals. This is Lulu and Lizzy, they were dumped in a gas station and found by somebody who...

How to Train a Blind Dog to Avoid Obstacles

By teaching a blind dog the "go slowly" command, you may be able to help her avoid nasty bumps, build confidence and resume daily activities.

Dog collars are an important accessory for your dog. Putting a collar on your dog enables you to walk it safely. Collars can help you teach your dog obedience skills and they come in many different styles, shapes, sizes and colors.

While choke collars are frowned on by some dog owners, proper use of a choke collar on a dog can help immensely in training long-haired dogs. Getting the attention of a long-haired dog can be challenging without the right training tools, which often...