Dog Safety on Winter Walks

Guest post by Lewis Waller

© courtesy JAGwired via Flickr.com

For a lot of people, the thought of a long walk on a cold winter's day can sound daunting. But as dog owners know, it's a daily necessity. If you're a new dog owner, the cold weather and shorter days shouldn't put you off going on long walks. You just need to remember to be prepared and keep some basic precautions in mind.

Of course, where you live in the world determines the amount of daylight you get during the winter months, and it goes without saying that you should be aware of those hours in your area. If you're going on country walks make sure you always know where you're going on these shorter days and allow plenty of time to get back. It's these rural walks that need the most attention and you should always be familiar with the area.

Snow and ice can obviously be a problem on winter walks. On icy roads care should be taken to make sure your dog is in control, especially on those roads without side walks. In icy an snowy conditions it's a good idea to use a shorter lead to give you more control over the walk. When there's snow on the ground take precautions in rural areas by sticking to paths (and again be familiar with the area) just in case you get out of your depth. Small dogs, especially, can easily get stuck in deep snow.

A major problem during the winter months is frozen lakes and ponds. We all know it's a big mistake to risk walking on the ice, but dogs can be none the wiser. Again, this goes back to being familiar with the area; know where the bodies of water are and try to steer clear. Of course, this all depends on how comfortable you are with your dog and how obedient he or she is. On these winter walks the recall command is the most important, if you allow off-leash treading, so if you're a new dog owner, spend a lot of time on this command during the months before winter.

If you have no choice but to walk your dog when it's dark, there are a few things to bear in mind:

• Try to stick to well lit areas.
• Wear bright colors or a florescent, high-visibility jacket.
• Make sure you're carrying a charged cell phone.
• If possible,carry a pocket torch or flashlight.

Finally, make sure YOU wrap up warm (a Dog with thin or little fur could also benefit from a coat) and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. It really can be one of the most scenic times of the year so enjoy those walks. I think the most important point to remember is to be familiar with where you're walking.

Lewis Waller is the co-founder of Dog Walkers City, an online directory of dog walkers and sitters that covers the US and the UK.

Planet Dog Puts Helpful Pet Sitter Info in Owners' Hands

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Enjoys a Treat Hunt
with his Orbee-Tuff Ball

This past week I wrote an article for the Saturday Pet Blogger hop. The topic was pet sitters and dog walkers and my new friends at Planet Dog were quick to jump in and help. When I mentioned this post there was no hesitation. They offered a generous giveaway of 10 Planet Dog Pet Sitter Instruction Pads. New friends are so wonderful!

© A.J., reader copyright on file
Lola Shows Her Support

Planet Dog's offer was in honor of their 10th Anniversary of the Orbee-Tuff Ball. Tanner is playing with his in the photo above. This is one great ball. It smells delicious (not like typical rubber), floats in the water for swimming fun, and has a hole to transform itself into a treat toy as well. What could be more perfect? 


I suppose we should get down to business and hand out the loot now, huh? Congratulations to all these lucky readers who will receive a tablet of 50 sheets with fill-in-the-blank instructions for their pet sitters. It's a great tool to be sure you never forget the important stuff (like where Fido loves to be rubbed and which shelf the treats are on!). Congratulations to:
AJ 
Finn the Golden Retriever
Lillij
Ashley J.
Kristine T.
Sharon G.
Vicki B.
Colleen R.
Mike and Mandy
Sara N.

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner's Orbee-Tuff Ball
is a Great Pool Toy too!

You will all be notified by email. Please reply with your address to AllThingsDogBlog.com. When all of your addresses are received Planet Dog will ship your Instruction Pads. Thanks again for your participation. I look forward to seeing you often.


If you're not among the lucky winners, feel free to purchase your own Pet Sitter Instruction Pad by visiting this link. Meanwhile, Tanner wants to say Thanks to our friends at Planet Dog with one more photo:

Dog Care While You're Away: Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© courtesy Susanvg via Flickr
Dog Walkers Assure Fido is Properly Exercised
When You are Away

Whether you live in the city, a suburb, or even a rural area, you are likely to find a number of dog walkers or pet sitters in your area.  The trick is locating them, as they are often not listed in the yellow pages.


Checking with friends who own pets and enjoy travel may net you some suggestions, but keep in mind that you want someone reliable.  Ask about this as well, as friends can often give you input on their experiences and comfort level with each individual.


Your second source for recommendations is local veterinarian offices.  It is not unusual to find that a vet's office will have a tech that moonlights as a pet sitter or dog walker.  The services they offer can vary from merely dropping by for a potty break and feeding, to a long walk or even an overnight stay. Their home or yours? Sometimes you'll have a choice.


The overnight stay may be a particular perk if your dog is not comfortable with a crate or kennel at the vet's office or boarding facility.  What could be better than a stay at his own home?


In addition to this, having a vet tech or vet nurse care for your buddy at home could give you an extra sense of well-being if he has health conditions that you may worry about.  Your Fido may be in good hands with this arrangement, without the confining conditions of a vet clinic kennel.


There's another angle to explore here.  If you are planning a longer trip--more than a short weekend--a little legwork may help you find a vet nurse who can care for your pup in her own home.


This option worked well for me once while traveling with Oliver to another state.  A plan to visit a local destination nearly was abandoned because we found no doggy daycares in this rural area.  However, we did locate a vet nurse who was able to care for Oliver on her day off, and lucky Oliver had the enjoyment of playing with her puppy.  The two were close in age and size--a perfectly fun day for both.


One caveat to consider. A pet sitter can only do their job well when communication is thorough and not forgotten. You may find it most successful to write all instructions out and leave them with your contact information. I suggest using the Planet Dog Pet Sitter Instruction Pad, which will assure you leave nothing uncovered. Learn more at my Thursday post about this helpful product by scrolling down to it, or locating the link in my archives at the middle sidebar. The title is "Salvaging Your Pet Sitter Experience with Clear Instructions".

Thanks for joining us for another edition of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. I hope you will enjoy bouncing around the blogs listed below, finding all sorts of fun ways to enjoy pets and their owners. The rules for participation by linking up are displayed below, as copied from Life with Dogs, one of the hosts. The hop is also co-hosted by Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume.

• Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed. Also note that only one post per blog is acceptable, and links promoting giveaways that are unrelated to the pet blogger hop will be removed. This is a community building exercise and not a promotional vehicle – please treat it as such.
• Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
• Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
• Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
• Make friends and grow. ♥