LifecanbetoffThe need to explore is part of human nature. Discovering new places and experiencing new things firsthand brings joy that can’t be matched, and what better way to do it than with your canine companion by your side? Whether you’re visiting the beach, trekking along new trails or sailing the seas, bringing your dog along on your adventures means that they get to experience all of the fun things that you do. Plus, you won’t need to worry about them missing you while you’re gone.
However, it’s important to take steps to ensure that your dog is safe on your adventures. While we may already take plenty of safety precautions for ourselves, dogs tend to find strange ways to put themselves in the path of danger. In this article, we look at some key things to consider before you and your dog hit the road together to ensure no one is at risk.
Keep them on a lead
Even if your dog has been trained to walk off-lead, it’s not a good idea to do this in new places. New smells, sights and sounds can be very distracting to dogs, and they may get so overwhelmed that they stray further from you than normal, or may not even respond when you call their name.
This can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. They could get themselves stuck somewhere, come across harmful objects or even run into a not-so-friendly dog. As a result, it’s always best to keep your dog on the lead whenever you explore new or precarious places.
Try to avoid paths with steep drops
Another reason to keep your dog on the lead is to prevent them from falling off of a steep drop, such as a cliff face, but it’s better to avoid cliffside trails altogether if you can. Dogs get easily excited as it is, and if they were to spot something they want to chase after or even just sniff at, some will take off towards it without a thought of potential dangers.
As an owner, it’s your job to do the thinking for your dog. So picking trails that have guard rails or are well away from the edges of mountains or cliffs is the easiest way to ensure they don’t fall. Similarly, paths running alongside unsafe bodies of water should be avoided in case your dog were to jump in and get out of their depth.
Keep an eye on them at all times
The best thing you can do to stop your dog from getting into harm’s way is to keep an eye on them at all times. By keeping them on a lead that only extends a few metres, you can ensure that they’re always visible and can easily intervene if they look like they’re about to do something unwise.
Dog safe adventure
It’s important to note that every adventure will inevitably carry some element of risk, as it does to us, too. But as long as you’re taking reasonable precautions, you can rest assured that your furry friend will have just as much fun as you on your next adventure.
This is a free placed article in partnership with Dog Friendly Cottages. Approved by Life can be Toff for feature. Want to kit yourself out for your dog friendly adventures? Check out my dog walking essentials!
