The dog walk

Ah, the joys of a dog walk . . .

Will it be thick fog today? Or perhaps torrential rain and high winds? It might just be freezing cold or too darn hot.

Whatever the weather, be prepared. As early on as you can, invest in some high quality clothes that will make your dog walk a pleasurable experience rather than a complete drag.

Here's Georgie captured after a moment of muddy madness in Ashdown Forest close to where we live in the UK. You could almost think she was smiling saying, 'And what y'gonna do about that?'

What to wear
When we first got Georgie I admit I was unprepared in this department. I discovered that my coat badly let in the rain, my shoes just weren't up to the job, and often I’d end up shivering and miserable.

My life changed the day I discovered that not only could you have waterproof jackets but also waterproof trousers, gloves, hats and trainers. I said goodbye to wringing out my socks and said hello to toasty warm feet. My gloves are designed for skiing so they're lovely and warm and waterproof too, and my cozy fleece zips into my Gore-Tex coat.

I now find that it makes no real difference what the weather’s doing - and let’s face it, in the UK we have a lot of variety. The dog walk is one of the best parts of my day and I'm now ready for anything nature wants to throw at me.

For a more in depth look at what to wear click here.

OutdoorGear UK stocks a wide selection of suitable walking gear including products for adventurous dogs!

Here's a short video clip of Georgie and Jessie in our local woods. It was a warm day so there's lots of panting. I think they're also learning about the concept of gravity although it's probably not a lesson they'll remember!

Mucky Pups
Of course if it is pouring with rain, the dogs are going to get filthy and that brings other issues.

The seats in the back of our car fold down to make a decent-sized sitting area for Georgie and Jessie. They sit on towels which are changed regularly and on wet days they're changed every day. I always have a spare towel in the back to rub off the excess moisture. If I don’t, Jessie will have a good old shake, spraying mud everywhere and finish off with a walk round the car trying to dry herself on the inside doors and back of the front seats.

With dogs of course mud in the house is a perennial problem. See the recommended cleaning products for help here.

Having Fun With Your Dog
If you completely ignore your dog when out on a walk, it may come as no surprise that they'll find other entertainment besides yourself.

One day I saw a man walking his dog, reading a book - he appeared to have no interest whatsoever in his dog.

I notice that whenever I'm walking and get engaged in a particularly intense conversation with a friend, Georgie has a habit of wandering off.

However when I'm regularly checking in with her, asking her to sit, rewarding her with a little titbit, asking her to wait while I take a burr out of her coat, she tends to stay closer and be more attentive.

Being a fun companion does not necessarily mean high jinks the whole way. If my dogs are striding on ahead, I'll often give a whistle and change direction, perhaps disappearing down a path they've missed or go back the way we've just come. I like to keep their focus on me.

Other fun ways could be, using:

a frisbee

a ball on a string

a ball from a ball thrower

a hoop

Visit our Dog Toy Amazon Store for more ideas.

I think the secret is to make sure they're aware of you while you're out and about. And if that means using treats (small, healthy, low fat) then so be it.

When things got bad with Georgie (she wouldn't come back at the end of a walk) we started using bacon. And that definitely cured her! If you engage with your dog, you'll have fun without even trying - enjoy!

Professional Dog Walkers
On the rare occasions we're unable to walk the dogs, we use a professionaldog walker. Christine picks Georgie and Jessie up at about 8.15 in the morning takes them on two walks with a group of about four or five others and returns them at about midday.

Finding a good dog-walker is vital even if it‘s only for an occasional morning when you need to be elsewhere. I would say a recommendation from a happy client is the most useful thing. The dogs should be excited when the person comes and clearly want to go.

This didn’t happen with our first walker. He would knock on the door and Georgie would stay in her basket or hide under the table. In our naivety we thought it was similar to a young child not wanting to go to school and once they got there they’d be okay.

But it continued and so I went with my gut instincts. Something clearly wasn’t right and I’m pleased we changed companies. Now when Christine comes to the door, the dogs go potty and they bounce out of the house without a backward glance. And that’s how it should be.

For a more in depth look at professional dog walkers click here.

Horses
Being out with your dog can be such a pleasure but there are times when you need to be extra vigilant. I guess the secret is to know your dog well and be safe rather than sorry.

I have a good friend who is very experienced with dogs as well as horses. I asked her advice on what dog owners should do when they meet a horse. This is her advice:-

If your dog is off the lead and you spot a horse, always call the dog back to you and put her on the lead. Ask your dog to sit and wait for the horse to pass by, reassuring and praising her while this happens.

It is best to keep the lead on until the horse is out of sight since it can be very tempting to chase a horse. If you are unsure of your dog's reaction to horses and you are walking on a bridle way or near the gallops, it is best to keep them on a lead.

From a rider's point of view, I feel secure if I can see that the dog owner has total control. The rider should slow to a walk or stand. The meeting should always be calm.

If the dog barks or annoys the horse, the rider should ask the horse to stand until the dog is under control. A rider should never ever ride up behind someone at speed. Good riders will slow down and usually call out if they want to pass.

It is really just the common sense and good manners of both rider and dog walker that combine for mutual enjoyment of the countryside.

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