Having a dog as a companion in your house is an amazing thing since you can always take a walk with it outside at all times. Taking care of the dog includes activities such as feeding, vaccination, cleaning, and exercising.
More to that, the security and safety, and well-being of your dog are important too. Ensuring that your dog can see clearly through the roads at night and forested routes is very crucial.
Therefore, when you’re taking a walk or going for a hike on dimly lit roads or a hike in areas covered with thick bushes, you need to carry a flashlight. A flashlight has many advantages for you and your dog which we shall cover in this article.
Visibility
A flashlight provides visibility when your path is dark. Whether you’re going hiking, traveling, or hunting, you may find yourself in a situation that requires a flashlight so that you can see or view what’s ahead or behind you. This will help to keep you and the dog safe from encountering predators.
In case of an attack by a person or a wild animal, a flashlight may be very helpful since it helps in blinding the attacker of the animal so that you can get enough time and space to escape.
In extreme weather conditions, normal lights are not efficient and effective in enabling you to see your path. However, using a flashlight enables you to walk well even when it’s misty or rainy since most of them are waterproof.
Safety
When you’re on the road at night, you may not be able to see an oncoming vehicle. This may expose the risk of yourself and the dog getting knocked down. A flashlight enables a driver to see that you are on the road with a dog and hence avoiding knocking you down.
During hunting, a curious dog may see something in the dark and start barking. A flashlight comes in handy by allowing you to see what’s making your dog nervous. In case you encounter a coyote, the flashlight will ensure it becomes disoriented and hence goes away.
Whenever you are walking out in a camp with your dog, a flashlight can be used as a surveillance tool to identify everything in the dark.
This may include things such as dog food, medication, and a sleeping bed. This is important as it ensures that all the activities you’re undertaking are perfect and your dog isn’t left out.
Night Walking Tips
1. Always try as much as possible to use familiar routes while walking with your dog. This will help by reducing the chances of you and the dog losing the way and becoming stranded in an unfamiliar place. This may be traumatizing to both the dog and yourself.
2. Avoid using headphones while walking with your dog. When you’re in the dark, you want to ensure that you give your dog maximum attention. Wearing headphones shall reduce your chances of hearing movements and sounds within the surrounding.
3. If possible, you should try to find a company and reduce walking alone with your dog. This will help increase your safety especially in areas with low or no human settlements. In case of an attack by thieves or a wild animal, you are more likely to defend yourself when you have company.
4. It’s wise to carry a whistle or a pepper spray for additional safety. A safety whistle will help you and your dog by alerting people within the area that you’re in danger.
On the other hand, pepper spray gives you time to escape from a thug or animal by reducing their ability to see clearly as it makes the eyes sore.
Final Thought
A flashlight is very important when you’re walking with your dog as it guarantees safety and visibility. More to that, most accidents and falls may be prevented by having good lighting even when the weather reduces the visibility on the roads. You should always carry a flashlight with a long-lasting battery, a good handle, and one that provides enough light in the darkest places. Additionally, always check whether the flashlight is working before you get out of the house.
