Our Pet Community
OPC
{ Dog Activities }
Our own safety and well-being often takes second place to our dogs when out on walks, but while such concern is understandable, it's not always wise. There can be many potential dangers lying in wait and putting yourself first isn't being selfish but sensible – but safe. After all, if you're safe it's more likely your pet will be too. Obviously there is no way you can completely guarantee your safety but there are a number of ways in which you can certainly minimize the risks.
Practise a little off-lead close control work when in a safe area where you can safely let your dog run free — never when near roads or walking on pavements which run alongside them. Keep such sessions short as they require a lot of concentration and self discipline, and make them as exciting as possible with lots of changes of speed and direction. View it as a game as much as an obedience exercise and your dog will enjoy rising to the challenge as much as you. Make sure you have some really tasty treats or a favourite and highly desirable toy to help you motivate him, especially if there are lots of other distractions and interesting things happening — he could, after all, be off doing his own thing rather than staying by your side.
Dog toys come in all shapes, sizes, colours and textures. You can choose from novelty, squeaky, chewy, and plush types, suitable for throwing, retrieving or tug games, and even interactive toys that provide mental stimulation when your dog is left on his own. Always buy toys specifically designed for dogs, and make sure the toy is suitable for the size and strength of your pet.
Although some companies indicate this on their packaging you should use common sense based on your own knowledge of your dog’s behaviour. Supervise play with those toys that may prove less robust under a determined onslaught (such as squeaky latex or stuffed ones) so that if necessary you can step in and remove them before they have been reduced to small pieces and swallowed.