Before You Take Your First Walk
Before you take your first walk in your neighborhood you want to do several things to promote safety for you and your dog.
The first thing you want to do is practice using the collar and leash in your home, moving the practice to your yard. You and your dog should be completely comfortable before you leave the safety of your home and venture out into the neighborhood.
When Kodi was 7 weeks old, we put a collar on him. We were lucky, he seemed to take to it right away. He’s been great like that, with new ‘gear’, he adapts well. Training books recommend putting the collar on for a few moments, taking it off, and repeating this cycle, increasing the amount of time the collar is on, so the dog can become comfortable with the feel of something around their neck.
It’s important to fit the collar so that no more than two of your fingers slide between the collar and your dog’s neck, to ensure your dog can’t resist and slip the collar. Affix identification to your dog’s collar in the event the leash would break or you would lose control of it.
Not having an enclosed area for Kodi to go potty, we had to introduce the leash almost immediately so he could be secure and safe when outside. The training instructions we followed suggested putting the leash on the collar and just letting the dog drag it around behind him, getting used to the feel of something pulling, creating resistance against the collar.
We practiced walking him around with it on in the house and then the yard, almost immediately.
Before taking a walk in the neighborhood, it’s always a good idea to take that walk without your dog. Note where other dogs live in the neighborhood, whether they are tied out, in fenced-in yards or loose in their yards. Be aware of any ‘Beware of Dog’ signs, denoting aggressive or protective dogs. Even if you don’t see other dogs, keep an eye out for dog waste, as this will tell you other dogs frequent this area, whether they are walked or running loose, it’s good to know you may encounter other dogs, even if none live in the general vicinity.
If at all possible, talk to some of the neighbors to get an idea of whether they have had encounters with loose or aggressive dogs. The more you can learn about the environment you’re going to take your dog into, the more likely you and your dog are going to have a pleasant and safe experience.
You’re ready to take a walk with your canine companion.
If you do encounter a loose dog on your walk, and your dog is smaller than the loose dog, pick it up off the ground to afford it some sense of security and you some control. If you can’t pick your dog up, either cross to the other side of the street, or take a different route to try to avoid the other dog.
When I can’t avoid the other dog, I keep Kodi on one side of my power chair, I take his leash up so my hand is close to his Halti and I have optimum control and I’m in between him and the other dog. I do this even when passing another dog on a leash.
Kodi and I have been ‘charged’ by three other dogs in approximately a two month period of time. Kodi has not suffered any injury because he was able to run behind or around my power chair and I was able to get between him and the other dog.
Taking walks together should be a time for bonding, asserting yourself in the leadership role and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of nature. We must do whatever possible to be safe and secure while doing so.
