Walking Gear

• Walking After Dark

• Collars

• ID Tags

• Poop Management

• Rain Gear

• Paw Protection

• Slip Leads

• Additional Gear I Use

• Encountering Loose Dogs

• How to teach loose leash walking

Walking After Dark

If reliability and personal safety are important choose Surefire.

Walking & Training Collars

There are several types of dog collars and each type serves a specific purpose. There are Identification Buckle Collars - Flat Collars - Training Collars - and Break-Away Safety Collars. I advise against attaching a leash to an identification buckle collar, or quick-release collars on an untrained dog, or a dog that pulls or lunges. Use a properly fitted flat collar or martingale collar without buckles or chains instead. Once you have have the proper collar, teach your dog to walk on a loose leash without pulling. These are some of my favorite martingale collars below. For more on differing collars go here.

Leashes are made with all types of materials and some of the popular ones are; leather, nylon, rope, hemp, soy, and biothane. For more on leashes go here. For guidance on CHOOSING A HARNESS.

Leashes: For more on leashes go here.

For guidance on CHOOSING A HARNESS.

id tAGS

Boomerang tags last a dog’s lifetime and you don’t have to listen to a tag jangling or clacking on a food or water bowl. If your dog does get out and avoids anyone grabbing their collar, all someone has to do is take a picture of the collar tag on the back of the dog’s neck in order to call the owner. If your dog walks out of a GoPro camera harness while hiking in the hills and a nice stranger finds your camera over a year later they may call you after reviewing the video and getting your number off the visible boomerang tag on your dog’s collar.

GPS Tracking - Whistle

Poop Management

Rain gear

Outdoor Research products are among my favorites. Espcially the Seattle Sombrero Rain Hat which i consider a must have.

Paw Protection

Slip leads

I carry a slip lead so I’m able to leash loose dogs.

Additional Gear I Use

One word of caution when attaching a dog to your waist you are now transferring any shock to your mid-section which could create issues for your back and neck. Another important thing to consider is releasing a dog from your waist if there is tension in the line will be exceptionally difficult in an urgent or potential emergency situation without a quick release on the belt. Many people have been hurt when pulled off their feet by dogs that are attached to their body or having the leash wrapped around their wrist for that matter.

I am no runner, but I often attach a dog to my waist. When I’m working with dogs I use a Blackhawk CQB/Rigger's Belt and I keep a carabiner on the V ring so I have the option of securing the dog to my body. When attaching a dog to my waist with a carabiner use a quality non-locking climbing carabiner. I usually use aluminum Asymmetric D shape carabiners. I would not trust an inexpensive utility carabiner when working with any dog. I like to use a locking carabiner for temporarily securing a dog to an object.

Encountering Loose Dogs

Loose dogs approaching can be a problem so come prepared for uninvited encounters. To keep dogs at a distance and from making contact with you or your dog there are several things you can try.

1. Toss a tennis ball to the left or right of the approaching dog in hopes the dog stops traveling your direction and instead heads toward the tennis ball.  You could call this the “squirrel” technique.  

2. Toss a handful of treats toward the dog in hopes they will stop to investigate and eat the treats while you depart the area and create distance.

   • Nether food treats or tennis balls are likely to startle your own dog if you need to deploy them to startle or distract another dog from approaching. 

   • One caveat that needs to be considered with walking dogs that resource guards toys or food. Carrying food or tennis balls may heighten your dogs arousal due to the fact they desire to protect those things from others.

3. Spray Citronella Spray in front of the oncoming dog or at the dogs face if they are close. Using any kind of spray you must also consider wind direction. If you are not positioned correctly you may unintentionally spray you and your dog.

4. As a last resort use an air horn to scare the approaching dog. A word of caution, you may traumatize your own dog if you have not desensitized them to the air horn previously. Depending on the dog the risk of unintended consequences may not be worth the risk.

I often carry an extra slip lead in case I need to lasso a loose dog. Sometimes the sight of the leash in an outstretched hand toward the dog will keep the dog gives a dog pause and they will stay out of reach because they do not want to be leashed.

Although it not advisable for everyone or every circumstance capturing the loose dog as long as you can control both dogs may be a feasible option at times.

How to teach loose leash walking

For more guidance on teaching loose leash walking go here:

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