The first week of October is Walk Your Dog Week! Fall is a wonderful time of year to enjoy taking a nice long stroll with Fido. Those daily walks aren’t just important for sanitary reasons: they are also great for your pup’s mental and physical health. Read on as a local Crown Point, IN vet offers some dog-walking hacks.
Carabiner
Clip a carabiner onto the end of Fido’s leash. If you ever need to pause to talk to someone or take a phone call, you can easily clip your pet to a tree or post. Just be sure never to leave your canine buddy unattended.
Address Lunging
Does Fido have a habit of charging after cats and squirrels? To break this bad habit, stop and change directions every time he does this. Training might get a little repetitive, but that’s why it works.
Jacket
Designate a specific jacket or bag for walking Fido. Keep the pockets or compartments filled with waste baggies, treats, spare keys, a cordless phone charger, gloves, a flashlight, and whatever else you may need. That way, you’ll always be ready to go when your furry pal starts doing that adorable pre-walk happy dance!
Water
Keeping Fido hydrated is very important! Get a portable doggy water bottle with an attached dish. These are great to have with you on hot days or when you go for long hikes!
Paw Wipe
Did you know you can teach Fido to wipe his paws off at the door? You’ll need to put out a mat for your canine friend to use. Of course, teaching your furry buddy to wipe his feet should wait until after he’s learned basic doggy obedience commands, like Sit , Stay , Come , and Heel .
Stash
Do you sometimes find yourself having to run back into your home for waste baggies? Keep extra ones stored around your house. This is a great use for landscaping rocks or hollowed statues! You can also keep them in your dashboard, or in a dedicated bin.
Leash Station
Keep Fido’s gear in a specific spot. You can hang a cloth shopping back from a coat hook, and put everything you need into that.
Is your four-legged pal due for an exam, vaccinations, or parasite control products? Please reach out to us, your Crown Point, IN vet clinic, for all of your dog’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!
