Essential Dog Walking Gear All Owners Should Have

There’s nothing like taking your furry friend out for a walk, but sometimes you need more than just their leash and a doggy bag. What if you need to take your dog out at night? You’ll need a reflective collar. If your dog actually runs away,  then you’ll wish you had an AirTag on your dog collar to find your dog. Especially if you plan on taking your dog out for a longer walk than just rushing across the street and going back inside your house to finish that next episode you have queued up. Before you take Fido out for their next walk, here’s our list of the essential dog walking gear all owners should have.

Source: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Essential Dog Walking Gear All Owners Should Have:

1. Leash — Even if your dog is experienced with walking without a leash, it’s helpful to keep a leash on hand in the event you ever need it. Hold onto your leash or keep it clipped to your pants with a belt clip.

2. Dog Bags — Always be sure to clean up after your dog. It’s a common courtesy because no one wants dog waste left on their lawn. Bacteria from your dog’s business can also cause sickness in other animals or someone else’s pet. Just keep a few dog bags handy in your jacket or pants pockets at all times.

3. AirTags and AirTag Accessories — If you don’t already have an AirTag, now is the time to get one. AirTags can be placed on just about anything. Just attach the AirTag to your phone, your wallet or, in this case, your dog’s collar. You can keep your AirTag nice and secure in its own AirTag case or in a specific AirTag dog collar case.

Source: Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock.com

4. Pepper Spray  — Pepper spray is cheap insurance in the event you ever need to protect yourself or your dog. Let’s say you’re walking in the park, on a hike or walking in an area where you’re not familiar with your surroundings. Bring pepper spray for your protection. The pepper spray can be used to ward off wild animals or other dogs looking to threaten or attack you — or other humans. For wild dogs or animals that are more of a nuisance, use a Citronella spray as an alternative to pepper spray.

5. Reflective Collar  — A reflective collar is perfect for whenever you’re walking with your dog at night or in dark areas that aren’t as well lit. Having a reflective collar not only helps you see your dog, but it will also help other people see your dog. People who are driving, walking or biking nearby won’t be caught off guard since they’ll be able to see the reflective collar illuminated in the dark.

6. Dog Wipes  — Be sure to wipe your dog’s little paws after walking so they don’t trek dirt, mud or whatever else they pick up on their paws after their walk when they go home. You should also use your dog wipes to wipe down your dog’s walking gear because leashes, collars and anything else they’re wearing picks up dirt and gets messy, too. Using dog wipes on your pup between formal baths is also much more convenient than bathing them daily.

7. Updated Dog ID Tags  — Your dog’s ID tags should always be up to date with your latest contact information in the event they ever get lost. Your dog’s ID tags should have their name, your phone number and an emergency contact number besides yours. Also, consider putting down any medical needs your dog has on their dog ID tags. If all of their contact and medical information doesn’t fit on one tag, get multiple tags and attach them to your dog’s collar so they have everything they need in one place.

Source: a katz/Shutterstock.com

8. Water and Bowl  — According to research from Michigan State University, people who walk their dogs generally walk about an hour longer per week than people who don’t walk their dogs. This means your dog is probably getting thirsty on those walks! Your pup needs water just like you do when they get thirsty. While a bowl may be too clunky to bring on a walk, you can get a collapsible bowl so it’s convenient for transport. Don’t let your dog drink whatever random water they find on their walk. It may not be a clean source for them to drink from. Bring along a collapsible bowl and water bottle instead.

9. Photos of Your Dog on Your Phone — While an AirTag is helpful for finding your dog, it’s better to have as many tools as possible at your disposal to find your best furry friend if you ever need to. Keep multiple photos of your dog on your phone handy. It’s one thing to tell someone what your dog looks like, and it’s quite another to actually show a photo to give a visual aid as well.

10. Dog’s Immunization Records on Your Phone — Keep your dog’s immunization records on your phone to have it ready to show when you travel. If there’s an incident with a person or another dog, you’ll have their immunization records ready to show another person as proof in case of an accident. Immunization records may also be asked for at any hotels you check into if you’re traveling with your dog.

Walking your dog is the perfect everyday adventure with benefits for both your mental and physical health. With all of these essential items packed for whether you’re walking around the neighborhood or headed out on your next big adventure, you and your furry friend will be all set for wherever the road takes you both!