One of the last things you’d think about is to walk your dog and end up being in danger. But it is one of the realities we must face. Even in a city like Singapore where it is a cleaned city, once you get a dog and walk it around greenbelt areas or parks, you’ll discover there is much hidden trash and danger all around. Now pure disclaimer, we’re not saying that Singaporeans love to throw trash or stash them in hidden areas, nor are we implying malice in doing so. It’s just a general observation.

Attention
That work email or text can wait! Always pay attention when walking your dog. That’s the priority. Stay focused. The are really no exceptions, even if you’re in a fenced area where there are no other dogs and distractions, you really never know what can go wrong. Even if you are seasoned multitasker, always be vigilant. When encountering other dogs, you have to watch their behaviour. Body language like barred teeth, firm stances, ears pulled forward (or back in some cases) are indicators of aggression and can lead to a potential altercation if you’re not careful when walking along straight paths, let alone turning the corner.

Bones
Chicken wing slash drumstick bones or other food waste like that, sometimes find its way into bushes and amidst the grass. If that sounds grotesque, it is! But more than that, they pose a great threat to our dogs. Sometimes, they just can’t control themselves and will start munching on such things as they walk along. Pay very close attention when walking your dog. The last thing you want is for them to choke on a bone or consume these bones that have little breaks and splinters that could puncture or wreck their insides. It’s extremely painful and can potentially lead to death.

Collar or Harness
Studies have shown that a dog harness is better because there’s more control for you, it’s more comfortable, less choking/damaging for your dog and it’s harder to come out of than a collar. Of course the fit is very important. Make sure you get a good fitting one. We once taxied a dog that had a very loose harness and he was at risk of running away and getting lost. That’s the last thing we want. Get the right gear for your dog (and here are some walking gear you can check out).

Hydration
Just like us, any form of exercise would require us to stay adequately hydrated, and the same is said for our dogs. Make sure they drink up before a walk and after as well. If you are going for a longer walk or having a day out at the dog run, make sure you bring an additional water bottle for your dog. The extra bulk/weight will be well worth it. You want to make sure they don’t get dehydrated or worst, get heatstroke, especially in hotter weather.

Lost
Always make sure your dog is microchipped with a dog tag at the very least. If you have an Apple AirTag or alterntative pet tracker, even better. You never know when your dog may break free or run off for so many reasons. Especially if they are stubborn and don’t have good recall. Make sure the leash is firmly secured in your hand. The last thing you want is unwanted altercations with other dogs and of course the worst case scenario where your dog runs off and goes missing.

Overexhertion
Some dogs don’t know their own strength or when to stop. It is important for dog owners to really exercise some restraint on their behalf. Especially when they are overweight, senior, young pups or recovering from a surgery, you want to make sure you watch their pace. Start slow with slower walks and work your way up to longer distances or more intense speeds. Don’t rush into it. The last thing you want is for them to overdo it.

Pee/Poo
Of course, as we walk our dog, they pee/poo. Whilst it is perfectly normal for our dogs to sniff around or even get a taste of another dog’s pee/poop, try to minimise or reduce this. If another dog is sick, this could provide for an unpleasant situation should your dog get sick because of it as it is possible for a dog to contract an infectious disease from licking the urine of other animals. And needless to say the poop. Bacterial diseases or getting some form of virus due to parasites are not fun to deal with.

Rat Poison
There are some estates, government and even private where rats are a problem, well, if you find food waste hidden away in public areas, then rodents are always going to be a problem. In comes pest control with rodent bait or any other forms of poison. These can be deadly and can even be fatal to our furbabies when they ingest them. Be mindful of this and be wary when they do more than sniff.

Sharp Objects
Whilst this is actually pretty common, we often don’t think about things like broken glass, sharp stones or leftover concrete, rusty nails and more, they do sometimes exist within grassy areas and the greener and lusher the ground is, the more hidden these things are. Also, don’t underestimate drink cans or plastic bottles, as harmless as they are, when torn or ripped, they have sharp parts that can cause serious damage. More often than not, we don’t wear shoes for our dogs, but if your area has construction and an increase risk of these sharp objects, it wouldn’t hurt to get your dogs used to wearing shoes or boots. It protects their feet and when they are used to it, you might find that they almost feel invincible and start bouncing around. You can learn more about shoes for dogs in our other journal entry.

Snakes and Other Wild Animals
Also lurking in the bushes and grass can be snakes. Although some people go through their lives never encountering a snake in Singapore doesn’t mean they don’t exist. There are 7 species of highly venomous species of snakes that can post a serious problem when they attack you, let alone your dog. These include the King Cobra, Equatorial Spitting Cobra, Malayan Blue Coral Snake, Malayan Banded Coral Snake, Banded Krait and Wagler’s Pit Viper. Estuarine Crocodiles are possible risk along some of our coastlines, reservoirs and rivers as well. Monitor lizards are also quite common but rarely attack unless they are provoked or cornered, similarly for Wild Boars. Stray dogs rarely attack as well. So again, be vigilant.

Traffic
Always be careful with traffic and safety. Try not to jaywalk but if you do, please make sure you’re not crossing the expressway with your dog and always watch out for traffic. Use the sidewalks whenever you can. Your dog may not look left and right and left again before crossing but you can, so guide your dog properly. Train your dog to do it or at the very least, ensure your dog is obedient when you’re out.

Weather
Whilst your dog may be okay with the weather cold/hot, it’s always good to make sure your dog is comfortable. In other countries where there are seasons that are cold, of course, a sweater, dog boots or shoes are important (as above). But in a constant temperate country like Singapore, there are still concerns. Let’s talk about the cooler weather, if there’s no rain, there’s not much of a risk. But if it rains, there is a bit of a risk. Walking your dog in the rain does not inherently cause your dog to be sick. However, if they get cold (with the rain penetrating their layers of fur, it can lower their body temperature and put them at risk of developing a cold or hypothermia. Make sure you have them wear a raincoat or just make sure you dry them thoroughly and a toasty hair dryer session won’t harm. When the weather is hot, keep them constantly hydrated (as above), but also remember their poor little paw pads can get burnt if they are walking on extremely hot roads and pavements. Again, this is another situation that calls for shoes for dogs. 

Don’t forget to clean your dog up after every walk! These are just some scenarios to watch out for. Expect the unexpected! Should you have more advice you want to share, leave us a comment or contact us, we’d be more than happy to feature it. Training your dog can also help in all these scenarios, whether it’s recall or not eating anything off the ground. Speaking of which, good and healthy Kuro Snacks can come in handy for training or just a good refreshment while on the walk. Get your Kuro Snacks today: