MANILA, Philippines - Taking a walk out in the park or neighborhood with your furry companion is a great way to provide social activity, help your dog stay healthy and prevent obesity. Pets need regular exercise — such as daily walks — to keep at a recommended weight, plus walks allow you and your dog to get acquainted with other pets and pet parents. While dog-walking is a fun and worthwhile activity, it can also be full of potential mishaps that could adversely affect other park-goers if proper etiquette is not observed.
Pet Food Institute, through its campaign “Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured” in partnership with the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines, shares some tips for an enjoyable, worry-free dog-walking experience.
Make sure your pet is in good health — Before you step out with your four-legged friend for a stroll, ensure that your pet is in good shape and is well-trained to meet different pets and people outdoors. There may be strangers, both human and pet, who will approach your pooch, so it is important that your furry friend already had its entire series of vaccinations.
• Water – Hydration is essential to your pet’s health and helps his or her body systems function properly. Your pup may get dehydrated after doing the occasional sprints and leaps, so a bottle of water is essential to keep Fido hydrated especially for hot and humid days.
• Treats – A handful of treats will be helpful in getting you out of the most unfortunate pickle. Enticing a stubborn pet with a tasty treat will help shift their focus on you instead of unfriendly dogs or cats. Treats should make up no more than 10 percent of a pet’s daily calories.
• Dog tags – Make sure the leash and collar are sturdy and won’t slip off, that your pet is wearing identification tags with your address and phone number.
• Poo bag – One of the most important items to bring is a waste bag to pick up the poo. It can be bothersome to see unsightly and smelly poo on the street, much more step on it. Do have the courtesy to clean up the waste with a sealable bag or paper and throw it in the proper trash bin.
• Maintain a safe space — Keep a harmonious atmosphere by maintaining a safe distance with other pets. There’ll be many episodes of unfamiliar canines trying to get friendly with your dog by doing nose and butt sniffing, which is their instinctive and natural way of saying “Hi.” But before they do, get a feel of your dog’s tension and energy if he/she is open for interaction. Take full control — Being the pet owner, you must have full control of the dog’s behavior. You may have gained familiarity of your dog’s movements and sensitivities, but also be cautious of its unpredictability. Start off with a good quality leash to lead on or lead away your pet. Having a shorter leash gives you a better advantage of controlling your dog, so in case when something or someone comes your way, your pet remains by your side. On the other hand, there are also dogs that are not too socially adept with people. Give the eager individual a friendly warning before he/she pets your dog.
Positioning is key — When you are walking your pet with other dog-walkers in the neighborhood, make sure your canine is positioned away from the fellow walker and his/her pet. The ideal image would be dog-owner, owner-dog to allow safe and peaceful walking.
For information, visit www.petfoodinstitute.org and follow PFI on Twitter @USPetFood.