Safety vests protect dogs and owners

If you are an avid dog-walker, congratulations. Your dog needs, and greatly appreciates, daily exercise and activity. Unfortunately, with today’s hectic world, many people are only able to find time for exercise routines in the early morning or late evening hours. With work beginning early and ending late, dog owners are often forced to walk their dogs before dawn or after sundown. While your dog loves the activity, regardless of the time of day, sunless hours create more safety hazards for you and your dog.

In the early morning and after dark hours, a driver’s visibility greatly decreases. What they may easily spot in the sunlight becomes almost invisible after dark. Even if a driver spots you, they may completely miss spotting your dog. This is especially the case if your dog is tiny, or dark in color. When drivers are unaware of both your presence as well as your dog’s, they run a greater risk of accidentally striking you with their vehicle. It is important to take care to make both you are your dog extremely visible to drivers, especially in dark conditions.

Luckily, many companies produce reflective vests for canines. These vests simply fit over your dog like a jacket, and contain reflectors that bounce driver’s headlights back to them, alerting them of your presence. When a driver is well aware of your dog’s place on the road, you are both much less likely to become involved in an accident. It is even recommended that you also invest in reflective clothing for yourself.

Many of the vests are bright and neon in color. While the outgoing hues make a dog’s presence even more known on the road, they also double as safety gear for hikes during hunting season. Be sure to find the best fitting vest for your dog to keep him comfortable on your outdoor excursions. And remember, it is much better to take safety precautions than to have a leisurely walk or jog cut short due to an accident.