How to Walk Your Dog Safely in the Dark: The Christmas Tree Theory
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Quick answer: If you walk your dog in the dark, make both of you easier for drivers to see: reflective gear on you and your dog, a headlamp or flashlight plus a backup, and lights on your back as well as your front. Use a standard 6-foot leash (not a retractable one), stick to familiar routes, keep your phone charged, and check that you have poop bags before you head out.
Zakity founder Christina has walked her dogs almost every day for upwards of 40 years, and her rule for dark walks is simple. As she puts it: "I don't mind looking like a Christmas tree walking down the street. It's about the safety of me and my dogs. That comes first. Well before how I may appear."
When the clocks fall back on the first Sunday in November, it gets dark an hour earlier in the evening, and through late fall and winter a lot of morning walks start in the dark too.
These days our walk starts in the dark, and by the time we get home, it's light out. Over all those years, the biggest change I've noticed isn't the dogs or the gear. It's the drivers. More people seem to be looking at their phones or thinking about something else than paying attention to the road, more than I've ever seen.
I see it from the other side too. When I'm the one driving, I come across people walking their dogs in dark clothes who don't realize I can barely see them. That has been a big lesson for me. I do not want drivers to not be able to see me. Or my dogs. I don't think it's fair to the drivers and I want to do my best to be safe when I am out walking my dogs. So I've learned from what I've seen, and here's what I do.
The Christmas tree theory
Here's what I wear and carry on a dark walk:
- A reflective jacket
- A headlamp, so drivers coming toward us see a light and I still have my hands free. I tilt it up slightly so that when my dogs look up at me, the light doesn't shine in their eyes. Those headlamps are really bright.
- Two flashlights (more on that below)
- A couple of clip-on lights on the back of my jacket, so people can see us from behind too. They bounce around as I walk, which adds a little flashing light behind us.
And for my dogs:
- Reflective vests
- Reflective leashes
- Harnesses with reflective material built in
"I don't walk in the street, but that doesn't always matter if a driver isn't paying attention. Being seen from the front, the back, and the side is the whole point."
Christina, Zakity founder
If your dog won't wear a vest, look for something else that's very reflective. I've seen dogs out at night wearing big glow-in-the-dark rings that hang from their bodies, and you can spot them from far away.
Always bring a backup light
"I always bring two flashlights. One night, the streetlights on our route weren't on, and it was really dark. I can't imagine what that walk would have been like if my flashlight had died."
Christina, Zakity founder
There wasn't much traffic that night either, so I didn't even have car headlights to help. I had my big flashlight, but I usually counted on the streetlights too, and that night I realized I couldn't. Now if it's ever too dark for one light, I can use both.
Before you head out, charge your lights or check the batteries, and bring a backup.
A standard leash and a well-fitted harness
I use a standard 6-foot leash on each dog. If you want a little more control, a 4-foot leash keeps your dog even closer. I never use the long retractable leashes. In the dark, a long leash lets a dog wander out of your light, and the American Kennel Club notes that "thin retractable cords are difficult to see in the dark."
I always walk my dogs in a well-fitted harness with reflective material built in, instead of clipping the leash to their collar, and I have for years. I never want one of my dogs to slip out of a collar in the dark and get lost, and I don't like putting any pull on their necks. It's what works for us.
Keep your dog's ID tag on and readable, too, just in case.
Your dog sees the dark differently than you do
My dogs don't mind the dark at all. As long as they're on a walk and with me, they don't care what time it is.
They may also notice things before you do. According to the American Kennel Club, "dogs can see movement and light in the dark (and other low-light situations) better than humans can." The rabbit under the hedge may be obvious to your dog and invisible to you, which is one more reason a standard leash and a good grip matter in the dark.
Set up your phone before you need it
I make sure my phone is fully charged before every walk. I also have it set up so that if I ever run into trouble, I can just say a word and it calls someone I trust. I don't want to be scrolling through my contacts in the dark with two leashes in my hand.
Most phones have a way to call someone by voice. It's worth taking a few minutes to set it up now, before the dark mornings and evenings start. If you walk alone, let someone know your usual route.
I also bring treats in my fanny pack. I always like to reward good behavior.
Keep your ears free
"I never wear headphones or anything in my ears on a walk. In the dark, your ears do a lot of the work your eyes can't."
Christina, Zakity founder
I want to hear everything around us: an animal rustling in a bush, a car coming up behind us, another dog heading our way.
Picking up after your dog in the dark
Picking up after my dogs is a huge priority for me, dark or not. Here's how I keep from missing it:
- Check your bags before you leave. Before every walk, I look in my Zakity coffee cup dispenser to make sure there are bags in it. You can see the roll through the opening in the lid. If it's running low, I put another roll in my pocket before we go.
- Grab a bag as soon as they start. Because I think it's that important, I make sure when I see them starting to go to the bathroom, I grab a bag and then watch them until they are done so I can immediately go to where they went.
- Keep them close. Because I use a standard leash, my dogs stay close to me. I don't have to go searching in the dark for where they went.
- Use bags with long tie handles. They're easier to knot closed in the dark, with cold hands, and they help keep your fingers farther from the mess. That's why we designed our poop bags with long tie handles. You'll find them here: Zakity poop bags with tie handles.
The dispenser clips right onto the leash with a metal carabiner, so a bag is within reach, and you can pull one out through the lid or the side.
And yes, it still needs to be picked up, even when nobody can see you.
Winter walks and road salt
In winter, even when there's no snow, there can be salt on the sidewalks. On those days my dogs wear protective booties, and I bring a bottle of water so I can rinse off any salt that gets on their feet.
We keep walking all year
It's important to me that my dogs stay fit all year, so we walk as often as we can. On days with cold rain, sleet, or ice, we skip it. Every dog and every person is different, so do what works for you and your dog.
If your walks do get shorter in winter, keep an eye on your dog's nails. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that dogs walked often on pavement may be able to go longer between trims, while less active dogs may need trims more often. Here's how to tell if your dog's nails are too long.
Before the clocks change: look at yourself from the driver's seat
The time change happens every year, so we can get ready for it. If you walk your dog in the dark, mornings included, here's the one thing I'd ask: see what you look like, and what your dog looks like, from the driver's perspective. Could a driver who's a little distracted see you from the front? From behind? From the side?
If the answer is "maybe," remember the Christmas tree theory.
Your dark-walk checklist:
- Reflective jacket or vest for you, plus a headlamp tilted up slightly so it doesn't shine in your dog's eyes
- Two flashlights, charged or with fresh batteries
- Clip-on lights on your back
- Reflective vest, reflective leash, and a well-fitted harness for your dog
- A standard 6-foot leash (or 4-foot), not a retractable
- ID tag on your dog
- Phone charged, with voice calling set up
- No headphones, so you can hear what's around you
- Poop bags checked, plus a spare roll if you're low
- Treats for good behavior
- In winter: booties and a bottle of water for salt
Every Zakity purchase helps more than your own dog, too: 3% of the purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) supports shelter and rescue pets. Do your duty, help a cutie.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my dog visible at night?
Use a reflective vest, a reflective leash, and a harness or collar with reflective material. If your dog won't wear a vest, glow-in-the-dark rings or other very reflective gear can help.
What should I wear to walk my dog in the dark?
A reflective jacket or vest, a headlamp, and clip-on lights on your back so drivers can see you from behind. Carry a flashlight and a backup.
What should I bring on a dog walk at night?
Two lights (charged or with fresh batteries), a charged phone set up for voice calling, poop bags plus a spare roll if you're low, and treats. In winter, booties and a bottle of water for rinsing off road salt can help.
Is it okay to walk your dog at night?
Many people walk their dogs in the dark, especially on fall and winter mornings and evenings. If you do, focus on being seen from every side, bring a backup light, keep your dog close on a standard leash, and keep your ears free so you can hear what's around you. Every dog and every person is different, so do what works for you and your dog.
Should I use a retractable leash at night?
A standard 6-foot leash, or a 4-foot leash for more control, keeps your dog close and in your light. The American Kennel Club notes that thin retractable cords are difficult to see in the dark.
Can dogs see in the dark better than humans?
In low light, yes. The American Kennel Club says dogs can see movement and light in the dark better than humans can, thanks to the many light-sensitive rods in their eyes and a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. Your dog may notice movement on a dark walk well before you do.
When do clocks fall back?
In the United States, daylight saving time ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November, when clocks go back one hour. Hawaii and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) don't observe daylight saving time.
How do I find my dog's poop in the dark?
Grab a bag as soon as your dog starts to go, and watch until they're done so you can walk straight to the spot. A standard leash keeps your dog close, so you're less likely to have to search.
Keep reading
- Why We Designed Our Dog Poop Bags with Long Tie Handles
- How to Tell If Your Dog's Nails Are Too Long
- Dog Nail Care 101: The Quick, Black Nails, Puppies & FAQs
About the Founder: Christina is the founder of Zakity and has upwards of 40 years of hands-on animal care experience. Her work includes serving as a veterinary technician at a large veterinary referral hospital, working in animal shelters and rescue, conducting animal cruelty investigations for a nonprofit animal welfare organization, and educating pet owners on proper animal care, including as an adjunct professor. Christina founded Zakity to give pet owners better tools for caring for their animals confidently at home, and to give back to the shelters and rescues she is deeply passionate about supporting. 3% of the purchase price (excluding shipping and taxes) supports shelter and rescue pets. Learn more at www.zakity.com.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian regarding specific health concerns or conditions affecting your pet.