5 Things to Check Before Every Walk

Most walks start fine and stay fine. But the ones that go sideways often trace back to something that was slightly off from the beginning. A quick check before you leave takes thirty seconds and prevents most of the frustrating mid-walk problems.

1. The collar fit

Run two fingers under your dog's collar before you leave. If you cannot fit two fingers, loosen it. If you can fit your whole hand, tighten it. Dogs' necks change more than you expect across seasons, weight shifts, and coat thickness. A collar that was right in winter may be too tight in summer.

2. The harness clips

Give both clips a firm close and a pull. Quality clips should close with a satisfying click and hold firm when you tug. If a clip feels loose, stiff, or like it might not be fully seated, fix it before you leave. A harness that opens mid-walk near a road is a serious problem.

3. The lead connection

Check where the lead connects to the harness or collar. The D ring should be solid and the clip from the lead should sit fully inside it, not at an angle. Leads that are attached correctly at the start rarely have problems. Leads that start slightly off tend to gradually work looser during the walk.

4. Your dog's paws

Thirty seconds to lift each paw and check. You are looking for cuts from yesterday's walk that might not have been visible, cracked pads, or anything embedded between the toes. Cape Town has a lot of broken glass and sharp shells on popular routes. Catching a small cut before a walk is easier than managing a limping dog three kilometres from the car.

5. Water and a bag

A small bottle and a poop bag. Every walk. Cape Town's weather changes fast enough that what starts as a twenty minute walk can turn into an hour without warning. And running out of bags when you need one is universally unpleasant for everyone involved.

Final woof: Thirty seconds before you leave. That is the whole routine. Most great walks start with a check this short.