We’ve all seen them, and maybe we’ve been them, too: the people who multitask and walk their dogs on the side. Sometimes we do it ourselves. Often, that means checking work emails or the latest news on your smartphone while walking your dog.
Yes, we are all very busy people. But do we need to call while walking the dog?
No. It’s pretty dangerous. Here are five reasons why you should take your eyes off your phone screen while walking your dog.
You need to be aware of your surroundings.
Even if you’re not with your dog, it’s essential to be aware of your surroundings when walking in public. There’s nothing more embarrassing or annoying than bumping into someone or stepping in a big pile of dog poop on your daily walk.
You are paying too much attention to your phone rather than your surroundings while walking is also a safety hazard.
When people are distracted by their smartphones, they completely ignore the lights and walk into traffic.
Don’t put yourself or your dog in that kind of danger. Walk your dog correctly and leave your phone in your pocket or at home. Additionally, consider investing in dog health insurance. This can protect your dog in case of an accident, injury, or illness. It can also give you peace of mind while taking your furry friend out for walks.
Your dog could pick up something dangerous.
If you’re busy catching up on your favorite Twitter comedian’s latest rant, you may be too distracted to notice the dog getting into that discarded fast food bag or getting too close to another dog’s feces.
Discarded food can be toxic and full of bacteria, or it may contain dangerous things like bones that can break into pieces and hurt your dog. Animal feces can harbor parasites and spread disease.
Your dog could be in an avoidable fight.
Your dog may not be aggressive, but other dogs in your daily dog walking path may be.
Keeping yourself 100% presentable will help avoid a fight your pup might get into with another dog or an unsuspecting child who runs into pet your dog without permission.
Your dog may be telling you something.
If you are playing Facebook on your smartphone, you will not notice your dog panting too hard or limping with one paw.
Choose the best collar before your next dog walk. This is especially important in hot weather or on long walks. You don’t want your dog to become severely dehydrated, or worse, get heatstroke on a warm summer walk.
Your dog appreciates your attention.
We all lead busy, hectic lives. It’s easy to get caught up in it all instead of giving our dogs the one-on-one attention they need and deserve.
There is little that can wait for a 15-minute dog walk so you can spend quality time with your pup without interruptions. If needed, leave your phone at home the next time you take your dog out for a walk.
Trust me, they’ll appreciate it.
Do you use your cell phone when you walk your dog? Do you need to break the habit? Tell us why or why not in the comments.