Exercising your dog at night is a preference for some and the only option for others. Some people get home from work so late that the only time they have to exercise their dog is after dark. And some people just prefer the peace and quiet of night.

Needless to say, exercising at night can be quite dangerous, even with your dog by your side. Here are some tips to keep in mind when exercising your dog at night.

Use a Reflective Collar or Harness

You’d be surprised at how easy it is not to see a person, much less a dog, in the dark. Cars and cyclists might not see your dog if it runs across the road. And should your dog run off, even you likely won’t be able to see it at night.

It’s always good to stay safe and use a reflective dog collar or harness to make your dog stand out to approaching cars. If you don’t want to buy a reflective dog collar or harness, you can even just make one yourself by using velcro to attach reflectors to your dog’s regular collar.

Get a hand-held alarm

You can get small hand held beepers and alarms that fit into the palm of your hand. It’s always a good idea to carry such an alarm at night. That way, if someone with bad intentions attacks you or your dog your alarm will give you the element of surprise and possibly scare them away.

Bring a Friend

If you have a friend in the neighborhood or know someone who also exercises their dog at night, exercise together. There’s safety in numbers.

The good thing about being out at night with your dog is that it’s probably safer than being out at night alone.