Running at night with your dog

This article could also have been called running safely when you are a woman with her dog. It seems crazy to have to write an article on this subject but unfortunately if you read this article it is that you are also looking for how to run safely. Especially if you run at night and alone with your dog: inevitably you have asked yourself the question of your safety and the safety of your dog one day or another. Today, I'm going to tell you about the equipment you need to see and be seen for you and your dog and I'm also going to tell you about the equipment you need for your safety.

Running with your dog is absolutely fantastic. Does your furry friend have boundless energy? Canicross or canitrail running are perfect sports for them! A quick reminder: canicross is a dog-powered sport where the owner and their dog are connected by an elastic leash . The dog wears a pulling harness , and the owner wears a canicross belt or a harness, depending on their preference.

It's a canine sport that can be practiced almost all year round. However, this depends on where you live, because once the outside temperature exceeds 20 degrees Celsius, your dog will quickly struggle to cope with the heat, and it's not recommended to plan a session, otherwise, beware of heatstroke.

Living in the south of France, I mostly do canicross in the winter and at the end of the day after work, which means I run most of the time at night. I hate running in the city; I find it incredibly dangerous, so I prefer to run on trails between vineyards or on quiet country roads. It's therefore essential that I'm visible to signal my presence to any vehicles I might encounter and avoid accidents.

I use for that:

• Joggers with reflective stripes

• Trail bag with reflective stripes

• Velcro straps for the arms

• Flashing lights on my backpack

I also need to see clearly. So I chose a frontal. There are dozens of different models and at all prices. Some that can be recharged or others with batteries (to be avoided: thanks to the battery budget and not at all green!). I am rather in favor of putting the price on it. At night, it is better to see clearly and far to identify the danger. There are often several levels of intensity. I won't be able to help you much in his choice. I advise you to read and rummage through the blogs where there are comparisons.

Of course, Musher also needs to be visible. Woof, let's go! Musher is equipped with a dog-powered harness with reflective strips, to which I've attached a light strip , and a light-up collar with an additional light—a light-tracking system . I've also fitted the elastic leash with a light so that any passing vehicles can get an idea of ​​our overall size. I opted for equipment with a steady light, nothing flashing. Like us, I'm quite convinced that flashing lights can be distracting.

You can just as easily decide to run with him off-leash. It's therefore all the more important that you can spot your dog quickly and easily. Equip him with a fluorescent vest so he's visible. These also come in a reflective bandana style . I find them less effective because they're smaller. I've also discovered fluorescent dog coats. There are even fluorescent and light-up walking harnesses now. In short, a whole range of equipment to help you walk or run safely with your dog.

I also share my opinions on many other luminous and reflective products in the article: “ Walking at Night with Your Dog ”. You'll find even more tips there!

When I choose lighting equipment, I pay attention to its waterproof side… Musher is a Labrador who will never, ever avoid a puddle of water. So you need equipment that is resistant and not just to small splashes! I also look at the battery: rechargeable or battery-powered? If it is battery-powered: will I be able to change it myself? I am not a fan of the light gadget that we use one winter and then throw away. A little respect for our planet anyway!

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Running at night is a rather unique feeling: you're more alert to noises and smells. You encounter more wild animals. You have an entire playground to yourself. What freedom! Musher and I both love running at night. Except it's also a time when I feel more vulnerable, more in danger. Oh, I'm not a big fan of wild boars, but they're not what I fear most. What I fear is the lunatic lurking in a bush, watching for prey, who lands you in the grim pages of your local newspaper's crime section… or worse, on a true crime show . I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat in general, it's true… but my fears are unfortunately fueled by gruesome stories of female joggers whose bodies are occasionally discovered by hunters or mushroom pickers… Running alone, when you're a woman, is not without risk. But since fear doesn't prevent danger, I refuse to stay cooped up at home all winter just because it's dark…

My dog ​​is my first line of defense against the lunatics I might encounter. Musher is black and medium-sized; she's a Labrador . At first glance, she might deter some nutcase tempted to bother me, but she's a bit of a softie who says hello to everyone and, once the initial surprise wears off, isn't exactly intimidating. She's not an attack dog and shows no signs of aggression, which is perfect for everyday life but not effective against the truly deranged.

So I decided to run equipped and adopt some good reflexes. I share with you my little tricks for running alone and safely when you are a woman, well as safe as possible… The first is of course to leave with my charged phone in your pocket and my external battery in the trail bag in my back. When you go running or walking with your dog, it's to clear your head, think about something else, relax... but you have to stay connected for your safety! A fall (at night it's more frequent than you'd like...), a damaged pad, any problem: you have to be able to prevent it!

Above all, I advise you not to run with music in your ears when you run with your dog, night or day. So you keep an attentive ear to avoid any danger for both of you, like a car coming up behind you, a boar that will soon come out of the bushes...

For me, one of the best defenses against creepy guys is noise. There are whistles, which I recommend you wear around your neck so you can easily grab them, or even audible alarms that are easy to trigger in case of trouble. There are also apps like Red Panic Button or My Panic Alarm that alert your loved ones in an emergency and allow you to be located. Pepper spray is also a good solution, but in case of a "surprise," you have to be able to get it out of your pocket and aim it carefully so you don't get it in your face... that's starting to be a lot of equipment to use in a panic situation. I always carry a knife on my belt, clearly visible (!). Whether I'm doing canipaddle , canicoeing , or any other sport, I always have it on me and in plain sight. First of all, it's very useful for picking mushrooms, getting out of old fishing nets, spreading a little Nutella on bread when it's snack time, but it also sends a little message to the weirdos I might meet, like, "Don't bother me, I'm not going to let you."

To avoid being spotted, change routes often. It will save someone from waiting for you where you go every Thursday evening… I'm a bit of a counter-example in this area, but of course, the first piece of advice is to avoid running in areas that are too isolated. For my part, I think that there are fewer crazy people per square meter in the middle of the vineyards of my pretty countryside than in a park in the middle of a big city, but I don't have proof of that. thing is certain if you come across someone you don't feel, trust your feelings and don't hesitate to turn around or go home sooner than expected.

In any case, the first thing to do is to tell someone that you went running with your dog. Indicate your route and your running time so that someone can panic if you don't come back with your dog and call the emergency services. I use Strava to track my running performance. This app also allows my friends who are connected to it to follow my outing in real time. So, when I leave, my boyfriend always keeps an eye on the app and therefore knows where I am.

The very last piece of advice I can give you is to join a canicross group… Running with other canicrossers is fantastic and much safer. And if you don't have any groups or clubs near you, find a friend who would be happy to run with you or follow you on their bike with their dog or on their own.

I hope I didn't scare you... I'm more of a fan of night runs with my dog. As such, I can't see the hills and long straights so my running experience is very different from during the day. I love the freedom I have at night, feeling alone in the world is quite exhilarating but you have to equip yourself accordingly so that running at night with your dog remains a pleasure.

👋 Musher's great deal

Dog food, supplies, grooming, vacations… the cost of a dog can quickly add up. So, with Musher, we created the Advantage Card : the very first card that brings together useful discounts to save you money all year round, on everyday expenses or vacations. 💸 See the 34 available discounts