Give us our daily dog walk
The number of pets increased by 3.2 million during lockdown. Even though plenty of those were cats, gerbils, etc, that’s still a lot of dogs in the UK – 12 million, give or take. That’s roughly three times the population of New Zealand. With responsible dog ownership come walks. And with walks, the need for a fully functioning coat. Never mind military, checks, capes and so on. The Dog Walking Coat looks set to sweep all other considerations before it.
What makes a good dogwalking coat? Something warm, obviously, for when you’re standing around chatting to all the other dog owners. In my experience the new ones are a particularly chatty bunch.
But not too heavy. Waterproofing is a must. So are a hood, wipe-down fabrics and deep pockets for all the treats, poo bags and motivational toys. I like something that can be easily layered. If it’s not raining, a long, sleeveless gilet can work. And if you’re going on country walks, and recall is still a work in progress, you’re going to need something bramble proof for when your dog disappears into a hedge. I’ve got a waxed Barbour that’s 25 years old. It’s a bit heavy, to be honest, and on the many days when it’s not raining, I prefer my shorter, padded Barbour jacket
If you’re walking your dog properly, so I’ve learnt, you’ll be travelling at different speeds, rather than trying to set a new land record, often loitering at an almost standstill while they noodle around. At last week’s puppy class the trainer told us that 10 minutes sniffing is as mentally stimulating as a 40minute hike. She also said that if your dog seems hyper active at night and races around manically – commonly known as the zoomies – another long walk might not necessarily be conducive to winding them down, but rather contribute to turning them into super athletes.
At this point, what’s needed is brain games – sniffing puzzles and the like – which will properly tire them out. Cue more standing around, possibly in the garden if it’s night time. So something soft and squishy that will fold up into a basket by the back door might be handy. Padded coats are an obvious solution and all the ones featured here are filled with either recycled down, polyester or silk – a more ethical and sustainable choice than plucking yet more poor birds.