By six in the evening it is already dark in autumn, and the usual evening walk suddenly takes place at night. What is merely unfamiliar for us humans quickly becomes a safety risk for dogs: a dark brown or black dog on an unlit road is practically invisible to drivers. In this article we show you how to make your dog visible in the dark and what really matters when it comes to lights and reflectors.
Why visibility in the dark matters so much
Dogs are small and move close to the ground, exactly where headlights reach last. On top of that, many dogs have dark coats that reflect hardly any light. A driver travelling at 50 km/h covers around 14 metres per second. If the dog is spotted late, the braking distance is often no longer enough.
Roads are not the only danger. Cyclists and joggers on dark neighbourhood paths get a fright when a dog suddenly appears in front of them, and when your dog is off the lead on a field track you lose sight of him in the dusk faster than you would like. Visibility therefore does more than prevent accidents, it also gives you back control: you can see where your dog is at any moment.
The easiest starting point: an LED tag on the collar
The simplest solution is a small light attached directly to the collar. Our GlowFur LED tag is a silicone tag that clips onto any collar or harness. It offers three light modes, from flashing to steady light, and runs on a replaceable CR2032 button cell. It is available in five colours: pink, green, orange, blue and red.
Our Vico wears his GlowFur in pink, and the pink glow can be spotted from a long way off on the evening walk through the neighbourhood. The practical part: the tag simply stays on the collar and is switched on with the press of a button before the walk. Switch it off again afterwards to save the battery.
Even more visibility: the light-up collar
A tag lights up a single point. If you want your dog to be visible from all sides, a light-up collar is the answer. The LED LightCollar glows all the way around the neck and so makes the dog's silhouette recognisable, no matter which direction someone approaches from. It charges via micro USB, so you do not need a battery. The collar can also be cut to your dog's neck size and sits exactly as it should.
Our recommendation for dark autumn and winter evenings: combine both. The light-up collar makes the dog's shape visible, the tag adds a bright point that can still be seen when the dog is half hidden behind a hedge. You will find more products for dark days in our Visible in the dark collection.
Reflective or illuminated: which is better?
Reflective elements on the harness, lead or coat are useful, but they have a catch: they only work when light falls on them, for example from car headlights. On an unlit field track with no light source at all, a dog wearing only reflectors stays dark. Active LED lighting, on the other hand, shines under its own power and is visible in every situation.
The best solution is therefore the combination: an active light on the dog, reflective elements on the lead and gear, and ideally something bright or reflective on you as well. Remember that you as the owner need to be seen too, especially when you cross the road.
More tips for the evening walk
Besides lighting, a few simple habits help keep the walk in the dark relaxed. Choose familiar routes where you know the bends, turn-offs and obstacles. Put your dog on the lead at spots with poor visibility and along roads, even if he responds reliably during the day: in the dark your dog perceives stimuli differently, and wildlife is particularly active at dusk. A head torch leaves your hands free for the lead and poo bags. And check the light on your dog briefly before every walk, before you set off, rather than discovering on the way that the battery is flat.
If you are out for longer at the weekend, it is worth taking a look at our packing list for autumn hikes with your dog, where visibility also plays an important role.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reflective collar enough?
A reflective collar is better than nothing, but it only works when a light source falls on it. On unlit paths without traffic it is ineffective. An actively glowing LED light is therefore the more reliable choice, and the ideal is a combination of both.
Does the light bother my dog?
Most dogs completely ignore a light on their collar after a short while. The tag shines outwards, not into the dog's eyes. If your dog reacts sensitively, get him used to it step by step: first let him wear it briefly at home, then on the walk.
From when should my dog wear a light?
As a rule of thumb: as soon as you yourself struggle to make out details in your surroundings, you and your dog are far less visible to others. In Switzerland, in autumn and winter, that often already applies to the walk after work. The light is also worth using in fog and heavy rain, even during the day.
That way the evening walk stays safe even in the dark season, for your dog, for you and for everyone you meet along the way. Vico wishes you good visibility and an enjoyable walk.
