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Back to the Dark Ages – Don’t you love how you’re tooling along, enjoying the daylight coming earlier and earlier, and making your morning walk, WAY more comfortable and then WHAM, some archaic law throws you back into the Dark?

Yeah, me neither.

Time constraints and DADO’s (Dumb Ass Dog Owners) in my neighbor compel me to walk my dogs early. Sampson and I are usually out by 5:45 am, and then Delilah and I about 20 to 25 minutes later. I’ve been getting spoiled with daylight accompanying us on our walks, when suddenly, Daylight Savings Time throws us back into the dark.

While the dogs need their walks, I need to make sure we are all safe while doing so. In order to make sure we are safe, there are some products I love that make me feel better walking in the dark.

SEE and BE SEEN, that’s my motto.

Baby let your light shine. Lights are super important to me. They allow us to see and be seen. For myself, I have two different lights. One on my head and one on my wrist. The headlight ‘looks’ where I look, plus allows people to see my face. Siriusly, if some dumb fuck is going to hit me, I want to make sure that son-of-a-bitch sees the terror on my face, and I want that face to stay with them until I can kick their ass when they get to the other side. Ya know?

I currently have two different head lights. For those super cold days, I wear this hat. (You can see it in the below photo, without clicking on the Amazon link.) Besides helping light my walk, it also keeps my head warm.

For those days where a winter hat is too warm, I prefer a ball cap. I have a light that clips to the brim of my ball cap.

I did mention the wrist light, yes?  The one thing I love about the wrist light, is it shines on my dog.

Because it’s on my ‘leash’ hand, the light naturally extends to where my hand is pointing.

I can’t tell you how helpful this is when it comes time to pick up after my dog.  I’ve tried using the light on the cell phone and that just takes way more coordination than I’m capable of at 6:00 am.  The wrist light I have, has high and low, as well as flash (for emergencies) and a watch, and compass. It’s right handy just for taking the dogs out at night too. (Check the reviews on these lights, because I’m not totally in love with the one I chose.)

I also like the dogs to have their own light. We are currently using PUPLIGHT II . I love this light for four reasons. 1) The collar is adjustable. 2) It takes Triple A batteries. 3) The light doesn’t typically turn off, like other lights I’ve used. 4) The collar has a reflective stripe (you can just see the gray in the collar in this photo).

Reflections on walking. One of the other products I use during our ‘dark’ walks,  is reflective clothing.

Currently, I’m using a standard, “workman’s” vest that I picked up at my local Wal-Mart. It’s effective in letting driver’s see me, but personally, I’d like some other features on it. Such as a deep, water-proof pocket for treats, and another large pocket that I’d be comfortable placing a ‘filled’ bag in. I have seen some nice fluorescent yellow jackets that would probably work, but I like the vest, for the warmer months, when I don’t want to wear a jacket.

For the dogs, they do have that reflective lighted collar. (There are also unlighted reflective collars and leashes.) I do have a reflective vest that I use for them in the woods during hunting season. (To make sure they aren’t mistaken for a ‘hunted’ animal.)

There are also reflective paw bands.

With these fabulous walking tools, I don’t hesitate to step outside at what should actually be 4:30 in the morning.

Whatever tools you use for walking, take steps to make sure you and your dog(s) are safe.