Neither stylish nor beautiful- what are you (dog) walking essentials?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

Our long-awaited Labrador, Percy La Poubelle arrives next week and, while we live rurally and love walking, this means we are going to be spending much more time trudging the fields and tracks.

What are your (dog) walking essential clothing items, come rain or sun?

Decent, breathable waterproof jackets for all seasons. I have a longish, warm padded one from Decathlon, a summer-weight one that I think is Regatta and a Craghoppers three-in-one with an inner fleece that zips out. Craghoppers also do waterproof trousers that are actually proper trousers, rather than awful rustly over-trousers.

Comfortable waterproof shoes/boots/wellies - my current favourites are a pair of Gore-tex Converse, because I hate having hot feet but most of my doggy friends wear proper walking boots. You'll need proper wellies for really wet weather though.

A small waterproof cross-body bag (mine's from that epitome of style, the National Trust gift shop) for a water bottle, phone, spare poo-bags, ball etc.

Seasalt Janelle coat, muck boots and Hunter cross body bag, (can be worn as a bum bag if the mood takes you), fingerless gloves (have a lovely pair from Celtic & Co) makes dishing out training treats easier and dealing with poo bags.

You can be warm and dry but I’m not sure I would ever say I go out looking particularly stylish

I hadn't thought of a bag. That is exactly the sort of thing I need to think about. I normally just have my phone in one pocket and my water in another. It'll also mean my coat pockets don't stink of sprats!

Thank you :)

This is the bag I use. It's small but it fits all I need for a dog walk.

I have the Seasalt Janelle coat as well. It's warm and keeps me dry. The pockets are big enough for keys,phone and poo bags. I have a pair of Ecco boots from a couple of years ago which are Goretex, and that seems to be all I need.

Definitely not stylish, though,

I’ve got a treat bag from Amazon that has a moan compartment for treats, a pocket at the back for poo bags and another at the front for phone/keys etc. You can wear it as a shoulder bag/cross body bag, bum bag or clip to your belt/trousers.

I’ve got three different coats - a thin rain jacket, a warmer waterproof coat and a down jacket. I like The North Face and Jack Wolfskin.

I also love my neoprene lined Aigle Parcour wellies. So warm and comfortable. I wear them most days once it starts getting muddy as we do a lot of walks in fields/woods. I also have a pair of Berghaus walking boots for longer hikes.

Warm hat and gloves also worth having.

I have a very different lifestyle to you - I’m in central London.... but I also have a dog and I spend a lot of time walking in our parks and along the river. I would definitely recommend a good backpack. You can underestimate how much dog stuff you might end up taking out with you. Whilst I can just take my dog for a walk with only my keys and poo bags in my pockets, if it’s hot I take water for me and her, if she’s got lots of energy I take a football to kick around, if we’re going somewhere like the pub I might take a blanket. In in-between weathers or if it’s rainy I might take a coat for the dog etc.

Although I’d also say. Are you getting a puppy? If so you won’t be going on long walks for a while (you have to be careful not to over exercise them) so you have plenty of time to build up all your dog walking gear!

I have 2 North Face jackets, one is just a raincoat for when it isn't cold, wellingtons, a cross body bag for phone, treats, pooh bags. Water if you are going for a long walk.

Big down jacket! For when it’s 6am dark and freezing, I call it my dog walking dressing gown. Must have a hood and high neck.

Someone with a sense of humour named that puppy :)

OP if you are getting a puppy - as sasuma mentioned above - the recommendation is 5 minutes walk per month of age. So a 3 month old puppy can walk for 15 minutes, twice a day. But that's only about walks, they can run, chase a ball etc as much as they want. The difference is between you setting the pace and them doing what they want apparently. Saying that I have a golden retriever so not sure if the advice is slightly different for labs.

My dog walking gear consists of leggings and a hoodies permanently covered in dog hair and wellies (but i live rural so don't really see anyone on walks!)

Good waterproof walking boots are a must. Nice waterproof coat, i have a few from Trespass. For days when it's absolutely hammering it down i have a very unstylish but tremendously practical waxes waterproof hat, it is great for keeping the rain off my face and glasses

Aigle parcours short wellies. ( Short are much lighter) You will feint at the price but mine have been going 5 years. My hunters lasted 2. Have fun with the puppy!

My much loved puffa jacket, the cheapest trousers I can find and the cheapest wellies (or trainers if it’s dry) I can find.
Gloves if it’s particularly cold.
I am not at all stylish

Oh also, I had Aigle parcours.
They broke within the year.
It was the Aigles that finished me off and made me vow never to be tricked into buying expensive things again.

Barbour and comfy harness. Or do you mean for you?

I like my Merrells, good grip in mud and wet and feet stay warm and dry.

Warm jacket and a waterproof one, hat, ear muffs, karrimor walking shoes (waterproof), gloves, warm thick socks.

I believe that advice on walking limits has been debunked.

irishmumSW19 oh really? It’s been 8 years since I had a puppy so I’m not up to date on advice any more!

Its true that’s its been largely debunked.
Hip dysplasia is now thought to be more heavily linked to being overweight, particularly in puppyhood and I would argue too long nails which we know mess up posture and cause arthritis.
However.
Debunked or not, I would still always stick to it just incase.
No pup ever died from a shorter walks after all.