Fall Walk Safety: Lucy's 4 Habits

Fall is Lucy’s favorite season to be outside, and it’s easy to see why. The air smells like a thousand new things, the leaves make a satisfying crunch, and every yard has a fresh squirrel situation to monitor. It’s also the season when a few extra habits make walks a lot safer, so these are the four we’ve settled on.

1. Mind the ground

Fall is when the ground gets interesting for a dog. Acorns drop, mushrooms pop up in damp spots, and leaf piles hide whatever was there before the leaves landed. Most of it is harmless. A few things aren’t.

Acorns contain tannins that can upset a dog’s stomach, and they can cause an obstruction if swallowed. Wild mushrooms are the bigger worry: some are toxic, and they tend to show up when the weather turns cool and damp. The ASPCA’s guide to mushroom toxicosis is worth a read before your next woods walk, and Vetstreet’s list of fall dangers for pets covers acorns and a few other seasonal hazards.

The habit that helps most is a solid “leave it.” If your dog does eat a wild mushroom, call your vet right away and take a photo or a sample of the mushroom with you if you can safely do so.

2. Be seen

The clocks haven’t even changed yet, and the evening light is already getting short. That means more walks happen in dusk or the dark, when drivers have less time to spot a dog and her person.

A clip-on light on the collar, a reflective leash, or a light-colored jacket for the human all help. Lucy’s black coat is gorgeous and nearly invisible after sunset, so we treat a collar light as part of the evening routine, not an extra.

3. Check for ticks

Here’s the one that surprises people: cooler weather doesn’t end tick season. Ticks are active any time temperatures are above freezing, and adult deer ticks (the ones that can carry Lyme disease) are actually most active in fall. VCA Animal Hospitals explains why a cold snap isn’t a reliable off switch, and the Companion Animal Parasite Council supports year-round prevention.

After any walk through woods, brush, or tall grass, run your hands over her ears, between her toes, under her collar, and along her belly. It takes a minute, and it’s much easier to catch a tick early.

4. Cozy down time

The best part of a fall walk is what happens when it’s over. We wipe off muddy paws, towel off her coat if it’s damp, and then Lucy picks a spot and goes completely limp. A warm, supportive bed makes that stretch of the day better, and it’s a nice reward for a dog who did a lot of sniffing and a lot of squirrel patrol.

Lucy’s fall walk gear

(Quick disclosure: the links below are Amazon affiliate links. If you shop through them, Lucy earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

For the tick check: K9 Advantix II, Large Dog: flea and tick prevention that keeps working after the weather cools off. As always, check with your vet about the right option for your dog.

For the cozy part: The Nap Bed: Lucy’s go-to spot for the post-walk collapse.

Lucy’s official position

She would like it on record that she was perfectly capable of walking safely the whole time. She would also like the treat she got for sitting still during the tick check.

Related: The Creek at the Cabin · The Summer-to-Fall Itch · See Lucy’s Favorite Things

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