In this blog I'm going to share my top 10 essential items, that I have in my Dog Walking Bag. You could even use this blog as a mini check list for your own dog walking bag, to see what items from my top 10 you have in your bag.
The Top 10 Essential Items for your Dog Walking Bag
Number 1 - The BAG! We can't put items in our dog walking bag, unless we have a bag! I have a Barking Bag Dog Walking Bag, which has many useful sections in it, including a section for dispensing poo bags, mesh pockets on the side for water bottles/drinks, a big main compartment for toys, leads, spare poo bags, treats, keys, phones and more.
Number 2 - Poo Bags! Every dog owner will know that Poo Bags are an absolute ESSENTIAL in our lives! After being a dog owner for over 10 years and a professional dog walker for the past 3 years, I get through a fair amount of poo bags. There's lots on the market and it can be confusing as to which ones to use. I've recently made the switch to Adios Plastic Poo Bags, and I can highly recommend them.
Number 3 - Spare Lead(s). Now not everyone would think about carrying a spare lead or two, but you never know when you might need one. Your own lead could break, or you might come across a lost/stray dog, that you're able to secure safely with your spare lead. So a spare lead or two can come in really handy!
Number 4 - Dog First Aid Kit. As a professional dog walker, I went on a in person (back in 2018), Dog First Aid course with the Dog First Aid Franchise, and learnt all about how to help dog(s) in emergencies, and at the end of the course I was able to purchase my own Dog First Aid Kits. I carry these with me at all times, because you never know when a dog might get into trouble or gain an injury!
Number 5 - Treats! Every dog loves treats, and it's great if you're training with your dog to have treats, as it helps to reinforce the positive behaviours you want from your dog. I use a mix of treats, to keep it fresh for the dogs I work with (and my own dogs), and also not every dog likes one type/brand of treats, so it's good to have a mixture of treats. My current go to Dog Treats are JR Pure Pate and Nature Diet Semi-moist Treats.
Number 6 - Toys. Most dogs enjoy playing with toys, whether that be a game of fetch with a ball or frisbee, a game of chase with a fluffy chaser toy, or a game of tug-of-war with a tuggy toy. My own dogs love a game of fetch or tug-of-war, and I use a mix of rubber balls (NOT tennis balls), frisbee, and fleece tuggies which I actually make and you can buy here.
Number 7 - The Doo-Kee! The Doo-Kee is a new product on the dog market, and it's a poo bag holder, that simply clips on to your lead/bag, so you can be hands free of dog poop! I've recently had mine arrive, and I have to say they are great and now couldn't imagine life without one. It's annoying when you're out on a walk and there's no bins near by, so the Doo-Kee carries your dog's poo bag for you!
Number 8 - Water Bowl and Water. Definitely an essential in my opinion. No matter what the weather, it's always a good idea to have a collapsible water bowl for your dog(s) and some water to go in it. You could use bottled water, or tap water in one of your own bottles.
Number 9 - Hand Sanitizer/Wipes. Not everyone will carry hand sanitizer/wipes in their dog walking bags, and that's personal choice. I'm not including hand sanitizer/wipes because of COVID, but what happens if you put your hand in poo when you're picking it up... because let's face it, it will happen at some point!
Number 10 - Dog Whistle/Clicker. Having a whistle or a clicker is good, especially if you've trained your dog to respond to either one of them. I use both with my own dogs and clients dogs. Different dogs have different whistle commands/calls so trying to remember them all, can be hard at times, but the whistle/clicker can be very handy at times, so it's always useful to have a dog whistle/clicker in your bag!
Above you can see all of my Top 10 Essential Items I carry in my Dog Walking Bag with me. I'd love to know what you carry in your Dog Walking Bag, so why not let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading, Emily - Emily's Canine Crew.
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