Tuesday 31 March 2015

Dog walking in Dubai

Dog walking in Dubai




So far Bob and I can walk where we like, when we like as long as we don’t go on the beach or in shops. Bob must stay on the lead at all times.

Bob is from South Africa, he is a veld dog, he lived with us on a golf estate where there was little traffic and what there was, was very slow. We also took him to nature reserves, where again there was no traffic and we could let him off the lead.

Bob is very unsettled, not just with the traffic but the sights, scents and sounds. He’s off like a blood hound everytime we leave the front gate, we cross the main roads and he’s jumping out of his skin at the engine noises of V8’s and supercars, mind you it unsettles me a bit when one revs up alongside.

As long as I take a few treats with me, reassure him, order him to sit and keep him on a very short leash, we’re managing things, however we’re not as successful with air brakes on the bin lorries and are avoiding going out at certain times as I’m fed up of being dragged into hedgerows as Bob runs for his life.


It’s winter time here and I’m waking Bob early in the morning and early in the evening as even now it’s far to hot to walk out in the day time. I can imagine in the height of summer Bob and I will only be outside when it is dark.

10 comments:

  1. Oh I so know that feeling of being dragged. But we found a solution. A halter and our dogs love it. I was going to do a post but you need one so I will share it with you now. They go under the 'armpits' not around the muzzle and our dogs love them because it means walkies but it also keeps them from pulling too much. We can put them on long leads because of it. Here's the link http://sporn.com/training/sporn-halter/

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    1. that looks fab, thanks for sharing. We've tried a harness but he just breaks free and it's so difficult to put on a large dog when he doesn't like it

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  2. Constance's dog Bear is still not used to the city, having lived in a small town with her. Cars and buses scare him when we are walking on the main road. He is getting better, I think it will just take time for him to get used to all the noises. Thankfully he loves the dog park which I try to go each day.

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    1. Bob is getting better, he's discovered there's a stray cat almost under every single car so he's focusing on that

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  3. Ash the Dog says - Oh No! I hope Bob gets over his fears soon. It's horrible when strange noises and sights freak us out. It's good that he's got you to reassure him and make sure he's safe. #animaltales

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  4. Hi there, I'm here from #animaltales and am looking forward to reading about your life in Dubai. The heat must be so hard for pets (and humans!). Bob is stunning! I hope he acclimates as time goes on...

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    1. we take him out every evening around 9pm as it's too hot for us to walk in the day also

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  5. Oooh - so many changes for Bob, and you. I hope he can over come his fears and what a pity you can't let him run free on his walks. Although I am guessing that as Dubai heats up over the summer he'll be happy just flopping in the shade.
    Many thanks for adding Bob's story to #AnimalTales

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    1. he's already happy just to sleep all day, we keep the air con on in the house when we go out for him, the garden is a reasonable size, but there's no grass for him to lie in just sand and tiles

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