Feb 11

That Heart-Stopping Moment: A Dog, A Road, and A Lesson Learned

The other day, Mango and I were on our way to agility when I had one of those heart-stopping moments that remind you just how quickly things can go wrong.

I was driving down a residential road, taking it slow as I navigated past parked cars, when I saw a man walking his dog on the pavement. Nothing unusual there. Then, he spotted someone he knew in a car on the opposite side of the road and turned to chat.

And that’s when it happened.

His dog stepped right off the pavement and into the road. In front of me.

My heart was in my throat.

I was lucky—really lucky. I was already going slowly, and there was no oncoming traffic, so I managed to swerve just in time. Had there been another car coming, or had I been driving any faster, I don’t know if I would have been able to stop in time.

Even at my low speed, the physical damage to the dog might have been minimal, but emotionally, for everyone involved, it would have been devastating.

It was a horrible reminder of just how easily these situations can unfold. I see so many people walking their dogs on extendable leads along pavements, and it makes me feel sick to think about what could happen if their dog got distracted and suddenly darted into the road. With the length of those leads, owners wouldn’t stand a chance of stopping them.

In this case, the dog was on a normal lead, but the owner still wasn’t prepared for their dog to step into the road.

Keeping Dogs Safe on Walks Near Roads

Since that close call, I’ve been thinking a lot about road safety when walking dogs. I’ve always had a habit of keeping my dogs on the side furthest from the road, with their lead short enough that they can’t reach the edge of the pavement. But it’s something I’d urge every dog owner to consider.

Here are some simple steps to help keep dogs safe when walking near roads:

1️⃣ Keep your dog on the side furthest from traffic. This creates a buffer zone between them and the road.

2️⃣ Shorten the lead near roads. Even a standard lead can be too long if a dog decides to step off the pavement unexpectedly. Keep it short enough that they can’t reach the curb.

3️⃣ Avoid extendable leads near traffic. These give dogs too much freedom, and if they suddenly run into the road, you’ll have little to no control.

4️⃣ Stay alert to potential distractions. Other dogs, cats, people they know—anything could cause your dog to move suddenly. Anticipate what might grab their attention.

5️⃣ Teach a solid “wait” at curbs. Training your dog to pause and check in with you before crossing a road is a great habit to build.

6️⃣ Hold the lead securely. It sounds obvious, but I’ve seen people walking their dogs while distracted—on their phones, holding coffee, not fully engaged. If something unexpected happens, you need both hands free to react quickly.
That moment with the dog stepping into the road will stick with me for a long time. It was sheer luck that nothing awful happened. But luck isn’t something we should rely on when it comes to our dogs’ safety. A few small adjustments can make all the difference.

Let’s keep our dogs safe. Be aware, be prepared, and always stay one step ahead.

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