dogs · walking

Sam and Cheddar go walking in the dark

Sam B
Image description: A square of blue with text that reads in white and red, ‘This whole dark at 5 pm is really messing with me.’

I’ve lived through one week now of the dreaded evening dark that comes with the end of daylight savings time. You know how much I hate November and the dark. I don’t know if it’s full blown SAD but I’m pretty miserable for a usually very happy person.

My complaint against the end of daylight savings is simple. I’m an early riser so it’s always dark when I get up. But dark by end of the workday just about kills. It means I ride home in the dark.

I can’t drive in the dark and so I can feel stuck in the house in the winter. I’ve written about my eyes and their issues here.

But lately I’ve been walking Cheddar in the evening, taking him on longer strolls. Walking him in the dark takes some adjustment on both of our parts. He’s not happy about it. Neither is this dog walker in the piece For the love of dogs make day light savings permanent.

The end of daylight savings doesn’t suit his dogs.

“There is nothing worse than a pack of energetic dogs and not even a moment of daylight to get them some illuminated exercise after work during dark winter months.”

I’m not sure if I’ll try to change my schedule to walk him longer in the mornings. That seems unlikely to succeed. Certainly there’ll be more weekend daytime walking. And for now we’ll try to get used to the dark.

What do you and your dog do once the evening dark arrives?

Sam sad selfie going for a night walk with dog. She’s wearing a red and orange knitted hat, a black scarf, and a big back fluffy coat
Cheddar, the dog, under a streetlight staring at leaves

Published by Sam B

Philosopher, feminist, parent, and cyclist! Co-founder of Fit Is a Feminist Issue, co-author of Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, published by Greystone Books.

6 thoughts on “Sam and Cheddar go walking in the dark”

  1. I put a reflective vest on my dog, Milo, when we are doing city walks at night. I don’t mind being out in the dark in town, but I don’t trust drivers, who go too fast anyway, on potentially slippery roads, to see a dark dog at night. Country walks on nights with a big moon are lovely, and sometimes I wear a headlamp for country walks that last past daylight.

  3. Living in Finland and owning two very energetic dogs means walking, running, biking or skiing in the dark on a daily basis from late October til mid March.

    Reflective vests for both dogs and people, Orbilocs, reflective leashes and a decent head torch are a must. But even with these, it takes time every single year to get adjusted to the fact that it is pitch dark, especially in the country with no streetlights.

    But once you get adjusted, nothing beats a high tempo canicross run or a bikejor ride in the dark woods! If you ask me, it’s by far the best way to beat SAD.

  4. I walk my dogs in the morning in the dark… and again at night in the dark. They just seem happy to get out and sniff around. My little guy Duncan is a bit leash aggressive when it comes to other dogs (though we are working on it) so it is actually a lot easier to walk in the dark. Plus I love the time. It’s quiet in the world for a bit. I do wear a reflective vest though, safety is sexy! 😀

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