Did you catch my recent posts about adopting a dog? In case you didn’t know, we adopted a 12-year-old beagle in January. Olivia has been desperate for a dog for the longest time. Her dad and his mum have a dog each, and so does one of my sisters. But I was reluctant and unsure if I was ready for the commitment. However, I agreed to let Olivia check out local adoption websites as we would go down the rescue route rather than the puppy one.

Then we came across Tegan on Dogs Trust, and she was perfect for us. Luckily she liked us too, and we brought her home pretty quickly. Since then, as you can imagine, the bulk of Tegan’s care has fallen to me, and I do most of the walks, cleaning and general day to day care of Tegan while Olivia does meal times as she prefers to eat when Olivia does her food as I tend to sneak nasty medication in her food!

Luckily, we live in an area with many beautiful places to walk dogs. With Tegan being reactive to other dogs, we are careful where we walk and how close we get to other dogs. But lately, we seem to have found our stride and are managing to take her to some great locations while keeping the risk of close contact with other dogs to a minimum. That’s not to say we avoid all other dogs altogether; we choose quieter areas where we know fewer dogs will be off lead.

It has also given me some excuse to become a full-on dog-mum. By this, I mean getting all the excellent dog accessories and gear (all the gear, no idea, my sister likes to tell me, and she’s not wrong). Much like a baby, dogs can need a few items, especially when you are out on longer walks or the weather is warmer.

So I thought I would together with a post of some accessories you need as a dog mum for those long walks (3 per day for us) to enable you to have everything you need when out and about.

Dog Walking Bag

I know that you can use any bag for dog walking, and I have tried a few of the bags I currently own; however, I was lured in by the cute dog walking bags from Cocopup London. Just a small crossbody bag, there are clips on the customisable straps for treat bags and poop bag holders. You can even get holders for used poop bags if you aren’t close to a bin!

I chose a black bag with a pink dalmatian strap. The bag comes with a treat pouch and has a zipped small pocket on the outside, the main compartment zip and a small zipped interior pocket. Poop bags go inside the main bag; there is a small pouch on the side for poop bags so you can thread them through the side of the bag. No additional poop bag holders required. You can get two phones, my car keys, tissues/kitchen roll and likely a collapsible bowl. This is perfect for those days when it is too warm to take a coat out, but you don’t have pockets. You will likely need a bigger bag for longer walks where you need to take water and food. But for general walks, this bag is perfect. And the strap is super long, meaning it sits at the right place on your body without being uncomfortable. So pleased I ordered one.

Lightweight Coat

As the weather gets warmer, it isn’t always realistic to take a big coat, especially if rain is forecast (i.e. every other day lately). This lightweight rain jacket from Lighthouse is perfect for when there is a slight chill in the air and the threat of showers. I’m not sure it will give me much protection against torrential downpours (does anything really) as I’ve not been out in them in this coat yet. Still, for someone likely to strip off coats even in the depths of winter during long walks, this is easy to wear and easy to carry for when I get too hot (thanks, peri-menopause, much appreciated!)

Comfortable Clothing

You have to be comfy when walking for long periods, or actually standing around waiting for the beagle sniffing to stop (BTW it doesn’t!). You don’t want to be constantly fidgeting when chasing a dog doing zoomies on the beach! So I tend to opt for some comfy jeggings, slip-on trainers and a nice thin top. I love how comfortable this top from Lighthouse is, and the long sleeves make it perfect to wear with or without a coat in different weather conditions (see above!)

I do think I need a “beagle mum” top to complete my transformation.

Comfy Shoes

I get the worst foot pain with my Fibromyalgia, so I have long since forgone uncomfortable shoes and stick to trainers or casual shoes for added comfort. I tend to shop with Simply Be as I have extra wide feet, and they have some comfy, wide shoes and trainers which are perfect for dog walks. Sadly, I keep wearing my good shoes when we hit the beach, so they’re currently in a sorry state.

Dog Accessories

OK, so you do need a few bits for your dog, especially for long walks. Mostly a water bottle and a way for dogs to drink the water. Tegan isn’t fussed about the bottles with a container attached. Currently, we take a small metal bowl and a bottle of water, and she will only drink when back in the car. Hopefully, this will change in the future. 

Poop bags and then more bags and then cleaning wipes or hand gel if it is a messy cleanup. It happens to the best of us! Let’s not forget toys, balls and treats if required. Tegan isn’t fussed on any toys or balls or even treats when out, but hopefully, when she relaxes more on walks, she will take a treat or two.

What have I missed? Dog walking tips, accessories and anything dog-related in the comments will be greatly appreciated.