The Hidden Dangers of Dog Walks: Protecting Your Dog from Off-Leash Attacks

Walking your dog should be a peaceful experience, but what if an off-leash dog suddenly charges at you? Unfortunately, this situation is more common than you might think—and the difference between a safe outcome and a tragedy can come down to the right leash and collar.

Both dogs are walking on a harness with a double lead and a choke collar as a safety back up.

At See Spot Stay, we specialize in safe, private dog walks in West Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills, using secure, escape-proof safety collars with a special leash to protect your pet in emergencies. If your dog is trained to walk correctly and you don't feel you need to use a choke collar, your dog can still slip out of a regular collar or harness.

The two recent incidents below highlight why proper safety gear is critical.

Tragic Loss: When a Loose Collar Leads to Disaster

A new dog owner was out for walk when an off-leash dog aggressively charged. In the chaos of defending her dog, the panicked pup slipped out of its standard collar and bolted in fear. Tragically, the dog ran two blocks before darting into traffic, where it was hit by a car. The dog was rushed to an ER and it was determined that the dogs back was broken from the hit...they were quoted $20,000 for surgery offering no guarantee of recovery, the devastated owner had to make the heartbreaking decision to put her dog to sleep.

This tragedy could have been prevented with a proper safety collar and leash designed to prevent escape during moments of panic.

A Safe Escape: How the Right Equipment Saved a Dog’s Life

Grace's stitches and drain after being attacked by a dog that got loose.

In a second frightening incident, another dog owner faced a similar situation when an off-leash dog ran out of it's home and attacked her small dog. However, because she was using a safety collar, she was able to quickly lift her dog off the ground to the safety of her arms before more serious harm occurred. Though Grace suffered a bite requiring stitches, she was saved from running off in fear or suffering fatal injuries. When faced with an emergency, her owner was able to lift Gracie into her arms quickly, keeping her safe. She truly believes that using the right collar saved her dog’s life.

Gracie at home recovering from the hospital visit after her dog attack.

Grace is a rescue dog that was saved from living on the street, she is nervous in new situations and would likely run if she slipped out of her collar. When I first met Grace, I gave her mom a safety back up collar to use when walking her so she would never loose her. Thankfully, her secure collar prevented this from happening during this dog attack.

Grace’s mom is incredibly grateful that I taught her the importance of using a properly fitted martingale or choke collar for walks.

Why the Right Leash and Collar Can Save Your Dog’s Life

Many standard collars and harnesses easily slip off when a dog panics, lunges, or pulls backward. This is why at See Spot Stay, we use:

✅ Escape-Proof Safety Collars – Prevents slipping in high-stress situations

✅ Double Safety Leashes – Provides us to use a back up safety collar so we will have better control in emergencies

✅ Expert Handling Techniques – Our double leash and safety collar ensures your dog stays secure on every walk

Please don't wait until an emergency happens. Invest in the right safety gear today.

Get a Safety Choke RIGHT NOW for a back up when walking your dog...

baxterboo.sjv.io/GKZ6Om

🚶‍♂️ Want peace of mind when it comes to your dog’s safety? Our professional dog walking and training services provide expert care, using only the best secure collars and leashes to protect your pet.

📩 Contact See Spot Stay today to learn more about our safe, reliable dog walking services! 🐾