Hello, friends. Beau here, Chief Canine Correspondent, yellow Labrador leaf inspector, and a dog who believes fall walks are among Colorado’s finest inventions.
The air is cooler, the sidewalks are friendlier to our paws, and every pile of leaves appears to contain a complete mystery novel written entirely in squirrel. It is a magnificent season for Centennial dogs. It is also a season when our humans need to pay a little extra attention.
Let us begin with the nose. Fall brings damp leaves, mushrooms, dropped food, acorns, mulch, compost, and mysterious sidewalk snacks of unknown origin. Please do not assume we will make wise choices. Many of us are charming, loyal, and emotionally advanced, but we may still attempt to eat something that looks like a tiny forest pancake. The ASPCA’s fall pet safety tips are a helpful reminder that mushrooms and seasonal hazards can be dangerous for pets.
On walks, keep us close enough that you can see what we are sniffing before it becomes what we are chewing. Centennial’s animal regulations require dogs to be leashed off their owner’s property, and South Suburban Parks and Recreation asks dogs in parks, open spaces, and trails to stay on a leash no longer than six feet. I know the world is full of fascinating smells. This is precisely why the leash exists.
If you are heading to the High Line Canal or another local trail, remember that fall wildlife is busy too. Rabbits, birds, deer, coyotes, and tiny rustling creatures in the brush are not public entertainment.
The High Line Canal trail-etiquette guide asks visitors to keep dogs on short leashes, give wildlife space, and share the trail politely. In Beau language, that means we admire the fluttering, hopping, scampering citizens from a respectful distance.
Darker mornings and evenings also deserve a plan. Add a light-up collar, reflective leash, bright jacket, or clip-on safety light so drivers, cyclists, and other walkers can see you. Bring a flashlight and keep your phone charged. Fall has a sneaky habit of turning “just one quick loop” into “why is it suddenly bedtime outside?”
After walks, do a quick paw-and-coat check. Look for burrs, foxtails, mud, irritated paw pads, and anything stuck between toes. This is also a fine time to check ears, refill the water bowl, and offer praise to the dog who heroically avoided eating a suspicious mushroom.
My final Beau rule is simple: fall is for sniffing, strolling, and enjoying Centennial’s beautiful trails, not for mystery snacks, wildlife chases, or invisible evening walks. Keep us close, keep us visible, and let the season be glorious without becoming dramatic.
Beau
Chief Canine Correspondent
Babs & Beau | Paws & Purpose
28 Comments
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These rules are simple but make a huge difference! Happy fall walking everyone and give your pups an extra belly rub from me.
Thank you for the kind words and fall wishes! We’ll be sure to share that belly rub spirit with our furry friends.
Great tips. Would be helpful if the city put up more signs on the trails about keeping dogs leashed and respecting wildlife.
Thank you, Beau! I never thought about checking ears after fall walks. Will add that to our routine.
Short leashes are best for trails, in my opinion. I get nervous when big dogs come running up off-leash, no matter how friendly they are.
We completely agree, short leashes on trails make everyone’s experience safer and more comfortable, for humans and dogs alike.
Lighting for dogs is cute and so practical. Last week someone complimented my lab’s little vest. Better safe than sorry!
The compost/mulch warning is so true! My neighbor’s dog got sick from eating something odd in their yard. Thanks for raising awareness.
Honestly wish people would pay more attention to cleaning up after their dogs too. Fall leaves sometimes hide it till you step on it!
‘Complete mystery novel written entirely in squirrel’ made my morning. Our husky absolutely agrees.
Glad to see trail etiquette mentioned. Nothing ruins a walk like an unleashed dog chasing wildlife. Thanks for spelling it out, Beau!
We use a clip-on light for our beagle but hadn’t thought of a bright jacket. Off to the pet store!
That's wonderful to hear! Bright jackets add extra visibility, especially during those early morning or evening strolls, happy shopping at the pet store!
Nice write up, Beau. I’d add: if your dog gets muddy, wipe their paws before letting them back inside. Trust me. Rugs are expensive.
Reflective leashes are smart. Nearly got missed by a biker last evening! Will add a light-up collar next time.
Great idea, reflective gear plus a light-up collar is a winning combo for staying visible to cyclists and everyone else on the trail!
My kids read this with me and want to thank Beau for the advice. They like the idea of rewarding dogs for NOT eating strange things, haha.
Wish every dog owner followed the leash rules like Beau says. I love seeing friendly dogs but not everyone has good recall!
Thanks for highlighting this, leash rules help keep everyone safe and let all trail users enjoy their walks, no matter how friendly the pups.
The part about checking for burrs was helpful. My schnauzer is always getting stuff stuck in her fur. A quick check after walks saves lots of tangles.
Absolutely, those post-walk checks can prevent lots of tangles and snags, especially for our fluffier friends like schnauzers!
We met some deer on the High Line Canal last week. Glad I had my guy on a short leash or he would’ve been off chasing. These tips are spot on!
We're so glad you found the tips helpful, and kudos for keeping your pup on a short leash around wildlife! Deer sightings are magical, but keeping everyone safe is even better.
Good info on reflective collars. It gets dark so early now, sometimes I don’t realize until we’re halfway around the block. Will be upgrading my dog’s gear this year!
Cynthia ParksSame here! I always think I have plenty of daylight left but these fall evenings sneak up fast. The light-up collars really do make a difference on our block.
I laughed at the ‘mystery novel written in squirrel.’ My golden is obsessed with every pile of leaves! Good call out about keeping dogs leashed, it helps everyone enjoy the trails.
Love the advice about checking paws after walks! I always forget until my pup is tracking mud through the house. And the point about mushrooms is so real, we had a recent scare. Thanks Beau for the reminders!
So glad the reminders were helpful, and we hope your pup stays safe from those tempting but hazardous mushrooms, quick paw checks can save a lot of clean-up and worry.