Dog walking is one of the most common ways people pick up ticks — and most dog owners have no idea how exposed they are. Your dog pushes through tall grass and brushy edges exactly where ticks wait, and those ticks hitch rides on both of you.
Here is how to protect yourself and your dog during tick season.
Why Dog Walkers Are at Higher Risk
Ticks use a behaviour called questing — they climb to the tips of grass blades and low vegetation, front legs outstretched, waiting for a warm body to brush past. Dogs walk nose-first through exactly these zones. Every time your dog pushes into tall grass, under bushes, or along trail edges, ticks have a chance to latch onto both of you.
Studies show that dog owners who walk their pets in wooded or grassy areas are significantly more likely to encounter ticks than people who stay on paved paths. And unlike a weekend hike, dog walking happens daily — which means daily exposure.
Protecting Your Dog
Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention for your dog. Options include:
- Topical treatments — monthly spot-on products that kill or repel ticks on contact
- Oral preventatives — chewable tablets (like NexGard or Bravecto) that kill ticks after they bite
- Tick collars — long-lasting collars (like Seresto) that release tick-repelling compounds over months
No single product is 100% effective. The best approach combines a preventative with daily tick checks — run your hands through your dog's fur after every walk, paying special attention to ears, neck, between toes, and the groin area.
Protecting Yourself
Most dog walkers protect their pet but forget about themselves. Here is what works:
1. Cover Your Lower Legs
Most ticks attach below the knee. Wear long trousers tucked into socks, or use compression sleeves or gaiters that seal the gap between your shoes and trousers. This physical barrier stops ticks from reaching your skin during the walk.
2. Stick to the Centre of Paths
Ticks cannot jump or fly — they can only grab on when you brush against vegetation. Walking in the centre of trails, away from overhanging grass and bushes, dramatically reduces exposure. This is harder when your dog wants to explore every bush, but keeping them on a shorter lead through high-risk areas helps.
3. Wear Light-Coloured Clothing
Ticks are easier to spot on light fabric. A quick visual check of your trousers and shoes before getting back in the car catches crawling ticks before they reach your skin.
4. Check Yourself After Every Walk
Ticks take time to attach and begin feeding — usually 30 to 60 minutes of crawling before they find a spot they like. A full-body check within an hour of returning home catches most ticks before they can transmit disease. Focus on warm, hidden areas: behind the knees, groin, waistband, armpits, and hairline.
5. Treat Clothing with Permethrin
Permethrin-treated clothing kills ticks on contact and lasts through multiple washes. You can buy pre-treated garments or apply permethrin spray to your walking trousers and socks yourself. This is especially worthwhile for daily dog walkers who face repeated exposure.
What About Your Walking Route?
Not all walks carry equal risk. Tick density is highest in:
- Woodland edges and transition zones between forest and open ground
- Tall grass and meadows (especially unmowed areas)
- Leaf litter and shaded, humid undergrowth
- Areas with deer or other wildlife traffic
Paved paths, short-mowed grass, and open sunny areas are much lower risk. If you have multiple route options, choosing a more open path during peak tick season (May through August in Europe) makes a real difference.
When to Be Most Careful
In Europe, tick season runs roughly from March through October, with peak activity in May, June, and July. In 2026, the season has been particularly intense — emergency room visits for tick bites are up over 50% compared to last year. Nymphal ticks (the tiny, hard-to-see juveniles most likely to carry disease) are most active in late spring and early summer.
Morning and evening walks through dewy grass carry slightly higher risk than midday walks in dry conditions, since ticks are more active in humid environments.
The Bottom Line
Daily dog walks through natural areas mean daily tick exposure. Protect your dog with veterinary-recommended prevention, and protect yourself with physical barriers, light clothing, and post-walk checks. These habits take less than five minutes per walk and dramatically reduce your risk of tick-borne illness.
Walk the same fields every day and you will eventually find one — on the dog, or on you. The Tix Tick Removal Kit is a stainless-steel 3-piece set that grips close to the skin and pulls straight, which is exactly what you want when the tick is on an animal that will not hold still.