Should You Let Your Dog Play With Sticks?

A Seattle Dog Walker’s Guide to Safe and Smart Stick Play

In a city like Seattle, with its lush parks and scenic walking trails, it’s not unusual to see dogs trotting proudly with a stick in their mouth. At Trails and Tails Dog Walking, we’ve walked plenty of pups who love to pick up a stick or two along the way. But is it actually safe to let your dog play with sticks?

Let’s break it down—and talk about when stick-carrying is perfectly fine, and when it might be time to say "drop it."

The Short Answer: Stick Carrying Is OK (With Supervision)

If your dog simply carries a stick during a walk—and it helps keep them focused and calm—it’s usually totally fine. In fact, we’ve found that some dogs benefit from having something to hold. It can give them a sense of purpose or reduce anxiety in overstimulating environments like busy sidewalks or open parks.

However, chewing or eating sticks is where the risks come in.

The Dangers of Stick Chewing or Eating

While carrying a stick can be harmless (and even helpful), chewing or ingesting sticks can lead to serious health issues:

• Mouth and Throat Injuries – Splinters can puncture gums, tongues, or get stuck in the throat.

• Choking Hazards – Bits of wood can break off and obstruct the airway.

• Digestive Issues – Swallowed pieces of stick can cause intestinal blockages or internal injuries.

• Toxic Wood – Certain trees found in Seattle (like cherry, yew, and black walnut) are toxic to dogs.

That’s why we always supervise and redirect dogs who get too interested in chewing what they carry.

Signs It’s Becoming a Problem

A stick isn’t a toy if your dog is doing more than carrying it. If your pup starts:

• Gnawing or crunching the stick

• Trying to eat bark or splinters

• Guarding the stick possessively

…it’s time to step in and redirect to a safer alternative.

Stick Safety Tips from Seattle Dog Walkers

We love letting dogs be dogs—but safely. Here are a few tips we follow on our walks throughout neighborhoods like Madison Park, Capitol Hill, and South Lake Union:

✅ Allow stick carrying if it keeps your dog calm and focused✅ Monitor closely—stop chewing/eating before it starts✅ Use a safe rubber fetch toy as a substitute if needed

Sometimes just having a stick to hold is enough to help a reactive or anxious dog feel grounded. We’ve walked dogs who are much more focused with a stick in their mouth—it becomes their job for the walk, and we love seeing that confidence build.

What If Your Dog Eats a Stick?

If your dog swallows part of a stick, don’t wait—call your vet. Signs of trouble include vomiting, drooling, lethargy, or signs of stomach pain. Ingested wood can cause internal bleeding, blockages, or other complications.

Our Approach at Trails and Tails Dog Walking

Every dog is different. Some need toys, some need treats—and some just need to carry a stick. At Trails and Tails, we tailor every walk based on your dog’s unique needs and habits. If stick-carrying helps them focus, we’re all for it—as long as it stays safe.

We serve the Seattle area, including Madison Park, with professional, compassionate, and personalized dog walking services. Whether your pup is full of energy or a little anxious, we walk with purpose—and a lot of love.

Ready to schedule a walk?Let’s talk about what makes your dog tick—and maybe even what stick they like to carry.

Dog walking Penny & Chicken

From Strangers to Soulmates: Our Journey with Penny & Chicken in Madison Park

At Trails and Tails Dog Walking, every pup has a story—and some of the most heartwarming tales come from the dogs who take a little extra time to open up. That was exactly the case with Penny and Chicken, two very different but equally lovable dogs in Madison Park, Seattle.

Meet Penny and Chicken

Penny, a shy boxer mix, is beautiful, strong, and fiercely loyal. But like many rescue dogs, she carries a few emotional scars. Penny struggles with dog reactivity and is wary of new people, which made our first few meetings more about patience than walking.

Then there’s Chicken, an elderly Chihuahua with a tiny frame but a giant personality. She may be small, but she has very specific preferences about where she walks—and how. Navigating curbs and uneven sidewalks with Chicken takes careful attention, but her spunky spirit makes every slow step worthwhile.

Building Trust, One Step at a Time

When we first met Penny and Chicken, our focus wasn’t on the walk—it was on connection. For the first few sessions, we simply sat outside their Madison Park home, letting them sniff, assess, and decide if we were worthy of their trust.

Slowly but surely, they warmed up. Penny, once guarded, began to show her goofy, affectionate side. Chicken, ever the queen, decided we were part of her royal court. Now, every Monday and Wednesday, they wait at the door with wagging tails and eager eyes, ready for our next adventure.

Dog Walking with Care in Madison Park

Because of Penny’s dog aggression, we always plan our walks during quieter times of day. Madison Park is a beautiful neighborhood with access to several green spaces, but we avoid busy park hours and high-traffic lunch times. By choosing low-traffic routes and peaceful sidewalks, we make sure both dogs feel safe and secure.

With Chicken’s age in mind, we also tailor the route to suit her pace. Whether it’s a gentle stroll or a sniff-filled stop under a shady tree, our mission is always the same: make each walk feel like a little adventure—one that respects their needs and honors their trust in us.

Why We Love What We Do

Penny and Chicken remind us why we started Trails and Tails Dog Walking in the first place. Every dog is unique, with their own quirks, challenges, and incredible capacity for love. With time, patience, and consistency, we’ve built a bond that’s as strong as any leash.

If you’re in Madison Park and looking for a dog walker who truly sees your dog—beyond the breed or behavior—we’re here for you. Whether your pup is reactive, elderly, or just a little shy, we’ve got the time, training, and heart to meet them where they are.

What Walking Services Charge Extra For and Why

From Trails and Tails Dog Walking – Seattle

We believe in being upfront, fair, and transparent with our clients—especially when it comes to pricing. While most of our rates are straightforward, there are a few additional charges that occasionally apply. These are outlined in our privacy policy (which all clients agree to), but we also walk through them in person during your initial meet and greet—because no one likes surprise fees.

We’re breaking down these extra charges here, along with the reasons behind them, so you know exactly what to expect and where your money goes.

🐾 Holiday Walks: +$10

Most people receive holiday pay at their jobs, and we believe our walkers should too. On holidays, our team often has fewer walks scheduled, which can mean taking time away from their families or holiday plans for just one or two dogs. The additional $10 charge for holiday walks goes directly to the walker—it’s our way of ensuring they’re compensated fairly for working on days when most others are off.

🐾 After-Hours & Weekend Walks: +$10

Walks requested outside of our standard weekday hours (typically before 9am or after 5pm), or on weekends, also come with a $10 surcharge. These time slots fall outside our regular routes and schedules, and the added fee helps us fairly compensate our walkers for their flexibility. As with holiday fees, this charge goes directly to the walker.

🐾 Clean-Up Fee

Accidents happen—we totally get that. But in cases where there’s a significant mess that requires extra cleaning, we do charge a clean-up fee. This is rare and only applied when necessary (for example, if a walker has to spend extra time cleaning up a large indoor mess before or after a walk). We’ll always communicate with you directly if a clean-up fee applies, and it’s always done with fairness and respect.

🐾 Meet & Greets: Always Free for Clients

We never charge clients for the initial meet and greet—we see this as an essential step in building trust and ensuring your dog is the right fit for our team. However, it’s worth noting that we do pay our walkers for their time during these visits, because we believe their time and energy are valuable—even before the first walk begins.

🐾 Two-Week Stop Notice Policy

This is a newer policy for us, and we’ll be honest—it’s been a little clunky to roll out, but we’re committed to making it part of our regular process moving forward.

If a client decides to stop services with less than two weeks’ notice (for example, due to a move), we now require payment for two additional weeks of walks. This helps protect our walkers from sudden income loss and allows us time to adjust schedules and fill the space in their routes. We understand that life happens unexpectedly, and we’ll always do our best to be flexible—but we’ve found that this policy is necessary to maintain balance and fairness for our team.

Why We Share This Info About our Walking Services Upfront

We don’t believe in hidden fees or fine print. These services require our walkers to go above and beyond their normal (amazing-ness) and standard walking services. Our goal is to be transparent with you from day one—so that your experience with Trails and Tails feels smooth, respectful, and built on mutual trust. These extra charges aren’t about squeezing more money out of our clients—they’re about supporting our team of dedicated walkers, most of whom are walking dogs rain or shine, seven days a week, all across Seattle.

If you ever have questions about billing or policies, we’re always happy to walk you through them. Just reach out!

Thanks for being part of the Trails and Tails community. We appreciate your trust, your communication, and of course—your amazing pups. 🐶

– The Trails and Tails Team | Serving Capitol Hill and Greater Seattle

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