Have you noticed that autumn has arrived? I’m from the East Coast, where fall means crisp air, warm sweaters, and colorful foliage. In San Francisco, autumn brings a few weeks of warm weather before the rainy season begins -– not quite as impressive! One constant is that, coast-to-coast, the days become shorter as we march towards the end of the year. If you are active with your dog, you’ve noticed that your window for evening walks in the daylight is shrinking by a few minutes every day. I know that soon, we will be walking in total darkness.

In past years, I’ve used a small LED pendant light attached to her collar to help keep us safe while walking at night. Since we are in a city and Ace is mostly black and low to the ground, I worry about her being hit by a bicycle or something bigger.

I was curious to review a sample collar and leash set from Dog-E-Glow because its unique products are designed to address the problem of dog safety in the dark. These collars, leashes, and harnesses are embedded with battery powered LED lights that are visible from a distance (the website claims 1,000 feet!).

The collar and leash are available individually or as a set; ordering as a set provides a bit of a discount. Collars are available in size medium (10 to 14 inches) or large (15 to 21 inches), and both are 1-inch wide. The company’s website states that it will have a smaller collar size available soon, and that its harnesses are sized with small dogs in mind. The size medium fit Ace’s fat neck easily.

I’m pretty impressed by the quality of these products. The leash and collar have a heavy woven nylon base, and on one side is stitched the colorful pattern of your choice. I like the Blue Bones pattern well enough, but I would like to see more of a variety of colors and patterns available. If you are a fan of a major American college, you will be excited to know that most of the available patterns feature college logos.

The collar ($24.98) weighs just slightly more than a typical flat collar. The battery pack does add some weight, but even on a small dog like Ace, I didn’t notice her to have any discomfort. The rest of the hardware is similar to a typical collar: metal D-ring for holding tags and plastic buckle for attaching the collar.

Regarding the leash ($29.98), it is heavier than the leash I typically use for Ace, but owners of medium and large dogs would probably find this leash similar to the ones they use. The hardware on the leash is heavy duty, a little bit too much so for a small dog. I really like the handle of the leash, which is padded with a material that provides excellent grip.

I was curious about the process of changing the batteries. Each item uses two 2032 3v batteries, which are small and flat like a coin. The battery pack has a little drawer that slides open easily, making changing the batteries incredibly easy and simple. Each item comes with two sets of batteries, so you won’t have to purchase any replacements for a long time. The lights have two light settings: steady glow and flashing. It is easy to change between these settings by pressing a button on the battery pack. Be sure to note that the collar and leash are not waterproof –- if it’s raining, consider a different option to light yourselves when walking.

The lights on these products are just awesome. Depending on the design you choose, the lights can be a variety of colors. The lights on the Blue Bones pattern are, appropriately, blue. The color is deep and vivid, very bright indeed! I have no doubt that they are visible at a great distance.

Ace was thrown off by the lights at first –- I can imagine having lights glowing around your neck could be a little off-putting for a dog at first. However, she adapted pretty quickly once we started walking.

I think if you are concerned about safety and you are worried the lights from the collar would disturb your dog, or if you have a limited budget, you should consider purchasing the leash. The leash seemed to provide the best visibility, not only because it is longer but also because, at least for a smaller dog, the lights were closer to where a potentially dangerous human in a car or bike would cast her gaze.

Dogster Scorecard for Dog-E-Glow LED Dog Collar and Leash:

• Quality: Dog-E-Glow products are sturdy and well made with solid hardware.
• Style: I would like to see more of a variety of colors and patterns available.
• Function: The LED lights are bright and vividly colored for high visibility.
• Creativity: Embedding LED lights into sturdy collars and leashes is a bright idea, indeed.
• Value: While $49.99 for the collar and leash set seems fair for this unique product, dog owners on a budget might consider less costly options for safe walks at night.

Bottom line

As the days get shorter, it is a good idea to take some safety measures when walking your dog in the dark. Dog-E-Glow products are a sturdy and bright option for high visibility at night.

And now, enter to win a collar from Dog-E-Glow!

Would you like to strut your mutt into fall fashionably and safely with a fabulous Dog-E-Glow collar? Two lucky readers will win the collar of their choice, courtesy of the folks at Dog-E-Glow. To enter, leave us a comment below describing your favorite part of sharing the autumn season with your dog. Is it the cool weather? The crunchy leaves? Dressing your unsuspecting pup up in a Halloween costume? Make sure the email address associated with your Disqus account is accurate so that I can notify you if you win! Winners will be chosen by noon PST on Friday, October 11, 2013.

About Ace’s Mama: This East Coast transplant enjoys the bounty of San Francisco, including its microclimates, farmers’ markets, and secret stairway walks. When she’s not walking with, talking about, or kissing the face of her Boston Terrier, Ace, she blogs about Ace’s adventures. Product reviews writer and guinea pig at Dogster.