11 Tips For Walking Your Dog In The Winter Enjoying Winter With Your Smellydogz

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels

Winter can be a lot of fun! However, the cold and dry air can take a toll on bare skin and damage your smellydogz’ skin. Having the right protection from the elements when walking dogs in cold weather can ensure that you both enjoy the cold instead of dreading it.

1) Stay safe from freezing ground

Use petroleum Jelly on your smellydogz feet or paw wax when going out after a snowfall. Sudden limping can be a sign of ice between your pooch’s toes so check them regularly.

Booties or socks are also great options to protect your smellydogz’ feet from the cold and ice provided they can walk in them easily.

2) Get a cute sweater or jacket if your pooch is small or has short hair

Not only do sweaters look adorable, but they also protect breeds of smellydogz that are prone to getting cold easily.

With the Dog winter, we experience in Canada, it is important to have ample protection from wind chills at sub-zero temperatures.

Windbreakers and furry jackets are great for icy temperatures with high wind speeds if you can’t avoid taking your pooch outside. Be sure to arrange for extra layers and a waterproof jacket when walking dogs during snowfall and rain.

3) Cozy up inside when it's below zero

While it's easy to see the excitement of your Dogs in snow, they still feel cold as much as us humans and the absence of a cover can be deadly in temperatures below zero.

Unless you have a Husky or a Malamute, it’s probably a good idea to have your furry friend by your side to enjoy the cold weather indoors instead of leaving them outside.

4) Clean and dry your Snow Doggy’s paws after every walk

If you’re going on a walk with your Dog in snow, the morning after a storm. Watch out for ice melt and salt on the pavement as they can cause your smellydogz’ paws to crack.

The white snowy covering on the ground can make things hard to see and a little bit of extra care can keep your pooch safe from distress.

At times, ice crystals can form between your pooch’s toes, if this happens to them, you should stop immediately and clean their paws, warm their feet before returning home for a wash. Watch out for grey, pale or hardened skin to make sure there isn’t frostbite.

 

Two people walking with their dog in the winter snow wearing Smellydogz gear.

5) Keep an eye on your Snow doggy

Severe hypothermia can be lethal and it occurs when a dog spends too much time in the cold. Normally smellydogs will show signs of being too cold and these are visible enough for humans to figure out, however, keep an eye out for shivering, cold ears and unresponsiveness.

Even if your dog’s winter coat is thick, they need to be brought inside and dried off immediately if they show signs of lethargy.

Whether or not they are walking dogs feel cold much like their owners and will generally be more comfortable in the warmth of the house for extended periods.

6) Protect your smellydogz with insurance

Although this is not a walking tip, there are many possible risks for your dogs in the snow. If you have an energetic and playful smellydog who loves to take risks, it's a must to have them insured as they can step onto glass, black ice and other things while walking on the road. In case of injury, you won’t have to think twice before getting them the help they need

7) Shovel snow out of the way and use pet-safe ice melt

If you live in a landed property, it’s easier to walk your dogs in snow as you can use a shovel to remove the snow from the pavement and use pet-safe ice melt.

The concentrated pallets cover a larger area than rock salt and do not harm paws or skin. Clearing the area before taking out your dogs in snow ensures that they won’t slip or step on something buried beneath the snow.

8) Keep your smellydogz hydrated

Dehydration can slowly creep in on both smellydogz and people as we don’t realize how much we sweat under the layers of winter clothes. It’s important for you and your smellydog to drink lots of water before and after walks. For dogs winter dry air has a bigger impact as they lose more moisture during panting.

If your snow doggy gets too thirsty, they will probably try to eat snow which can hide bacterias and other harmful waste easily, and certainly doesn’t help keep the body warm when it is cold.

9) Dry your furry friend as soon as you get home

It’s a good idea to keep towels by the door for when you came back from a rainy or a snowy walk in the wintertime. It’s also a good idea to get a good paw shampoo for your smellydogz to avoid the wet mud getting on the floor and couches. The washing will also clean away any salt stuck between their fingers.

10) Use LED collar or other reflectors to keep your smellydogs safe

It stays dark more than usual in the winter so it’s a good idea to make our pooch more visible especially when walking in unlit areas. Have some reflective clothing or an LED collar on standby in case your furry friend tells you that they need to get out.

There are a variety of leash accessories available that you can use so that vehicle drivers can easily spot your smellydog from a distance.

11) Don’t let your snow doggy eat from the ground

Apart from pathogens coming from animal waste, the snow can hide dangerous toxins. The regular ice melt products road salt and antifreeze can be commonly found on the ground and are damaging to your pooch. Be sure to let your smellydog eat before you go out and redirect them when they are getting close to putting something in their mouth.

While it's important to exercise your smellydogz in any weather, keeping them away from the danger of frostbite and hypothermia takes precedent. Try to go on walks during the day and limit exposure to the cold weather, playing with your pooch inside the house instead of going out in icy wind

← Older Post Newer Post →