Braving winter with our furry pals!
Ensuring Your Dog's Safety and Comfort in Cold Weather
As temperatures drop, it becomes crucial to prioritize the well-being of our four-legged companions during winter walks. Here are essential tips to keep your furry friend safe and warm in chilly conditions.
Keeping Your Dog Warm and Cozy
Allow longer fur growth for added protection, especially for breeds with thick coats.
Short-haired breeds and puppies may benefit from wearing coats in the colder weather.
Opt for high-visibility reflective features on coats for walks in the dark. Safety first!
Introducing Winter Wear Gradually
For dogs unfamiliar with coats or light attachments, introduce them gradually and positively. These items are essential for winter life for our pooches, so bad associations will leave us as owners in a difficult situation!
Always have the mindset that your dog needs to make friends with their clothing!
This ensures your dog associates the gear with comfort, promoting a positive experience.
Top Tips for Winter Walks
Snowy Walks: Keep your dog on a lead during snowfall to prevent accidents in unsafe areas. Supervision in the cold is key as all sorts of troublesome materials can be hidden under ice and snowfall.
Identification: Ensure your dog wears a collar with an ID tag, and keep microchip details updated. An ID tag with the owner’s name and address is required by law in the UK if the dog is in a public area. They must also have a microchip linked to the owners current address.
Shoes: Footwear can be an excellent addition to help your dog’s feet stay protected from road salt and cold temperatures.
Post-Walk Care: Wipe your dog's legs, feet, and stomach after walks to remove irritants.
Safety Measures
Car Safety: Never leave your dog in a car, irrespective of the weather conditions. During wintertime, hypothermia is always a risk.
Ice Caution: Avoid letting your dog walk on frozen ponds; the ice may not support their weight. The cold water can cause your dog to go into shock and lead to a high risk of drowning.
Antifreeze & Aversive Substance Awareness: Keep antifreeze and chemicals out of reach, promptly cleaning any spills. The sweet smell and taste can make it likely your dog will investigate and try to consume the deadly substance.
Rock salt on the roads and pavement can leave your dog severely dehydrated and with burns in their mouth and throat. So your dog should be supervised around these areas and properly cleaned when left to their own devices.
Prioritizing Safety for You and Your Dog
Dress appropriately for weather conditions, ensuring visibility during walks.
Regularly inspect and maintain your dog's leads, collars, and harnesses for functionality.
Tips for Keeping Your Dog Active During Winter
As the dark evenings of winter pose challenges, maintaining your dog's physical activity is crucial. Here are creative ways to keep your dog entertained and active:
Diverse Walking Routes:
Explore different street routes to provide new stimuli for your dog. Drive to a different town and explore the highstreet or their local parks with your dog!
Woodland areas can be good for your dog to get the most enrichment out of your time outside!
The beach can be an excellent place to head to this time of year! Your dog should be allowed on their local beach to have a wander round, check your local guidelines. Head on when the tide is out so your dog is less likely to get wet and cold!
Enrichment Walks:
Incorporate training sessions during walks, rewarding your dog for tricks and engagement.
Create a scent-tracking game using treats! Put your dog into a “sit, wait”, throw some treats in different areas, release them from their wait and encourage your dog to search for their treats!
Use treats to guide your dog around street furniture! Over, under and around! This exercise builds confidence, is super fun and fulfilling.
Agility courses and off-lead time in secure areas are an excellent way to get your dog living their best life!
Remember!
More enrichment = More sleep = Happy, content dog!
Indoor Games:
Engage in indoor activities like hide and seek or 'find it' for mental stimulation.
Hide toys for your dog to find, using play as a reward.
Teach your dog new games and tricks! Touch, Through the legs, snuff box time! The possibilities are endless!
Extra Enrichment:
Provide long-lasting chews, rubber toys, and enrichment games for mental stimulation.
Ensure your dog has ample activities during inclement weather when more time is spent indoors. Cabin fever is all too real! We dont like being stuck inside and our energetic pups are just the same!
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your dog not only stays safe and warm but also remains mentally and physically stimulated during the winter months.
Happy Winter Folks!
