Some dog breeds tolerate cold weather well, while others would much rather be warming up under the blankets. No matter how your four-legged dog reacts to the dog days of winter, keep your pooch comfortable with these helpful tips.
1. Provide Warm Shelter
This sounds like common sense, but a warm dog bed on a cold floor makes a huge difference! Consider using a heated dog bed if it’s chilly in your home. If your pup loves hanging out in the backyard, provide them with the appropriate shelter. The shelter should have a sloped roof, insulation and a protected entranceway.
If there is snow or ice on the ground, do not let the dog off leash as they can become easily lost due to the loss of scent. Also, be mindful of puppies, elderly dogs or special needs pups who shouldn’t stay outside for too long.
2. Keep your Doggie Clean
Fido is bound to get a little dirt on his paws after strolling through the rain or snow! Before you start your walk, put Paw Wax or boots on your pup’s paws to protect from salt and chemicals.
Be sure to completely dry your pup after walks or baths. It’s especially important to wipe down paws and tummies after walks to remove any poison dangers such as antifreeze. Don’t forget about the paws!
Pet parents can prevent snow from collecting between Fido’s toes by trimming the hair around the paw pads.
3. Protective Clothing
We know it’s hard to resist that adorable pink snowman sweater for Fluffy, but clothing for canines is more than just a fashionable outfit. Doggie clothing can help all dogs keep warm, especially small dogs, short-haired dogs and elderly dogs.
Pups will feel cozy in a sweater, jacket or hat protecting against wind and rain (if waterproof).
4. Access to Water
If you have doggie bowls outside, you might need a heated water bowl. Purchase one of these outdoor bowls online or in retail stores and be at ease knowing your Guest pups will have access to fresh water.
Pups burn extra energy trying to stay warm in cold weather so make sure the Guest pups have access to water at all times in order to stay hydrated.
5. Play Indoors
When it’s too cold to play fetch outdoors, bring your pups inside and play some games! Canines love playing hide and seek, tug-o-war or just a good ol’ belly rub. Use this time to sneak in some doggie training and reward with treats.
City Dog Expert is Europe’s number one resource for urban dogs.
As featured in Wall Street Journal, New York Press,
The Sun, Chicago Tribune & Financial Times
Our guys love the cold weather unless it gets REALLY cold (for our guys that means lower than -30 Celsius)
Great post! I believe that if you live in a cold climate and your dog has short hair that they should be protected from the weather. Both of our girls are inside dogs and when we go out in the cold they wear warm winter jackets. I always feel so bad for the dogs I see outside shivering in the cold, while their owners are all bundled up in coats, hats and mittens. Especially for the little chihuahua that lives in the next building from me. It makes me so sad.
Us desert dwellers get cold when it hits 50 degrees out… we are big babies here but the heat we can tolerate 105 no problem.
Great advice, it never gets that cold in Australia thankfully!
Great tips. I wish winter would just disappear though, lol!
One of my dogs loves winter, the other two only like to be outside for a little while. I have coats for those two to help keep them warmer on the chilliest days.
Great Post! We’re in Ontario and know cold all too well.
My dogs have long fur with undercoats and enjoy playing in the snow, but they can come in whenever they have had enough. We only recently moved to a colder climate where there is snow and ice most of the winter. I’ve noticed that the snow and ice is hard on their paws, but so far I haven’t been able to persuade them to wear boots to protect their feet, so I think I’ll give some paw wax a try.
These are very helpful tips. My babies are pretty used to the cold weather.
Learn something new every day. Paw wax is a new one for me. I’ll have to check it out for our salty roads.
Great post and fabulous tips! We lub da cold weather and momma is always making sure we’re safe, warm, clean, and happy when we play in da snow as well as when we come back inside!
Great post. It’s so important to clean all those chemicals off the dog, many people forget about that. Paw wax is a new one for me too, what a great idea. We keep Mary warm with the 80 degree plus temperatures here in South West Florida during the winter months. 🙂
Great tips – I always make sure Dex is not near the back door and not laying down near a draft
Great tips, awesome photos
My mom’s dog doesn’t like the cold weather and loves to be tucked in the blankets at night.
Love the tips. My dogs live the cold and snow but they tend to get really wet so I need to make sure they dry off quickly
Mr. N loves hanging out under blankets and he has a variety of cold weather clothing.
My Chihuahua gets cold easily since she is only 3lbs, so I have a heating pad set up for her this time of year. She loves it!