Walking dogs in winter.
Discussion
I’ve never had a dog in winter, so I’m unsure how you go about walking them ‘when the snow lays all around, deep and crisp and even’, so to speak.
How long can they walk on a frost laden pavement? Can you get little slip-on booties? Well, fairly large ones, my big fella weighs 50kg and has feet almost as big as my hands.
How long can they walk on a frost laden pavement? Can you get little slip-on booties? Well, fairly large ones, my big fella weighs 50kg and has feet almost as big as my hands.
Interesting, this is something that I've never given any great thought of in my 15 odd years of dog ownership; apart from a coat or jumper if it's a bit chilly.
As for snow, well we are in the South East, so apart from about 8 years ago we've not had any snow worth shouting about.
As for snow, well we are in the South East, so apart from about 8 years ago we've not had any snow worth shouting about.
Edited by HTP99 on Sunday 19th November 17:53
Swedish winter conditions as example. Apply some balm or vaseline to the pads, though you need to clean it off before he comes inside. If it's really really cold, then limit the walk. In UK we've never taken any particular precautions as no winter has been sufficiently cold. For example he'll get an hour on the common in mornings of minus 4/5. Forest walks longer, but again it's on soft surfaces which are possibly more sheltered.
If we do get a lot of snow, careful of drifts, you don't know what's underneath.
As for coats and bootees, our Golden would pull the boots off, natural double coat is mega thick, and knowing him wearing an additional coat would mean he'd try and find some frozen ice to lie down on, in the hope he can crack it and wallow in the water underneath then we'd be stuck with a shopping wet coat. We try and keep him off ice as legs go everywhere like Bambi, just gave a feeling of possible strains.
Don't panic, ours loves cold weather rather more than hot.
If we do get a lot of snow, careful of drifts, you don't know what's underneath.
As for coats and bootees, our Golden would pull the boots off, natural double coat is mega thick, and knowing him wearing an additional coat would mean he'd try and find some frozen ice to lie down on, in the hope he can crack it and wallow in the water underneath then we'd be stuck with a shopping wet coat. We try and keep him off ice as legs go everywhere like Bambi, just gave a feeling of possible strains.
Don't panic, ours loves cold weather rather more than hot.
Apart from avoiding salted or gritted pavements (as that can irritate/burn their feet) I have not really worried about frosty mornings etc (except for myself slipping over!!) we have whippets so coats are used when not running the field but they have nice firm pads. Some dogs do have soft pads which can be a problem in extreme weather's but not often.
Re an above post about wolves and booties. Wolves have very thick fur between their pads many breeds of dogs don't which can leave their feet more exposed.
Re an above post about wolves and booties. Wolves have very thick fur between their pads many breeds of dogs don't which can leave their feet more exposed.
King Herald said:
I’ve never had a dog in winter, so I’m unsure how you go about walking them ‘when the snow lays all around, deep and crisp and even’, so to speak.
How long can they walk on a frost laden pavement? Can you get little slip-on booties? Well, fairly large ones, my big fella weighs 50kg and has feet almost as big as my hands.
Are you fking serious ? Thought you were one of the sensible ones but your brain seems to have turned to mush since returning to Blighty . Try putting "booties"on your lad and see what happens ,
You're living in England not Siberia , get a grip man ;)
How long can they walk on a frost laden pavement? Can you get little slip-on booties? Well, fairly large ones, my big fella weighs 50kg and has feet almost as big as my hands.
Are you fking serious ? Thought you were one of the sensible ones but your brain seems to have turned to mush since returning to Blighty . Try putting "booties"on your lad and see what happens ,
You're living in England not Siberia , get a grip man ;)
fttm said:
King Herald said:
I’ve never had a dog in winter, so I’m unsure how you go about walking them ‘when the snow lays all around, deep and crisp and even’, so to speak.
How long can they walk on a frost laden pavement? Can you get little slip-on booties? Well, fairly large ones, my big fella weighs 50kg and has feet almost as big as my hands.
Are you fking serious ? Thought you were one of the sensible ones but your brain seems to have turned to mush since returning to Blighty . Try putting "booties"on your lad and see what happens ,
You're living in England not Siberia , get a grip man ;)
How long can they walk on a frost laden pavement? Can you get little slip-on booties? Well, fairly large ones, my big fella weighs 50kg and has feet almost as big as my hands.
Are you fking serious ? Thought you were one of the sensible ones but your brain seems to have turned to mush since returning to Blighty . Try putting "booties"on your lad and see what happens ,
You're living in England not Siberia , get a grip man ;)
I would rather have someone ask a question that might seem ott to some over the amount of neglect I deal with day to day due to fking ignorance and incompetence.
In my limited experience;
Step one: unleash the Springer Spaniel.
Step two: watch as she tries to simultaneously break the records for tail wags per second and speed across the ground, all whilst charging into and through every ditch, pond, bramble patch and hedge she can.
Step three: wonder if she deliberately sets out to get soaked and or coated in mud for a laugh.
Step one: unleash the Springer Spaniel.
Step two: watch as she tries to simultaneously break the records for tail wags per second and speed across the ground, all whilst charging into and through every ditch, pond, bramble patch and hedge she can.
Step three: wonder if she deliberately sets out to get soaked and or coated in mud for a laugh.
Edited by Chainsaw Rebuild on Sunday 19th November 23:04
iphonedyou said:
How to walk a dog in Winter.
Think I've seen it all now.
You're being racist against the mentally ill (or fking thick as it used to be called), please delete your comment to avoid hurting the feelings of said mentally impaired unicorns lest you be targeted for spreading hate crimes.Think I've seen it all now.
OK yah?
bexVN said:
Apart from avoiding salted or gritted pavements (as that can irritate/burn their feet)...
Isn't there also an issue with them getting sick/ill from licking/cleaning their paws? Thought I read something about rinsing paws if they've been where there was salt/grit. Didn't really take a lot of notice because it's not an issue where I walk mine.Don't do anything different in winter. Well I put coats on them if it's raining but thats so I don't have to spend as long drying them rather than for their benefit. My Weim is a bit nut's if it's frosty and very nuts if there's snow. Think we were out about 4 hours this day...
2013-04-01_11-03-40_663 by Adrian Thorp, on Flickr
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