January is Walk Your Dog Month. I know it is the last day of the month, but you know what? That doesn’t matter because you should be walking your doge every day of the year, not just in January. Actually, you should even be walking your dog in the cold and snow if you live in a winter climate.
Back in the first week of October for National Walk Your Dog Week, we listed seven great reasons to walk your dog. If you missed that post, or can’t imagine there are seven reasons why you should be walking your pup, have a look at that post. Today I’m going to talk more about winter walking which is for some folks unimaginable.
Know Your Dog!
Dogs do get cold, as do humans. Most dogs don’t need a coat, but you need to know how your dog adapts to the colder temperatures. We never wear coats unless we are tiny puppies, but we do wear booties. The salt on the street is bad for paws, and can be painful. When the temps dip below zero, the snow and pavement can also cause a burning sensation on the paws. We know many small breeds, or breeds without much fur may need a coat. Whether or not a coat is needed is for the pet parent to decide.
If the snow is real wet, it will pack between the paw pads, and form ice balls which make it painful to walk. Keeping the furs trimmed on the bottom of the paws helps a little bit, but the best solution is to wear some shoes. Your dog may fight you when you try to put them on, and they may also walk real silly at first, but I bet you a marrow bone they will be just fine once you get outside.
Everyone Needs Exercise!
It’s not healthy for humans or dogs to stay cooped up in the house just because it is cold and/or snowy outside. I get it, not all people and dogs love winter, but if you embrace the season rather than dread it, your life will improve. Even tiny dogs with almost no fur can put on a coat and boots and go around the block once or twice a day. If it is extreme weather, do be careful with older, or sickly dogs and the elements. Dogs need to go out to use the bathroom no matter what, so why not leash them up and at least go down the block and back? Even during this Arctic blast we get two, ten minute walks, more like runs, but we get out there.
Most Dogs Love The Snow!
We love getting out in the snow. The combination of cold and snow gets our wild pants going. Romping through the deep stuff, sticking our noses in the snow to sniff out critters, it is a lot of fun. Even just sitting in the snow for a photo is fun. There are dogs who freeze, and we know that wouldn’t be fun for them, but most dogs love snow. Humans dressed properly can also enjoy the snow. Have your human make a snow angel. I bet they will be shocked at how playful it makes us dogs. We think it is a fun game for dogs, or our human is rolling in something smelly.
Make Some Rules.
Mom knows us as far as what we can do at what temperatures. Anything above zero, we walk our normal walk of an hour or more. If it is below zero to about minus ten, we need boots and can go for up to an hour walk. Anything more than minus ten degrees means boots and short fast walks. Always watch your dogs for any signs of them being too cold. Most days warm up around midday, which is perfect for a longer walk. Humans can bundle up with boots, snow pants, jackets, hats, gloves, whatever they need to stay warm. Our mom loves those frigid morning walks. She gets just as frosty as we do, and never seems to get cold either.
Try getting out for Walk Your Dog Month, but remember to keep walking the other eleven months of the year, no matter what the weather. Your dog will love you for it, you will both feel better physically, and mentally, and it is simply fun!
We are thankful for wintertime, our favorite season, so we are joining Brian’s Home Blog in the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop! Visit some other blogs to see what they are thankful for.
You do look happy out n’ about in the snow. Those shoes are such a great idea to keep those ice clumps out of those paw pads. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Dang, my first comment disappeared. You do look like you’re having fun out n’ about in the snow. Those shoes are a great idea to keep those ice clumps out of those paw pads. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Dang, my second comment disappeared to so I’m trying my Google profile. You do look like you’re having fun out n’ about in the snow. Those shoes are a great idea to keep those ice clumps out of those paw pads. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Not sure what is up with commenting, but this one we got in our pending file, and the other two are in the spam folder. The internet can be so frustrating.
Brrrrr! Y’all are BRAVE to go walking in all that snow – cute as pie too!
We love being outside in the winter, it’s a lot of fun.
We used to have dogs and they did love to get outside. Luckily we have a nice large fenced in area so they could run and play. Great post about walking your dogs. It is a fun thing to do.
We have a fenced yard too, but just being in the yard gets boring. Walks are always a lot of fun.
The cold isn’t really a problem for us (except for this crazy cold this week), but the ice is a problem. Even though I can put on special shoes for walking on the ice, it’s not work it to me to risk the dogs slipping and hurting themselves. We have too much fun with agility to risk tears and sprains by walking on the ice, so we have plenty of fun activities we can do in the backyard or in the house to get a different kind of exercise. The dogs also seem to appreciate the occasional day off, especially when they’re getting the same walk every day in the winter and it starts to get boring. We walk almost every day, but I think days off can be good, too 🙂
We always walk because we are not supposed to use the yard as a bathroom. Mom can’t stand it when there are landmines around. For the ice, Mom has her Icebugs and we don’t have much trouble as we are off road a lot. Our walks are always different routes because Mom says it is too boring doing the same thing every time. Even now with -30 below plus windchill, we go out for a 10 min walk, but it is fast walking and running. Being inside and being lazy has been fun for two days, but we are ready to get out again now.
Just came back from walking Katie. First time I put a coat on her. We are not used to -5. Love the rosary checks on mom.
She kind of looks like a clown with the cheeks! Hope Katie was warm enough, and you too.
oh you look like that adventurers on da way to northpole… I hope a super warm fireplace and snugly blankets and hot tea are waiting for you wen you are back inside ;O) we do our daily patrols but they are a little bit shorter now… ;O)
The cold is invigorating, but being cozy and snuggly when we come in is great too.
And we have to watch out for cactus spines. Lol.
That’s no joke! In college in Tucson, Mom got a Saguaro catcus spine in her behind and she couldn’t sit down for a few days. Very painful she says. Lesson learned, never back up near a cactus.
In the cold, the chihuahuas only want to go out just long enough to do their business!
They are in that exception group of very small dogs who are not made for winter. We get that.
BRRRRRR…Dogs like going in and out and squirrels are in abundance – thank God for fenced yards. My asthma will not allow me to venture forth in these temperatures.
Really like your new store!!
Glad you like our store. Some dogs and some humans can’t be out in the winter, but most can go out and it is a good thing if it works. We get it with the asthma.
I love my walk but mom won’t walk when it’s zero with windchills well below. Today is an inside day for me and I’ve already been sniffing out goodies in my Snuffle Mat!
My mom is a real outdoors person, so we get to go no matter what the weather, but we do love winter walks the best of any time of year. Happy snuffling.
I hardly ever put coats on dogs when I was a dog walker in Fargo, ND. Temps got to about -18 a few of the days and most of them still went out for a 30-min run. Since we were running, the dogs were fine.
I’ve gotten a little “soft” now that I’ve lived in San Diego for a few years but we’re in Montana now and I put a coat on Remy quite often since he has short fur and such little body fat. We haven’t had temps anywhere near as cold as you guys though, down to about 0, but we like to be out awhile. I bought him some booties as well but haven’t used them yet.
With the actual temps of -30 or so the past two days, we have been doing a 10 minute run/walk to “get things moving” so we can potty and come back fast. The wind was really nasty. Now with the wind gone, we can be out a little bit longer, but after today, normal life will resume. Some dogs do need coats, but that is something for the pet parent to know. We see many really furry pups stuffed into coats which doesn’t need to be. For us, the paws are the issue. If we have shoes we are good to go.
I guess we have absolutely no excuses for not walking since our California “cold” days are about 60 degrees!
You’re right, it is important to get out & walk everyday 🐾
During this winter HuMom has not taken us on the road. I refuse to keep any boot on & due to the salt (which could compromise my anti seizure medications) & the toxic chemicals we stay on our trails we have made on the property or visit other trails that we know are safe🐾 With the current temperatures -20C & -30C we play in the yard periodically for short burst❄️
HuMom is not a winter person but she is an outside kind of gal which means she puts on the layers & we get out there🐾
Love your pics 🐾 Stay healthy & stay warm🐾
💜nose nudges💜
We are starting the warm up. Bummer you won’t keep your boots on, we don’t mind them at all once we start moving around. Hopefully you too will warm up soon.
We are primarily backyard dogs for our exercise. We love to run and chase and play. We get out for walks more in the spring and fall.
We enjoy the backyard too, but look forward to our walks every day for a change of scenery, and our Mom likes the exercise.
Last night, we got stuck in a snow squall. It was pretty scary for a couple of minutes, but Sampson and I made it home. It was cold again this morning, but we got short walks in. But we love the cold lie you guys do.
Katie loved it her last winter too even though she was super slow. Glad that snow squall didn’t get you guys!
We usually take at least two longer walks a day. Though this week has been too cold for Ruby. She’s not big on the snow, but usually (except for this week) doesn’t mind the cold as long as she has one of her sweaters or jackets on. Occasionally, we walk too far and she gets cold and I end up carrying her home – fortunately she only weighs 14 pounds.
Yes, a light dog is a plus if they need to be carried. Mom had to carry Katie a few times for like 1/4 to 1/2 mile because she couldn’t walk and further, even though it wasn’t a real long walk, but she was almost 80 lbs. It was a real workout, but Mom did it because Katie so wanted to walk as long as she could. The warm up should start for you guys soon, it’s starting here today.
Pups need their walks. I know our Little Bit was ready for her walk at 9am every single morning. Rain or shine.
Have a woof woof day. My best to your smart mom. ♥
Yes, we are ready every morning for ours, and every late afternoon for our second one. It is a good routine.
It must be so cold there right now! If anyone knows about cold, you do! I find that our dogs need boots below about -5°F. They never need coats… except for Hachi, who already has a coat.
Great advice!
We need shoes anytime it is below zero as even the snow starts to sting, but we race around like we don’t have our shoes on at all. Puppies sometimes need coats because they are still so young, but after that first year, most are fine with their own furs.
Your Mom is tougher than I am, but I am still trying to get out, and do a lot more, than I used to. Luke has his ways of letting me know if it’s too cold, so sometimes we will still try and he’ll let me know so we’ll keep it shorter. Winter is so much easier if you get out into the fresh air (and healthier too I think), we just need the right clothing and equipment to be comfortable.
You need to dress for it and know what your dog needs. We just need boots and we are good to go. Hope Luke starts liking the cold more.
That’s awesome you gals get out in harsh weather, me not so much.
Without the wind it wasn’t too bad, but that wind made it quite painful.
Walks are so important and thankfully, we don’t experience much winter weather. I marvel at how y’all are so acclimated to those frigid temperatures. You have my utmost respect. I am a cold weather weenie! BOL!
Mom has had the cold most of her life and really loves it. Nothing worse for us than summertime and hot/humid weather. None of us like that at all.
What a great post, we have been trying to embrace the rain and get out a couple of times a day no matter what the weather!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
We’ve noticed a lot of rainy day walks for you guys. That is the only weather my mom really dislikes, but we still get out in it for walking. Keep up the good work.
I used to walk my dog every morning when she was with us. Dogs love their walk and they are good at reminding you of their walk.
We walk every morning and love it.