Winter's Coming...preparing your pets

[Guest Anonymous]

Winter is already here where I live but in many places it has yet to come (you lucky lucky lucky people!..it's -20 here!). After putting winter tires on your cars and trucks, take some time and make sure your dogs and cats are also winterized!

Here are some great tips on how to do just that...

Winterizing your dog
Katie Ward

Fall marks the inevitable onset of winter and the time to prepare -- we haul out the winter clothes, insulate our homes, gather up the boots and tune up our cars. And, in the midst of all this preparation, don't forget that it's equally important to winterize your dog. Whether you want to continue to walk your dog daily or just let him enjoy a regular backyard outing you need to condition him for the winter cold.

Snow, ice, and the typical chemicals used during winter all have the potential for causing serious problems. Chemicals used to combat cold temperatures are dangerous if ingested and contact with them can crack the pads on a dogs' feet and dry them out. My fall dog catalogs list some products to use on snow and ice that are guaranteed safe for pets. I would look into some of these if you're a pet owner.

Snow and ice are dangerous because they can cut into the pads. You can and should condition your dog's pads to stand up to these seasonal stresses. The pads will toughen up some by walking, however, this isn

[abker17]

That is great advice Nic! :D :D :D I think this should be a sticky. :)

I'm hoping to TRY ski-jouring with my girls this year, Cracker does have Malamute in her afterall. Let's hope she takes to it well, it would really be a good activity for her to do since she seems to take no interest in agility, and loves the snow. :D

BTW Nic, poor u! Yesterday it was like 70 something here! But today it's all rainy and cold. :(

[abker17]

Oh, I do have an idea to add! :D

Anyone who has a dog over 35 lbs and a lightwieght kid can teach thier dog to pull a sled with the kid on it. :) Start by putting a harness on u're dog, and getting the dog used to the harness if it's not already. Make the harness a good thing, by giving lots of treats and praise when the dog wears it. Walk the dog in it, do fun things like games. After the dog is accustumed to the harness, try attaching something small and relitivly light wieght. Lead the dog around with a treat while it pulls the object. When u're dog is comfortable with that, add something heavier. Repeat the same thing until u're up to the sled. Attach the sled to the harness and let the dog get comfortable with that. Then add the kid. :) LOL. Lead the dog around slowly, getting him used to the wieght. When I do this with Abby and my sister, I always have a leash attached to Abs's collar so that she doesn't get going to fast and I can control as to where she can go. It's a lot of fun for dog and kid, plus if the snow is deep the dog will tire out fast! I think we all know that a tired dog is a good dog. :wink: But also learn to recognise when u're dog is getting tired. Take lots of breaks and provide lots of water. Once u're back in make sure to check u're dogs feet.

Have fun! :D

[imported_Kat]

Yep Winter here in Northern Ireland too, already had a spattering of snow and going to around -7 degrees celcius at night. Can't believe its going to be Christmas soon. where I live they put the xmas decorations up before halloween..how sad is that :roll:

[Guest Anonymous]

I have one to add too. Fo people with dogs like mine, a horthaired lab mix and a short haired foxhound, adding a little oil (in the form of canned food or vegetable oil) will add a sheen to their coats. It WILL make them a little oily feeling, but that's the point. You want the coat to be able to ward off water from snow and rain, so it beads up instead of soaking in and drying out the skin.

courtnek

[Annushka]

I wanna try skijouring too, but Asting can't understand what to do! Can someone help? He runs near me, but he doesn't pull! :(

As for preparing for winter... For Asting snow and cold is usual weather! :lol: It's 9 months here!
You should pay great attention to central heating. If it's hot in your house, the temperature contrast can be too big, especially for short-haired dogs.
If someone has written it before-sorry! My eyes are sick,so, I can't read all the messages. :(

Oh, yes, I just envy you all! For you snow and ice is a problem for paws! :o Here snow is a present for dog feet! No broken glass, wires and other dangerous things! You don't have this and should be proud of it! :D

[Guest Anonymous]

Well, I did buy my Peanut a heavy duty coat on ebay last week. This thing is niiiiiice. I don't know what possessed me. The temperature where I live rarely drops below 50 except sometimes overnight and my dogs have NEVER seen snow. Still, my two Standard Poodles and my Toy Poodle (that's Peanut) travel with me EVERYWHERE I go and I always have this image in my head of blowing a tire or my car becoming disabled on the coldest day of the year, so I just thought it would be a good idea for her to have a coat in the car as a "just in case." :oops:

That's about all the winterizing I've done. The Standards are big and hairy and supposed to be water dogs, so they're on their own if we break down. :)

[StarFox]

Guess it's a good thing it's never winter here!! :lol: Except for a little rain every now and then. But i do have a cute little sweater that Zebra whears when he goes outside, it helps to keep his hips warm.


Newfiemom-I know people probably think that your dogs look like a Saint and every other dog except for what they realy are. So i figure you might get a laugh out of this.....someone thought that Zebra was a Newfie! :lol: How My Zebra looks anything like a newfie i will never know! :niewiem: :hmmmm:

[Annushka]

Poor, poor Zebra! :(

[mouseatthebusstop]

Fantastic topic