The sidewalk is completely buried under snow. The temperature is frigid and the wind is whipping. It’s a great day to take a walk — if you’re a Siberian husky! If, however, you’re a Chihuahua, a Yorkie or a human, you’d probably rather take a long winter’s nap. But neither snow nor rain gloom of night should stay a dog’s appointed rounds. Like mail carriers, dogs have to go out no matter what the weather.
If you don’t take your dogs out or exercise them in the winter, they can get very destructive as they have no outlet for their pent-up energy. As we’re sure you know, most doggies love to play in the snow, but during super-cold weather you need to be careful and take precautions just like you would if you had a child outside with you.
So how do you make the winter dog-walking experience as pleasant as possible for both you and your canine companion? First, of course, make sure that you’re both appropriately dressed. Bundle up in layers and make sure your hands and face are covered – you know, hats and gloves! Thermal underwear, thermal socks and earmuffs also come highly recommended. And for icy conditions, consider slip-on shoe attachments that provide traction on ice.
And what about the dogs — do they need outerwear when it’s cold? If you have a husky, they will happily stay out longer than we would — they just love it. But smaller ones like a Chihuahua and the more delicate dogs, they’ll start shivering without even going out. Smaller dogs like that should always have coats on.
Another thing to be careful of when walking your dog is the salt people put down to melt walkways. Salt can be a big problem as it not only dirties your floors if dragged in, but it can damage a dog’s paws, leading to infection. The problems are compounded if the dog licks its paws. In 2005, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center issued an alert about the potential dangers of dogs ingesting ice melts, especially those containing calcium chloride and sodium chloride. The most important thing for you to do after a walk is to clean off your dog’s paws with a towel when you get home to make sure ALL the salt is off their paws!
In short, here are come common sense, winter dog-walking tips we found online to share with you today:
- Put a coat on the dog if it has short hair and shivers when it’s cold.
- Consider canine boots if the dog was not designed for the cold and snow.
- If a dog has walked on salted snow, immediately clean off the paws
when you get home.
- Older dogs with arthritis can be the most affected in cold, snow or icy conditions. If possible, carry them to a place where it’s safe to do their “business.”
- Keep the dog’s nails trimmed, which will offer better traction
on snow and ice.
- Brush the dog’s coat regularly. This distributes the natural oils in
the skin, which will help prevent dry skin.
So if you’re really tired of late-night doggie walks in the rain, or wish your dog had some romping room outside while you watch from the warmth of being inside, then you just might be ready for some backyard fencing! We have the experience and know-how to answer your questions, provide township code and regulation information, and carry a multitude of fence styles to choose from to make this decision as pain-free as possible. Feel free to contact us by phone, email, or filling out this simple form — we would love to hear from you! Call (215) 362-8200 or email info@fencecity.com
Source: various pet-related pages online
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