Dogs & Winter

[Stock R]

Winter seems to finally be starting to hit Ontario, and being a new dog owner, I have some questions re: dogs & winter.

Our puppy (now about 5 months old) is a rescue and probably a mix between husky/shepperd/corgi. When we take him out for a stroll on days like yesterday where it was freezing rain everywhere, we're shivering but he seems to be unphased. He does prefer cooler temperatures, we have the house set at 20C and he still goes to sleep on the tiles.

So that being said, we're wondering if he needs things like a winter coat or booties. We've seen others put them on their dogs. His coat is very thick around his neck and scruff (would make Canada Goose wearers jealous) but pretty flat around his lower torso.

Also, do we need to switch to the super expensive "pet safe" salt for the walkway and driveway?

TIA.

[nyik]

Winter seems to finally be starting to hit Ontario, and being a new dog owner, I have some questions re: dogs & winter.

Our puppy (now about 5 months old) is a rescue and probably a mix between husky/shepperd/corgi. When we take him out for a stroll on days like yesterday where it was freezing rain everywhere, we're shivering but he seems to be unphased. He does prefer cooler temperatures, we have the house set at 20C and he still goes to sleep on the tiles.

So that being said, we're wondering if he needs things like a winter coat or booties. We've seen others put them on their dogs. His coat is very thick around his neck and scruff (would make Canada Goose wearers jealous) but pretty flat around his lower torso.

Also, do we need to switch to the super expensive "pet safe" salt for the walkway and driveway?

TIA.

Coat is not needed. Sounds like he's pretty well built for the winter.

Boots are debatable. The real reason they exist is so that the road salts don't harm his pads. Sure, there's also other reasons like "i don't want his dirty paws in the house when they've been trudging through slush". A quick wipe/rinse of his paws after walks should be fine.

[setell]

If your dog has a good coat then a winter jacket is not necessary. I leave my dog's coat longer in the winter time so that he's ok in the cold. He seems to be doing fine running around in the snow without a winter jacket.

[cheaper_than_cheap]

Sounds like his coat is just fine. He will tell you if he needs booties due to cold. If it gets below -20 or so you might see him holding his feet off the ground. Then again you might not. Of our 3 rescue dogs, two are wimps :razz: and don't like cold feet, but the third runs around happily no matter what the temperature is.

There's no road salt used here so I can't comment on whether you need booties for that.

[nyik]

If your dog has a good coat then a winter jacket is not necessary. I leave my dog's coat longer in the winter time so that he's ok in the cold. He seems to be doing fine running around in the snow without a winter jacket.

http://i.imgur.com/NPjL5m.jpg

:cheesygri:cheesygri:cheesygri

[Shaner]

If your dog is a husky/Shepherd mix, then it definitely doesn't need a coat. My 15 month old Shepherd still goes swimming.

As for using salt on your driveway, don't, unless it very explicitly states it is very pet safe. I just use sand. It doesn't melt ice like salt does, but it will give you traction.

[Syne]

Only put clothes on a dog if it's absolutely necessary, which for an animal that evolved naturally, should be never. Your dog sounds close to the standard that natural selection carved from the genus over millions of years, so you should be fine

[Stock R]

Thanks for the tips.

So far he seems to love playing in the snow and has no issues. I was just worried if it was just him being too dumb to realize he was doing something that would get him sick (like eating poo).

He also just started shedding like crazy. We brush him everyday just to try to keep his hair in check. Normal for this time of the year? I hear dogs will change for a winter coat, but Dec sounds late?

[nyik]

Thanks for the tips.

So far he seems to love playing in the snow and has no issues. I was just worried if it was just him being too dumb to realize he was doing something that would get him sick (like eating poo).

He also just started shedding like crazy. We brush him everyday just to try to keep his hair in check. Normal for this time of the year? I hear dogs will change for a winter coat, but Dec sounds late?

Eating poo (on occasion) won't get him sick. It's just gross for us humans.

I don't think changing of coats happens in sync with the calendar. Probably more so when the temperature changes.

[Shaner]

GSD's and huskies both shed 365 days a year, so it's completely normal for you to find gigantic clumps of hair all over the house. It never stops either, so get used to it.

[cheaper_than_cheap]

GSD's and huskies both shed 365 days a year, so it's completely normal for you to find gigantic clumps of hair all over the house. It never stops either, so get used to it.
Amen to that :D It's one of their charms.

We used a shedding rake similar to this

http://www.groomerstore.com/images/products/display/UndercoatSheddingRakeDoubleRow.jpg

and also a Furminator

http://www.petedge.com/assets/product_images/ensembles/medium/FURminatorOverstock.JPG

They will be your best friends (second to the dog of course) :)

[thrifthunter]

Coats are for toy dogs, your dog definitely doesn't need or want one.

[litebrite]

We have a boston terrier/chihuahua mix and he definitely needs a coat for winter. Our vet recommended Shedrow coats found at Greenhawk off Slack Rd.

http://www.heavenlyhund.com/prize.jpg


Talking to ppl at our local dog park they recommend Pawz rubber dog boots to keep salt from hurting the paws.

http://pawzdogboots.com/images1/main.jpg

Looks a bit silly but at least it doesn't seem as bulky as actual shoes/boots.

[JessicaBAustin]

coat is not needed.

[samkat]

Was at my friends in laws and they have a huge dog. Biggest face I have ever seen. It is a cross of a Burmese Mountain and Newfoundland. Drools way too much. My pants got quite slobby. Nice pet. But not in my house:-0

The only thing it would fit = blanket

Loved going out and in. Out and in. In and out.

[Ballroomblitz]

Your dog certainly DOES NOT REQUIRE a coat he is having fun so enjoy your walks and have a great winter!

[samkat]

Most people do not require Canada Goose jackets in most urban cities but doesn't stop them from wearing them walking around and having fun.;)

[Stock R]

New question: How cold is too cold for a dog?

It hit -20C today and I certainly froze my butt off this morning on our walk. I can't figure out if he's cold or not.
The streets were pure ice and the wind was pretty strong (-30 w/ windchill).

- His coat is pretty thick/fluffy around the neck, but his torso portion is pretty flat. Plus he's been shedding quite a bit more recently. (Should try to take a pic).
- He HATES non-perfect weather. He fights with us to go outside if it's raining or windy... But runs out if there's snow on the ground and even plants his face in the snow to sniff. But a little bit of wind blowing, and he'll start pulling to go home.

Dog has me so baffled. As a new pet owner, I'm always worried that something is wrong with him. Especially since he seems to change everyday as he gets older.

[Shaner]

Even at -30, a Shepherd/husky mix will not be cold so stop worrying about that.

My dog would probably still go swimming in this weather, although I wouldn't let her. I also have a 3 month old Shepherd and even he had no problem going out in the cold today.

[cheaper_than_cheap]

- He HATES non-perfect weather. He fights with us to go outside if it's raining or windy... But runs out if there's snow on the ground and even plants his face in the snow to sniff. But a little bit of wind blowing, and he'll start pulling to go home.
Sounds like cold is not an issue for him. The only physical symptom I would watch for is picking his feet up or rolling on his side to keep his feet off the ground.

Unrelated topic - make sure YOU are in control of the walks. DO NOT let him run the show by deciding when to go and when to come home. It may seem unimportant just for walks, but it will transfer to other aspects of his life and you will likely run into aggression / dominance issues later.

[jelena-c]

my two dogs years ago

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/anubis_the_dog/real%20life/doggiesinboots.jpg

this is the kind of dogs that need a big coat, and don't want to go outside in the winter.......i'm sure your dog has plenty of fur to keep him warm

the only thing about the paws is that when they get cold they'll start lifting them off the ground, so you'll know

[miztia]

My GSD loves the cold and especially the snow, but I usually bring her in sooner when it is really cold, as I read they can get frost bite on their ears. I dont usually take her out for walks when its windy as I see it bothers her ears as well.

[amz155]

New question: How cold is too cold for a dog?

It hit -20C today and I certainly froze my butt off this morning on our walk. I can't figure out if he's cold or not.
The streets were pure ice and the wind was pretty strong (-30 w/ windchill).

- His coat is pretty thick/fluffy around the neck, but his torso portion is pretty flat. Plus he's been shedding quite a bit more recently. (Should try to take a pic).
- He HATES non-perfect weather. He fights with us to go outside if it's raining or windy... But runs out if there's snow on the ground and even plants his face in the snow to sniff. But a little bit of wind blowing, and he'll start pulling to go home.

Dog has me so baffled. As a new pet owner, I'm always worried that something is wrong with him. Especially since he seems to change everyday as he gets older.

If your dog was too cold, you'd likely know it. It would start shivering a lot the way people do. If your dog has a medium to thick coat, my bet is that even -20C won't phase it. My Miniature Schnazuer at 24 pounds doesn't find -20C too cold.


my two dogs years ago

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/anubis_the_dog/real%20life/doggiesinboots.jpg

this is the kind of dogs that need a big coat, and don't want to go outside in the winter.......i'm sure your dog has plenty of fur to keep him warm

the only thing about the paws is that when they get cold they'll start lifting them off the ground, so you'll know

Often they lift their paws because they are bothered by the salt on the road/sidewalk and not because their feet are cold.

[Shaner]

Yeah, if your dog keeps lifting its paws, it's not because it's cold, but it's because ice, snow and/or salt is getting built up in the paws. Just lift its paws and clear any build up in there and the dog will be fine. Or you can take your dog inside, but chances are, your dog isn't cold or it would be shivering the way you would be.

[cheaper_than_cheap]

Yeah, if your dog keeps lifting its paws, it's not because it's cold, but it's because ice, snow and/or salt is getting built up in the paws. Just lift its paws and clear any build up in there and the dog will be fine. Or you can take your dog inside, but chances are, your dog isn't cold or it would be shivering the way you would be.
A week or two ago when it was -35 here, our dogs would start lifting their paws almost immediately after walking out onto the hard packed snow. There is no salt used in our yard. I'm 100% sure in this case it was the cold, not ice or salt buildup.

They do also have issues sometimes (typically when it's a lot warmer, when the snow can clump together) with ice buildup in the hair between their pads. In that case they seem to bite at their feet to try and clean them out themselves, as opposed to just lifting them off the snow.

I have no experience with salt so I can't say what they do with salt on their feet.

[Shaner]

A week or two ago when it was -35 here, our dogs would start lifting their paws almost immediately after walking out onto the hard packed snow. There is no salt used in our yard. I'm 100% sure in this case it was the cold, not ice or salt buildup.

They do also have issues sometimes (typically when it's a lot warmer, when the snow can clump together) with ice buildup in the hair between their pads. In that case they seem to bite at their feet to try and clean them out themselves, as opposed to just lifting them off the snow.

I have no experience with salt so I can't say what they do with salt on their feet.

Yeah, at -35 it's probably due to being cold. Anything below -30 and it's starting to get too cold for dogs, unless they are a breed meant for the cold and are used to being out in such cold temperatures. My dogs can still go outside in -30, but I know that they can't stay out for long.

[jaxx lite]

PAWZ is the world's only disposal and reusable water-proof dog boot. Made of natural rubber. PAWZ are designed to go on easily and fit securely without zippers or straps.

PAWZ offer serious paw protection. PAWZ is the most natural feeling boot your dog can wear because without padding your dog can feel the ground providing a needed sense of security.

Like a sock, PAWZ moves with your dog allowing full paw motion and maximum comfort, and imagine never losing another expensive boot again.

PAWZ come 12 in a pack and each boot may be worn many times.

Pawz is available at most pets stores

read reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_pet-supplies?_encoding=UTF8&node=2619533011&field-brandtextbin=Pawz

Safety Information
Dogs prone to swallowing small objects should be supervised.
Dog should not wear boots while dormant
Dog should not wear Pawz boots for many hours

-

=

[jakabgm]

PAWZ is the world's only disposal and reusable water-proof dog boot. Made of natural rubber. PAWZ are designed to go on easily and fit securely without zippers or straps.

=

A cheaper alternative to PAWZ are simple rubber balloons. I could not find PAWZ that fit my dog last winter; every place seemed out of stock of the middle sizes and only had teeny tiny ones or massive boots. I went to the dollar store and bought a bag of regular sized balloons. When I got home, I cut the neck off four balloons so they opening wouldn't be too long or tight and put them on my 20 pound dog. He seemed to walk funny for a split second but eventually was running up and down the hallway to get to the elevator. Once outside he didn't have any issues with walking or the balloons coming off. Like JAXX said however, do not leave the balloons on for long periods of time and make sure they aren't too tight. This was a much cheaper alternative and I didn't feel bad if his nail poked through or we ripped one when taking them off.