Walking the dog in cold weather.

It’s wintertime! Days are shorter, nights are longer, and you probably wake up every day and ask yourself “how cold is it outside?”, so you can make sure to dress appropriately for any errands you need to run. Since cold weather is here to stay, you may not want to see your dog cold, so you wonder about how cold is too cold for dogs or what temperature is too cold for dogs. Simple answer, if it’s too cold for you, chances are, it’s too cold for your dog as well. But, does it mean you can’t take your dog on a walk at all in the winter? Not necessarily!

Some tips for walking the dog in cold weather winter months!

• Put a pair of booties on your doggo: Booties are a good way to keep your dog’s paws warm in cold weather. Some dog breeds do have a higher threshold for cold weather than others, but booties are a super effective way to protect your dog’s paws regardless. They keep the paws warm and covered, and best of all, they are durable so you don’t need to worry about them breaking easily.
• Rub some paw balm on your dog’s paws: It’s winter, so chances are, it may have snowed. Everyone knows what snow turns into in ridiculously cold weather right? (It’s ice!)

So, before you go out walking the dog on the snow or ice, rub some paw balm on his paws. Doing this will help prevent dry skin and damage salt can cause to your doggo. Make sure to reapply the paw balm after returning home from walks. Having paw balm on hand is also a great way to help keep the paws soft during the cold weather months.

• Bring a towel on your walk: When you come back from walking the dog in cold weather, make sure to wipe his paws with a towel afterwards. This will minimize any damage from salt, ice, or other residue your dog may have stepped on. If you’re REALLY paranoid about any possible damage, you can dip each paw in some lukewarm water before towel drying.
• You can never go wrong with keeping the walks short: If you ever have doubts on what temperature is too cold for dogs, it’s best to keep walks short. Being out in the cold too long is dangerous and can lead to frostbite. If you must take your dog out for a walk, you should put him in some good dog winter clothes that will be sure to keep him warm, like a coat or jacket. This is a must for dogs with short fur and no double coat. Remember, your best bet is to keep walks short!

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