Many dog owners mistakenly believe their pets can “weather the weather” due to their fur and the fact that they descended from wolves after all. However, our domesticated furry friends are not necessarily as acclimated to our cold Michigan winters, so winter weather preparedness for dogs is just as important as protecting your pet from overheating in the summer months.
Dogs are susceptible to frostbite, especially on the tips of their ears and tails. Without adequate protection from freezing weather and the elements, dogs may be far less comfortable than you think when they’re outdoors - especially if they aren’t a breed specific to cold winter climates or extreme weather (like Huskies, Malamutes, or Great Pyrenees). Plus, if your “cold weather dog breed” is acclimated to indoor life, they need more outdoor protection than you’d assume.
Here are five essential pet winter safety tips to keep your dogs as comfortable and safe as possible when freezing temperatures and harsher winter weather become the norm.
If your dogs aren’t allowed in the house, ensure they have a safe, interior space to spend their time when the weather is freezing, windy, or wet. By building or purchasing a water and windproof enclosure, you go a long way toward keeping them dry and warm.
If possible, consider installing a doggy door on an exterior garage door and placing a nice thick bed with sides raised off of the floor. Otherwise, dog houses or igloos are a good investment and can do a similar job of protecting dogs from harsh winters by giving them an indoor option.
Things to think about for outdoor pet enclosures:
Pro Tips: If you bring them in the house more than normal:
Don’t assume your dog’s fur is enough to keep it warm. In the low temperatures we experience here in Royal Oak, MI, dogs need extra support to stay warm if they’re outside or in an unheated shelter.
This can include any combination of well-fitted gear specially designed for dogs:
Bring your dog(s) along with you to a local pet supply store to ensure a good fit (their employees are happy to help with this). Poorly fitting outdoor wear can hurt your dog by cutting off circulation or rubbing uncomfortably in tight areas, causing sores or hot spots.
Some dogs adjust to outdoor gear better than others. So, just like when you allowed time for your dog to get used to a new collar, harness, or leash, they’ll need time and practice getting used to the new clothes or booties. Start in slow, incremental doses until they have adjusted well enough to don them outside at length.
If your dog sleeps outside or in an unconditioned area, put extra blankets or layers underneath its bed and offer it extra blankets to snuggle under to help it stay warm at night.
In addition to making direct contact with the cold ground, your dog’s paws are susceptible to cuts and abrasions from ice or pokey objects hidden under the snow. Pay attention to their body language and perform a full inspection at that first sign of a limp or a change in how they move.
Inspect their paws regularly along walks or after you get home to minimize the risk of further hurt, injury, or infection.
Pro Tip: Dogs still need plenty of exercise, whether it’s cold outside. Most days, if you can handle the weather, your dog can, too, assuming you’ve provided the right winter weather dog gear. If, however, you’re an extreme winter athlete who brings your dog along, dog boots are an essential investment if they aren’t a notorious cold-weather dog breed. Most dogs will show you they’re unhappy or uncomfortable via body language (whining, tail between their hind legs, or resisting the leash when normally they are happy.). Don’t get angry; get curious. By figuring out what’s bothering them, you can get them the right gear or opt to leave them at home for longer winter excursions.
You may forget that the outdoor water supply freezes at night in a busy family schedule. This can leave your dog dangerously dehydrated.
If you don’t bring your dog indoors during extreme winter weather, check the dog’s water bowls in the morning, when you get home from work, and before you head to bed, so they have ample access to fresh water. The same is true for their food.
Dogs that are older, younger, or have health conditions have a more challenging time regulating their body temperature. If this is the case for your pet, talk to your veterinarian for personalized recommendations about how much they can - or can’t - tolerate winter weather and how to keep them safe this winter.
Is this your first winter or two with a dog in your household? The team of professional dog trainers at Alternative Canine Training can help you learn more about your dog’s weather-ability based on their breed and temperament. While we’re at it, we’re also happy to tell you more about our one-on-one in-home and group dog training classes, as well as our popular Doggy Boot Camp.
Contact Alternative Canine Traning to learn more or sign up.