The first snow brings a lot of joy to dogs: they become more active and playful. However, winter is not only happy and fun but also fraught with some danger. To make sure your dog's life will be enjoyable in winter, you need to spend a little time preparing your pet for the cold.
Walking the dog in winter
Preparing for the winter should start with yourself: you need to choose the right clothes, especially shoes. Next, you should pay attention to the state of health of the dog: in the cold, she really needs a strong immunity.
You need to be more careful with puppies, as their immunity is weaker than that of an adult dog. Particular attention should be paid to dogs that suffer from arthritis and arthrosis.
a safe place for dog walking
Avoid places where it can be slippery or where glass can be under the snow. Branches and thick trunks of plants can also pose a threat in winter. When planning a walking route, choose as clear roads as possible.
Time allotted for a walk
There is no need to shorten the time you walk with an adult and healthy dog. Winter walks should be active. Despite the fact that dogs tolerate colds well, they can suffer from hypothermia. If the dog clenches its paws, stubbornly tries to lie down or sit down, then it is better to end the walk as soon as possible.
Feeding your dog in winter
Dogs always become more well-fed by winter. This is necessary to keep warm. The calorie intake of the dog should be increased as long as the dog is not overweight. The amount of calories you need depends on the ambient temperature.
Switching to a winter diet
The transition to a more calorie-rich diet should be smooth. It should start in the fall. You can increase the calorie content not only by directly increasing the portion but also by increasing the frequency of feeding up to three or even four times a day. Vitamins should also be included in the pet's diet to enhance immunity.
The importance of undercoat density
The increase in calories depends on the density of the dog's coat. Pets with a thick undercoat do not need a serious increase in the amount of feed. In contrast, dogs that have no undercoat at all will need to nearly double their calories.
Winter coat care
The dog's molt should be over by early or mid-December. If your pet's coat is not ready for winter, it may be cold. To help your dog get ready for winter as soon as possible, brush it at least once a week (for dogs with thick coats, it is recommended to comb it at least twice a week).
Tangled wool
If you do not comb the dog, then its coat will quickly get tangled. The more the wool gets tangled, the more cold air and snow it will let through to delicate skin. Matted hair also collects more dirt and moisture, so it gets dirty faster, dries slower, and increases the risk of the animal becoming sick.
Icicles and snow adhering to the dog's fur
In winter, snow will stick to the dog's coat, especially to the coat between the toes, turning into icicles. There is nothing to worry about, but when you return home, it is better to dry the dog so that it does not get wet. Icicles, which form on the paws of dogs, cause a little discomfort in the animal, but the pet will get rid of them on its own. It is not necessary to shorten the hair between the toes, as this will cause the snow to reach the dog's skin.
Special clothes for dogs
If your pet does not have a thick undercoat or has health problems, then he will need clothes. Many people think that putting clothes on an animal is ridiculous, even somewhat silly, but this can be a serious mistake. Even a dog with a thick undercoat at very low temperatures will not be disturbed by clothing.
The main clothes are raincoats, blankets, overalls, and sweaters. Some dog breeds may need clothing even before the snowfalls.
Shoes, in turn, protect the dog's paws, and mostly not from glass and other sharp objects, but from reagents. However, it is very problematic to train a dog to use shoes, even if it has been trained since childhood. Many dogs stubbornly take off their shoes. When accustoming a dog, it is better to start not with shoes, but with socks, since they do not interfere so much with an unaccustomed pet.
Pet paw protection
In winter, ice, hard snow, reagents, and salt on the roads can pose a significant threat to the dog's paws. Let's dwell on this in more detail.
Danger of reagents
Reagents are used to get rid of ice and snow outside, primarily near houses. They have a negative effect on the condition of the dog's paws: they cause painful cracks in dogs. Sometimes sand is used instead of reagents, which is safe for the dog's paw pads. If there is melted snow on the paths, and the temperature outside is low, most likely, it was the reagents that were used.
If you used reagents in front of the house, and you need to go for a walk with your pet, try to walk over them as little as possible. It is highly discouraging to spend the entire walk in the area where reagents are sprinkled. When leaving the danger area, immediately let the dog brush its paws on the snow.
When you return home, wash your dog's paw pads with paw shampoo. Using regular shampoo will only dry out the skin, not completely rinsing off the reagents.
The only thing that can be done is to secure your path as much as possible. This can be done with shoes. Protective spray, wax, and paw balm are also effective methods. Creams are also helpful, but they are less protective against reagents and can also cause allergies in the dog.
Walking the dog in the dark
In winter, it gets dark early, because of which you will either have to go out for a walk earlier or walk the dog in the dark. Try to avoid dark and completely deserted places, and also never forget the flashlight, because tracking the dog in the dark is much more difficult.
Distance between owner and dog
Losing your dog in the dark is much easier. A dog released from a leash can not only get lost but also scare people. To avoid possible problems with your pet, it is better not to let it off the leash once again. If the dog is still released, try to keep less distance from it than during the day. Make sure your pet doesn't eat anything.
Backlit collars
In order not to lose your pet in the dark, it is better to put on a special collar. It is completely harmless to dogs. A lighted collar is usually worn as an accessory. The backlight can be of different colors, but the main colors are red and green.
Features of keeping a dog outdoors in winter
Some dogs are not adapted for outdoor life in cold weather. However, other breeds have a dense and thick coat, which allows them to easily endure the winter. But no matter how well the dog does not tolerate the winter, it needs a warm home, where it can always keep warm.
Booth
If the main home of the dog is a booth, then it must be insulated. The booth is usually made of wood and is set up about 10 cm above the ground. The walls from the inside must be upholstered with warm material. Also, the pet needs dense bedding in the form of cloth or straw.
Aviary
If the animal is kept not just in a booth in the yard, but in an aviary, then insulation will be required not only for a sleeping place but also for the entire aviary as a whole. You can also put cloth or straw in the aviary. If there is no desire to constantly change the litter in the aviary, then it is necessary to teach the dog to walk only outside of it. It is worth being careful with the insulation of the enclosure if the dog lives there all year round since it should not be hot there in summer.
If you follow these simple rules, your dog's life will be joyful and happy in winter!