Our services
Questions
- How often should I walk my dog?
- Can I walk my dog in the snow?
- What do I need to walk my dog in the snow?
Every season brings its own challenge and Winter is no different, in fact, it may be the most challenging of all. Snow has a way of grinding the whole of the UK to a halt simply because we aren’t used to or prepared for it. You can quite easily find yourself with a snow day from work or school and suddenly you have all this time in the day and you aren’t sure what to do with it. Walking in the snow can be great but many owners aren’t even sure if they should be taking their dogs out on walks when the ground has a cold covering of snow.
We have everything you need to know about walking your dogs in the snow, if you should even venture outside on the coldest days and what extra equipment you may need to keep everyone safe.
How often should I walk my dog?
Dogs should be walked every day, however what those walks look like can be very different. Every dog is unique and their needs may be entirely different to another dog of a different age, size and breed. When you first bring your puppy home, it’s recommended to walk them for five minutes per every month of their life until you gradually build up to what their usual walk will be as an adult. Your first walk with your pup when they can venture outside may be only 15 minutes when they’re three months old and newly vaccinated but 15 minutes for a small puppy can be exhausting for them. So many new sights and sounds are a lot to take in.
The amount you walk your dog will also depend on your lifestyle. You may have a busy labrador who needs two hours of walking a day to help them be happy and relaxed in the house, but it may suit you to do this in one long walk or split into several shorter ones. Winter also brings an extra challenge to the table which includes finding those times when you can go out for a walk. One minute it’s raining, it’s dark almost all the time and then just as it dries up, the snow comes in.
Can I walk my dog in the snow?
Our beloved canine companions will often love getting out and about even when we would rather stay cuddled up indoors with a nice mug of hot chocolate. You can still walk your pooch in the snow, however that doesn’t mean going for your usual hour long adventure. A dog’s paw pads may be nice and tough, however when temperatures dip below freezing and the snow sticks to the ground, their whole walk is essentially walking on a sheet of ice that melts and soaks into their fur because of their body heat.
)
If you are going out into the snow, it’s not recommended to walk for more than twenty minutes. While their paws offer some amount of protection against the cold, snow can build up and stick around their feet which have no way of warming up until you get home. So if it’s snowing out, you can still walk your pooch but may need to split their walks into several shorter ones if they’re still keen to get out and about.
What do I need to walk my dog in the snow?
Taking our canine companions out for a walk in the snow is no different than when we venture out in it. You wouldn’t go outside without an extra layer of socks or a nice thick coat and your pup will likely need some extra protection too.
Waterproof coats
A waterproof coat can make all the difference when you’re walking your dog out in the snow. Although it might not seem wet out and may not be actively snowing or raining, a jacket that isn’t waterproof will soak up all the moisture from the snow on the ground and become heavy and cold, whereas a waterproof coat will keep them dry for the duration of their walk.
A jacket like the Rufus & Rosie Protect-A-Suit is great for almost full body coverage. If you have a pup with a long coat, snow can get caught in the fur under their stomach or along the backs of their legs. This can gather more and more snow until they’re practically wearing snow boots that make them even colder than they need to be! A full body suit will help protect them against snow sticking to them.
Not every dog loves to be fully covered so if your pooch isn’t used to something as protective as a suit then a nice warm coat like the Rufus & Rosie Pink Reversable Puffer Jacket can also be a great choice to stay warm and dry.
Dog snow boots
If you’re looking for a way to protect their feet, dog booties can really help to stop them from getting too cold. Paw protection is an important part of caring for your pups in the snow and it’s even more important if they have any injuries or areas that you need to protect. The Mikki Dog Boot is great for protecting any injuries from the snow or even just to protect sensitive paw pads that might not be very used to the cold.
)
When we come in from the cold we might suffer from dry skin and our furry family members are no different. A soothing balm like The Spa Cracked Paw & Nose Balm can be used before and after walks to make sure the skin on their nose and paws stay nice and hydrated after getting so cold.
A nice fluffy towel
You may have everything you need for the walk itself but preparing for your arrival back home is just as important. If you go home and just let your pup gradually dry off, all the snow they’ve collected in their coat can take a long time to melt away, not to mention it will leave them damp and hinder the process of them warming themselves back up. Having a super absorbent towel like the Rufus and Rosie Quick Dry Towel means you can dry their feet, legs and anywhere else that may have gotten cold and wet from the snow so they take much less time to warm up again.
To make sure you and your pooch are fully prepared for your Winter walkies, you can find all your doggy essentials in store and online.