How do you keep warm walking your dog in Winter?

Kim-DogsBlog

I double up - double tops, double socks

Big scarf that can wrap all the way around. In saying that, we've got 2 dogs - a 4 yr old with loads of energy and an 11 yr old with rheumatism and a slow pace, so we tend to take them to the park and play football which warms me up anyway. That way Chloe can potter and Mia can fly around like a mad dog for a bit.

maggie_12

Thanks everyone!!! Some great suggestions.

MoneyAnt - I am the WIFE!!!! lol

Walking faster seems logical but with a dog pulling on the lead I feel if I walk faster I'll soon by flying through the air. I do tend to pull back when he's pulling which I know is the wrong thing to do but it's instinct cause I think he's going to pull me off my feet.

bulchy - I know what you mean about getting gloves that are warm and easy to scoop the poop. I had to keep taking my gloves off before to manage the bag but now before I go out, I open the bags and then put them in my pocket, don't need to take the gloves off anymore!!

I find it hard to play with my dog when it's always dark. There's not anywhere like a park near by that's well lit so when you throw a toy for him he loses it! I have to rely on taking him walks but he's not nearly burning up enough energy this way. He does get out during the day too but with work patterns, I'm mostly taking him out at night. My OH takes him out during the day and I also have a dog walker but you could take him out one great big walk once a day and would think that was enough to then allow shorter walks for the rest of the day but it's not! My dog as enough energy for half a dozen massive walks and play sessions a day!!!

Going to go buy me some layers!!!! or maybe that hot water bottle haha

amibovvered

Main thing is - don't worry about what you look like! For walking on ice - if you can't walk on the grass and the road is as bad as the pavement do get boots with a good grip. I've fallen a few times when my dog pulls (she's good on the whole but if a cat streaks across the road . . .) and it's not nice! Doc Marten type boots are pretty good, I had a pair purely for dog walking. As I'm only just over 5' and wear several jumpers etc I'm sure I look the the Michelin man when I'm out with the dog!

ermintrudey

I agree with the other posters... layers layers layers. the only bad thing is if you need a quick wee, its not that quick:rotfl:

I've tried the gloves with batteries that keep your hands warm but they are far too bulky. The thinsulated gloves are good and you can get the silk glove insides that go in any gloves.

Also I love my zippo hand warmer. It's so much better than the cheap ones. It cost me about £20 from firebox last winter and I had to buy the lighter fuel too but it lasts hours n hours instead of the cheap ones that only last about half an hour if your lucky. I've seen them recently for about £15 so have a look around for any deals on them.


Hope that helps.

picklepick

Really good boots are a must. I've tried loads and my fave ones are moon boots. They usually have them on Ebay for cheap. They have a thick rubbery sole and i didnt slip once last winter on ice. then a waterproof layer, then a foamy sock thing, then i have my normal socks and sometimes my feet are hot! They're great!!

Make sure your gloves are waterproof and windproof, just wooly ones wont be good enough.

Make sure you wear a scarf and tuck the ends inside your coat. It's amazing the difference a warm neck makes and it stops a draft getting down your coat.

Wear a hat that covers your ears. I hate cold ears.

I was out for 6 hours yesterday and the only part of me that was cold was my face.... think I might invest in a balaclava! haha

hethmar

A parka with a hood and a tie up round the bottom of it and always wear a hat. Two pairs of socks or thermal ones and if you are frightened of slipping (which I am), you can get those little spike things that you connect to the bottom of your boots to give a bit extra grip.

foreign_correspondent

lots of layers - generally a t shirt, a jumper and two hoodies, a trapper hat (a furry one with earflaps... I like to think I look like the bird out of Northern Exposure, but in reality I just look like a loon), a warm scarf, waterproof walking shoes, and 2 pairs of socks... and most importantly, walk like hell!

moomin5

Thermal under-layers & socks help enormously and if your core body stays warm then hands/feet also don't feel the cold so much. Lots of skiiing stuff about at the moment which helps, i got my thermals at TKmax last year which was half price of same ones in blacks. I also have some snow boots (similar to those) that weren't expensive from decathalon which have great grip, very warm and also easy to clean mud off.

welshmoneylover

My dress sense goes right out the window at this time of year when I go to walk the dogs, I look a right mishmash of outfits.

But yeah, agree with what the others have stated: layers and lots of them.

Thanks for the tip about the deer stalker hat, aint got one of them but will ask Santa for a nice one for a pressie.

charlies-aunt

Get a dogmatic head collar - we have a rescue labrador that came to us aged 6 and had never been walked on a lead (had been kept in a kennel and run all her life) She could pull me over in an ordinary collar and was in 'husky mode' with a harness on ..... the dogmatic isbest thing we ever bought for our dog - it is comfortable for her, doesn't ride up like the Halti head collars and we could walk her without pulling within minutes of it being first used! Amazing! ...and no - I don't have shares in the Company!

http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/