Taking dogs out in the snow...

hayley11

We've now got lots of lovely snow here and my dog loves it (he was only little last year so was too young to play out in it) I was wondering if it's ok to let him run around in it for long periods of time, say like over an hour? We usually go for quite long walks at the weekend but I don't want to keep him out too long if he might get too cold or his paws get sore or something?

He's a cavalier king charles so only small

Thanks in advance x

amibovvered

One thing I would be very careful of is snow collecting on the coat/pads. Did you see that spaniel on the news yesterday - it looked like a snowman! (snowdog?) Cavs have quite long fur (especially ears/tails) so they can collect snow.

Check between toes for ice collecting - that can be painful for the dog as well.

I usually only take my dog out in the snow for about 30 minutes - but that's because I'm a lazy g*t - I suspect my dog would rather stay out longer! :snow_laug:snow_grin

minimad1970

I've got a hairy border terrier and he looked like he was wearing snow boots yesterday. He likes to stick his face right in the snow and you can hardly see his face. When we got home I had to melt the snow with a hairdryer there was such big clumps of it on his face and legs!

amibovvered

minimad1970 wrote: »

I've got a hairy border terrier and he looked like he was wearing snow boots yesterday. He likes to stick his face right in the snow and you can hardly see his face. When we got home I had to melt the snow with a hairdryer there was such big clumps of it on his face and legs!

Bet you didn't have a camera handy, either - I never do when my dog is looking extra cute or bizarre! :rotfl:

bethie

my friend said that when she took my dog and another one out, that mine had so much fun playing she kept laying down in it to cool off!!!

gettingready

Zara loves the snow....... the longer the better LOL

But she is long haired GS...

gettingready

minimad1970 wrote: »

big clumps of it on his face and legs!

Like THAT you mean? LOL

gassy12

We have an Anatolian Shepherd Dog,she just loves to play in the snow,she would stay out in the garden all day if we let her.She pushes her head down into the snow and throws her head up, and snow goes up and all over her,she out runs the other dogs in the local closed in compound where we take her for off lead exercise.
We have only had her for seven months,and she was a rescue dog from Battersea London.
Great adorable loving friend she is becoming,now she is beginning to trust us.

gettingready

Anatolian Shepherds are used to guard sheep etc in the mountains - they would have it in their genes to be like cold

Careful, they need a VERY firm hand, they are used to scare BEERS (yup) off from sheep.....

Beautiful dogs......

There_Goes_Trouble

My dog doesn't tend to get cold as long as we keep moving. I do put a coat on her though, I figure if I keep her dry she's less likely to get cold. If she gets wet she'll get cold.

Snowballs forming on their legs/feet is the biggest problem I've ever had with snow, the snow collects in the long hair and then you get snow on top of snow, until she can't walk. Like this:



So now, as soon as it snows I trim the hair from her legs and feet, you might want to get a groomer to do it if you've not done it before. Then her legs don't collect snowballs. It does take the hair a long time to grow back though, but I don't care as long as she can actually walk in the snow!

happyjack_2

My bedlington whippet lurcher absolutely loves it. He has been going mental in the snow playing football it really is a delight to watch. Because he is rough coated he cannot stay out too long though as his feet and legs get snow balls hanging off him :-)