Walking in the snow can be wonderful, but it can also be dangerous!
Walking in the snow
Unless you are walking one of our Siberian husky’s or Malamutes, you may have to cut the walks short in snow.
Just like any walk you take at another time of year; you want to keep both you and your dog’s safe while they get the exercise and challenge they need.
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Protect those delicate feet Cold, snow, ice, salt, and more can all wreak havoc on dog’s feet during the winter months. If you see salt, walk around it. As they are not your dog, unless the owners supply boots, these are out, but one simple way to add a layer of protection is to put on some petroleum jelly. Just be sure to wipe the dog’s feet before you go back inside. Remember, some dogs do not like their feet being touched as lifting paws can make them feel vulnerable. Always practice lifting paws and giving a treat for when it will be needed. If they have icicles between their toes, either rinse in warm water or put a hairdryer on the toes on a very low setting. In your feedback, gently suggest to the owners that they trim the hair on the feet until the weather warms up or buy some boots for the dog.
Prevent pulling While you never want your dog to pull you on the walk, it can be especially dangerous when there’s ice involved. If you’re still mastering the walk, ensure the dog has proper equipment to prevent them from pulling you onto thin ice and risking a fall or worse. Keep the leads short and have them off lead whenever it is safe and suitable. However, if it is snowing heavily, keep them on a lead as this can be disorientating
Sometimes breed does matter Certain longer-haired breeds may be begging you to stay out for more time when it’s cold outside, but if you’ve got a Chihuahua, a Doberman, or another short-haired dog, be very mindful of how cold they are. A nice, warm dog coat that doesn’t restrict movement is a good investment, but you may still want to watch the clock. The short haired breeds should all wear a coat. The long-haired breeds can get ice stuck in their fur and between their toes.
Hydration Winter can be a very dry time. Dehydration can sneak up on us. Ensure you drink enough and ensure all the dogs have water available. Do not let them eat snow, as this can have lots of waste and bacteria hiding in it.
Walking Worry about keeping the dogs safe, sure, but don’t neglect yourself in this equation. Ensure that you have on at least 3 pairs of socks, layers of clothes, a hat and gloves. Have a few hand warmers so that you can get take one on each walk. Always have a spare coat, jumper, trousers, and gloves in the car, as when the snow melts, you may get wet and need to change. Ensure you are wearing a high vis top as visibility is poor when there is snow. If you have a choice of snow or ice, always choose to walk on snow. When walking on ice, lean slightly forwards. Walk flat footed to give as much traction as possible and keep your hands out of your pockets to help you balance. Hold arms out to the side to balance if needed. Try and walk on snow and not ice but try and keep to routes that have already been walked to avoid danger.
Driving Do not drive further than you need to or take unnecessary risks. If the dog is at the top of a hill, park at the bottom and walk up. If you can not get out in the car, ask if there are any local dogs you can walk to, some dogs may have been left home alone and their owners cannot get back. Always take the greatest of care. Take the flattest route possible, avoid hills if possible.
Quick walks If it is snowing heavily, your safety is the primary worry. If you fear that you may not get back, do not walk the dog for the whole walk, just get them out for a toilet break and ensure their owners are getting home to them. If you need to, you can collect them and take them with you or feed them if the owners may be late. You may need to visit dogs you do not usually visit but are on your route, it is better that all get a toilet break outside their house than a one hour walk and one nothing at all. If you are on foot, you may be able to play with them inside after the toilet break instead of a walk. Practice some training.
Snow days On a day that there is snow, we will send an email to all our clients asking them to let us know if they are in home or will be out. We treat the dogs that are home alone as priority. If a dog is home alone, it may be that the owner cannot get back for a while, so if you are worried, email you team leader. If you cannot get your vehicle out, email your team leader and inform them of this and who you can walk to.