Protecting Pets from Winter Weather - Arlington, MA Patch

This week, I suffered a rude awakening from the dream that this year, we?d completely escape the usual cold of a New England winter. Having spent my childhood in Texas, I?ve never fully adjusted to this northern climate, and despite concerns about global warming, I?ve really appreciated the mild temperatures we?ve enjoyed this season. However, when the weather shifted drastically from temperately Fall-like to intensely wintery for a couple days this week, I found myself scrambling to find not only my own winter gear, but that of my dogs.

Since my dogs need to travel with me much of the time as I make my rounds to the homes of my dog training students, keeping them warm on these brutally cold winter days is a major concern. When it?s really cold out, I find myself toasting the car up on drive time in between lessons so that it stays warm enough during the hour that my dogs wait in the parked car when they are not needed during a lesson. So far, this system works for us. I?ve always returned to a comfortably warm car even when the thermometer hit 23 degrees earlier this week.

As for walks, I usually just try to get my guys out during the warmer times on winter days, avoiding the more frigid weather, but on the two days this week that were so cold all day, I decided it was finally time to pull out their coats to wear for outings.

Now, those of you who remember that I have two borzois, also known as Russian wolfhounds, might be wondering why a dog originally bred to withstand harsh Russian winters needs a coat, and perhaps you?re right. I do think my younger guy, Tatsu, prefers to wear his coat on cold days, though. My older dog, Skylar, whom I adopted last February, is ambivalent. He wears his coat without complaint, but also seems perfectly happy to trot along without one even when Tatsu and I would rather not be out at all.

For many breeds, however, I think a coat is a really good idea. Dogs with a smooth, thin coat and most small breeds, in my opinion, really shouldn?t be expected to brave walks without some sort of protection from the cold. How cold is too cold? That?s tricky to say for dogs in general since dogs vary so greatly in size and thickness of fur, so I can only tell you my own rule of thumb for my own large, sturdy, long-haired dogs, and that is: when the temperature dips below 30 degrees, coats are not optional for my hounds even on short, brisk walks. If you do decide to have your dog wear a coat (or boots, or any garment for that matter), it?s important to get them used to their new garb gradually.? Check out one of my previous Weekly Yips, The Well-dressed Pup, for tips on helping your dog learn to tolerate their winter wardrobe.

I?m still counting my lucky stars that snow and ice have kindly stayed away for the most part this season. To this date, I still have not found suitable boots for borzoi feet, despite my yearly search. They have an unusual foot-shape, which makes it hard to find ones that stay on their feet well, although I see other breeds of dogs successfully wearing many of the brands I?ve ruled out. Perhaps Mother Nature will let me off the hook from that search this year?and yet, we?ve been so lucky this season that I almost feel guilty for my greedy wishful thinking.

Source: http://arlington.patch.com/articles/protecting-pets-from-winter-weather

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