Tips to help dogs deal with winter

Some dogs were designed for winter weather. Ours are not among them. Over the years we’ve found these tips help dogs deal with winter weather. 

A dear friend of ours has Keeshonden – a Nordic breed that’s extremely fluffy and designed to deal with snow and cold. After our six-inch snowfall yesterday, she posted pictures of her dog’s delight, romping through her yard.

We’re lucky if we can get our dogs out the door.

Divide and conquer

The first tip is hardest on the humans, but gets the best results for getting the dogs to “do their business” outside. Take them one at a time. As small-dog people, we’ll even carry them to their “potty spot.” This gives the most time on the ground before they’re convinced their paws are frozen, they can’t possibly take another step, and are being tortured. 

It’s actually pretty funny to see their accusatory looks – as if we could actually do something about the weather. We love their faith, if not their logic. But they’re dogs.

Make a path

You know you’re a small-dog person when, after the sidewalks are shoveled you start on the yard.

Make a path through snow to help dogs deal with winter
Torque (front) and Tango on one of their paths through the backyard snow.

Paths all around the perimeter to the dogs’ favorite necessary areas. This has the added advantage of building side walls for a barrier against wind. 

If the weather cooperates, you’ll get enough new snow over time so you don’t have to pick up, or cover up, the task-appropriate “used” path parts. If not, at least your clean-up task has limits. Because there’s no way the 10-inch-high dogs are forging their own paths through 14-inch-high snow.

Inside tips

If you’re like us and don’t have a fireplace, you still know where to find your dogs in the winter time. Stacked up like logs against the heat vents. 

Because we love our dogs, of course we put dog beds in front of all the best vents in the house. This ensures that the dogs get maximum benefit, while hogging all the warm air. Since they tend to vent-hug while we’re busy and moving around, it works.

Best tip ever

When it’s time to relax for the evening, we can count on the dogs to keep us company on the couch. It’s not that they adore us. They may, but their motive is more selfish. 

We use heated throws. It’s like an electric blanket, but smaller, and goes with the decor. It’s amazing how quickly the dogs figured those out.

How do your dogs deal with winter?

We’d love to hear about any tips you have to keep your small dogs comfortable in the winter time. Anybody use the dog litter boxes? Did it take long for your dog to learn to use it? Let us know!

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