Keeping your dog safe when out walking in Winter

Christmas time is certainly a time where there’s a lot of new puppies around. Whilst we need to remember that a puppy just isn’t for Christmas and comes with a lot of responsibilities and looking after, here are a few tips on how to keep your dogs safe on walkies during the colder seasons. Your walks can be a total adventure for you your pooch but sometimes you need to be careful and stay safe on your travels.

Especially in Winter, make sure you’re both wrapped up for a walk. Invest in a sturdy winter dog coat to keep your pup warm on their walk. You can pick up some lovely coats which will take the chill away. Certainly dogs with shorter hair may need some assistance with keeping warm. However if you have a long-haired dog it may be best to grow it out a little to stay warmer in Winter.  Don’t forget to wrap up yourself too with a hat, gloves and scarf.

Come rain or shine, it’s always a must have to have your dog micro-chipped and/or with collar and ID tag. It’s also important to make sure that you keep the information up to date. This can really help if you get yourself in a horrible situation where you’ve lost your dog. However, it’s recommend if it’s snowing outside to keep your dog on a lead. This can avoid it running off and also falling down holes disguised under a sheet of snow.

It’s scary what can be out and about when on your walks. When the weather is colder, one of the main chemicals that can be found out and about is anti-freeze which can be poisonous to your beloved furry companion. Anti-freeze is just one out of a number of substances which is highly poisonous and can be fatal.

After your walk, make sure you check your dogs paws and wipe their legs and feet to avoid irritation from their skin being damp. It’s a good time to check their paws for any scratches or cuts they may have got on their adventures. It’s always good to keep familiar with your dog and keep your eye out for an abnormalities.

Finally, be prepared. Make sure you’ve got your poop bags with you are prepared with appropriate footwear. You never know how long you’ll end up walking for on your adventure! I’d always be mindful of the route you’re taking and staying away from main roads.

XOXO