Spring is starting to spring here in the Northern Hemisphere.
Although the calendar calls the first day of spring March 20, when looking out
my window here in Western New York, the amount of snow on the ground coupled
with temperatures diving below freezing at night make the impending warmth
still feel a bit far away. My family and especially my dog, Juno, are eager for
it. It’s been a challenging winter to say the least.
Our dog loves the snow (and rain, and sun…she’s weird like
that). But even she had limited tolerance for the sub-zero temps. When it was
“warm” (in the 20s), we would walk as usual, all bundled up. But when
the wind chill was well into the negative teens and twenties (or, the few times
the temperature was physically there), Juno would simply be let out into our
small yard for her business. She would enjoy some romps in the snow, but if it
was too cold, even she would just go out and run back in.
that). But even she had limited tolerance for the sub-zero temps. When it was
“warm” (in the 20s), we would walk as usual, all bundled up. But when
the wind chill was well into the negative teens and twenties (or, the few times
the temperature was physically there), Juno would simply be let out into our
small yard for her business. She would enjoy some romps in the snow, but if it
was too cold, even she would just go out and run back in.
One of the biggest challenges for dogs (and their owners) in
winter is protecting them in the cold. Some pet owners use jackets to help keep
their dogs warm, although we don’t (mostly because it’s more of a struggle to
get Juno into one).
winter is protecting them in the cold. Some pet owners use jackets to help keep
their dogs warm, although we don’t (mostly because it’s more of a struggle to
get Juno into one).
For us, the ice, snow and salt buildup in our dog’s pads were
the biggest concern. So we have tried a few things this year to help keep her
paws from injury:
the biggest concern. So we have tried a few things this year to help keep her
paws from injury:
Musher’s Secret (http://amzn.to/1GkzODD) is a paste/lotion
that’s a bit thicker than vaseline meant for rubbing onto a pet’s paws and in
between the pads before heading outside. This unfortunately didn’t work for
Juno simply because she wasn’t going to wait for me to apply it before heading
out. But it may be for you and your pet.
that’s a bit thicker than vaseline meant for rubbing onto a pet’s paws and in
between the pads before heading outside. This unfortunately didn’t work for
Juno simply because she wasn’t going to wait for me to apply it before heading
out. But it may be for you and your pet.
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| It’s good in cold and hot weather |
Booties. As ridiculous as Juno acted after first having her
Ultra Paws (http://amzn.to/1NBoybm) put on, she actually
seemed to enjoy having them. She was quick to adjust to the booties, and
although we would occasionally need to put them back on mid-walk or re-adjust
them on her feet, they did the trick for us to keep the salt from between her
pads.
Ultra Paws (http://amzn.to/1NBoybm) put on, she actually
seemed to enjoy having them. She was quick to adjust to the booties, and
although we would occasionally need to put them back on mid-walk or re-adjust
them on her feet, they did the trick for us to keep the salt from between her
pads.
The super-cold weather this winter also meant we needed to find
ways to keep our girl active with shortened walks. For us, it meant taking Juno
to doggie day care more often (http://dogdaysofbuffalo.com/)
for some extra canine interaction. She is not a very active dog, but having a
chance to hang out and play with other dogs in the depths of winter was a great
release (and help prevented a grumpy dog begging us for more attention every
few minutes).
ways to keep our girl active with shortened walks. For us, it meant taking Juno
to doggie day care more often (http://dogdaysofbuffalo.com/)
for some extra canine interaction. She is not a very active dog, but having a
chance to hang out and play with other dogs in the depths of winter was a great
release (and help prevented a grumpy dog begging us for more attention every
few minutes).
Finally, as Juno is also an aspiring therapy dog, so we enrolled
in classes this winter (also at Dog Days) to have another set of
“tasks” to practice as well as having a place to go one evening a
week. Juno really enjoyed the interaction with people other than us, and the
chance to get out reliably was a benefit for us, too!
in classes this winter (also at Dog Days) to have another set of
“tasks” to practice as well as having a place to go one evening a
week. Juno really enjoyed the interaction with people other than us, and the
chance to get out reliably was a benefit for us, too!
As we gain more warmth in the coming weeks, the challenge will
turn from salt and ice to mud and muck, so now we will focus on the best ways
to keep Juno’s muddy paws from tracking all over the house with an arsenal of
washcloths, towels and quick clean ups of the floor!
turn from salt and ice to mud and muck, so now we will focus on the best ways
to keep Juno’s muddy paws from tracking all over the house with an arsenal of
washcloths, towels and quick clean ups of the floor!
What do you use to protect your pet’s paws during harsh
conditions? We’d love to hear it in the comments! Send them through our comments, our through our Facebook page!
conditions? We’d love to hear it in the comments! Send them through our comments, our through our Facebook page!
MJ Courchesne is a freelance publishing consultant, writer, and part-time personal trainer with a passion for gardening, walking, wine, and travel. She lives in a restored 1890s Victorian home situated in the heart of Buffalo, NY with her husband and lab mix, Juno. Her new blog can be found at http://nickelcityboomerang.blogspot.com/.
