How to walk your dog in wintry conditions

5 Dec

Written By Sarah Birkby

Recent weeks have been rather challenging for pet owners. Rain, ice, fog, cold and wet wet wet! So if you want to walk your dog in wintry weather, here are our top tips for staying safe.

<< Safety First >>

Keep your dog on a lead: you’ll have greater control of your dog’s behaviour in the event of the unexpected. With the sun setting early and visibility at its lowest, your dog could react differently to unexpected shadows, objects or movements.
Wear high viz: that goes for you and your dog! Bright, reflective clothing will help warn other walkers, drivers and wildlife that you’re coming, giving you - and them - the choice to keep your distance.
Walk somewhere you know: Frequently we’re multi-tasking when we’re out walking our dogs - listening to the latest podcast or catching up on social media so it’s important to take care when ground conditions or visibility are poor. If you’re walking in the dark, stay safe and either walk with a friend, or let someone know where you’re going.

<< Don’t be a hero when it’s sub-zero! >>

While it’s absolutely fine to walk your dog in cold weather, consider keeping your walk under 30 mins and listen to your dog: they’ll soon tell you if they’re unhappy. While some breeds have thick or double coats, most do not, so invest in a winter coat to keep your best friend toasty when you’re out exploring the white stuff.

Stay away from frozen water - neither you or your dog want an icy dip! Similarly, avoid walking on ice which could cause a slip or a fall.

Paw patrol: check your pets paws regularly and remove road grit as it can be abrasive. De-icing chemicals can also damage delicate paws, so it’s a good idea to wipe legs, tummies and feet when you get home.

If you can’t go out, don’t worry, there are plenty of activities to keep your dog’s brain and body engaged at home: play fetch or hide and seek, train a new trick or provide mental stimulation with a deconstruction box challenge!

And finally …

To ease tired and aching muscles, or to relieve pain from trips and slips, reach for the red light!

Using Lumina for just a few minutes on the affected area will increase circulation, bringing nutrients to the area, aiding metabolic waste removal. Moreover, red light therapy relieves pain and releases endorphins by stimulating your dogs’ acupuncture points.

So with regular treatment, your pampered pooch will be relaxed, happy and dreaming of a white Christmas. ❄️⛄🐾