doggy tips & tricks – icy winter walks
December 8, 2008 by Chloe Findlay-Harder
Filed under Pets
Dogs need to be walked – no matter what time of year it is!
Admittedly, there are times when it’s simply too cold to take my dogs out in the winter, but those days aren’t that common.
Walking your dogs provides exercise for the both of you and is a great bonding experience. Your dog gets to sniff some new smells, see some new sights – and maybe even meet a new friend.
There is one big problem with walking dogs in the winter time though – salt on the roads!
Salt or ice melting chemicals can be quite caustic and may even burn your dogs pads if they’re not cleaned off. Try keeping old towels and a bucket at the door to clean your pooches paws off as they come in the house. I’ve even been known to walk my dogs through a snowbank to clean off their paws mid-way through a walk if we find salt on the sidewalks.
Of course, there are non-chemical methods of keeping your sidewalk clean – try sprinkling sand or kitty litter to keep your walks safe.
image: Stock.xchg
As much as my dog hates to go outside in the cold she seems ok with the snow. For 5 minutes!!!! Thankfully we don’t have enough snow to make it a problem but she is getting a jacket and possibly boots this year. Thanks for reminding me.