As you bundle up to face the snowy, cold, and wet weather during the winter months, you might wonder if your dog should don a jacket and boots as well. Dogs tend to run warm and their durable paws protect their feet during the more temperate seasons, but their natural characteristics might not be enough in freezing temperatures. A warm jacket and boots can help keep them comfortable and safe during the winter.
Dog Breeds that Typically Need Winter Jackets
Some dogs, like Siberian Huskies and St. Bernards, were bred to thrive in cold temperatures with thick fur to keep them warm. Other dogs are genetically suited to warmer climates. If your dog isn't ready to be in the Chicago cold, then special care may be helpful to keep your dog warm:
- Short Coat Breeds
- Small or Toy Breeds
- Low to the Ground Breeds
- Senior Dogs
- Trimmed Long Hair Dogs
These are general guidelines for which dogs most often need some extra protection during the winter. If your large, long hair dog shivers as temperatures drop or your chihuahua refuses to wear a coat, listen to what their behavior is telling you and respond accordingly.
When to Use Boots
A dog’s paw pads are extremely sensitive. Very hot or very cold pavement can be painful, potentially resulting in injuries as well. How sensitive your dog is varies among individuals, but many will show some resistance to walking on surfaces around 10 degrees. If temperatures regularly drop that low in your area, training your dog to walk in boots can be worthwhile. Boots can also help:
- Decrease contact with harmful de-icing salts on the roads and sidewalks.
- Protect against ice and snow clinging painfully between paw pads.
- Prevent scrapes and cuts from running on sharp ice.
- Provide extra traction on ice for less steady dogs, especially seniors.
Dogs that spend extensive time running on snow, such as sled dogs, or frequently walk on sidewalks treated with de-icing are the most at risk. Well fitting boots, which should stay on without rubbing, can help prevent any injury.
Since not all dogs will agree to wearing boots, rubbing the pads of their feet with paw wax or petroleum jelly will help prevent cracking in cold temperatures, and trimming the fur between paw pads can keep snow from accumulating there. If you do walk through areas with road salt, bathe your dog’s paws in warm water for ten minutes after the walk to remove chemicals.
