Let’s talk winter weather gear.  Since the cold temps seem to be upon us, it’s time to make sure you have what your dog needs to get through the winter comfortably.  Unless you have a Northern breed, if your dog is going to dog camp or otherwise will be spending long periods of time outside, they’ll probably need some gear.  Here are the essentials:

-Booties.  It might seem silly, but cold days can be really hard on dogs’ paws.  Snow gets wedged between their pads and the cold can be very painful for them.  We get all our booties from dogbooties.com.  Wherever you get them from, make sure they fit properly and can close tightly – otherwise there’s not a chance they’ll stay in place.  All they need is a layer of fabric between their paws and the snow – nothing thick, waterproof, or fancy.  Most dogs feel weird in booties, but as soon as they get outside they tend to forget they have them on.

-Jacket.  Most dogs will need a jacket at some point, if they’re going out in all weather.  Long-haired breeds, northern breeds, or dogs with double coats don’t need anything.  All short-haired dogs will need them on the coldest days, and some sensitive or smaller pups will likely need a coat most days they go out in the winter.  We’re outside for a long time at dog camp, so if it’s below 10 degrees almost all my dogs need a jacket. 

-Full coverage.  Dogs with hair, like poodles and doodles, may need to be fully covered when they go out in snow.  Otherwise wet snow clumps in their fur and becomes super heavy and painful.  Some dogs will make themselves bleed biting and tearing at these clumps.  K9 Top Coat makes a great lycra suit for these dogs.  As a bonus, it cuts down on ticks and burrs for you to pick out later!

Remember, every dog is different – make sure you read your dog’s signs and give them breaks to warm up if they need it!If your dog is showing signs of frostbite, it’s essential to warm them up SLOWLY to protect the tissue.