Cold Weather Ignorance

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Winter is coming! (any Game of Throne fans out there??)

Although in middle Tennessee, I don't typically see winters that are too terrible, my boyfriend lives in Columbus, Ohio and the winter there last year was terrible. It seemed that the snow/ice/salt/chemical combo started to bother Ragley's paws on walks, causing pain and discomfort, and I also worried that she may have been too cold by the end of our walks. The weather last year got down to -17 wind chill at times while we were visiting and rumor has it that this year will be just as bad. 

I know some of the "rules of thumb" about hot weather (testing your own feet on hot pavement, etc), but with cold weather, I am a little helpless. At what point does the dog need booties and around what temperature do you feel some sort of insulation is recommended? She typically has around 2-3" of hair, but with no undercoat, I worry that the wind cuts right through to her skin. She loves to play in the snow and I love doing things outdoors with her so I'd like to be prepared for our time up there this winter.

Thank you!

A pic from last winter:

[Stella]

I walk my boys in all weather, the coldest we have done is -36C!! Although we didn't go very far that day 5-10mins. It is their routine to walk before I go to work, so we do it every day. Below -10C they both wear boots (from Ruffwear). Below -5C my smaller thinner coated LD wears a jacket (he suffers from seasonal alopecia, so has less hair in the winter - go figure!). My bigger LD has a more labbish coat and doesn't need a jacket until is is below -20C. I use the Ruffwear Quinzee for both of them, and my smaller guy has a fleece to go under it for the really cold days. I am always aware of areas not covered by their boots and jackets - noses and ears especially when there is a wind chill.

[Denise L. McCall]

I live in PA and had a golden retriever for 10 years that I literally walked during every winter, of course these walks were not as long as the warmer weather, but dogs somehow can handle a good 1/2 hr out walking in the cold, I could tell when the little icy balls would form in her paws, I would stop and wiggle them off and then she was good to go again, I would more walk on the snow vice the side walks to avoid the salt, again they seem to be able to handle walking on the snow for a certain period of time, she would bury herself, run and slide and roll around in the snow she loved it. I never in all that time had any problems with her paws, they were always healthy, the key really is timing, never keep them out too long that's all, but do avoid salt if you can, I always wiped her paws down when we would come back from a walk, again no problems at all. I do the same with my doodles too, no problems, they love love the snow and cold.