Follow Up Friday & FitDog Friday - Now its cold...

Now its getting to that freezing chilly time of the year - winter - I feel that today is a good opportunity for us here to give some advice on exercising your dog(s) in the ice and snow, or just cold temperatures. A great Friday for everyone!

We are going to use this post as an informative and fun post to ensure all owners and all dogs are happy as Larry this cold season - I hope you can understand why we seem to be posting about this so seemingly early… according the the weather forecast, over in Scotland, there is snow beckoning!! We will start with 5 'must-dos' of dog ownership and caring this winter.

Earl middle-aged enjoying one of his first ever snows :)

'Cool' (get it?!?) winter dawg tips:

1. PREVENTION & ELIMINATION
Wash all of your dog's paws after walks, then apply some vaseline or special dog paw wax if your dog suffers from cracked paws in icy conditions. It may be a wise idea to apply this regardless, just to be sure your dog is feeling adequate comfort all winter round. It is also vital that you wash your dog's paws (and possibly up the legs and belly if your dog has been rolling around, or you have had particularly deep snow) after walks because road grit/salt is highly toxic to dogs and so is antifreeze, which some heartless souls have even been known to put down on purpose. Keep a strict eye on your dog all winter round while walking. 

Earl having his paws washed

2. KITTING FIDO OUT
Make sure your dog is kitted out with all the winter essentials to keep him warm, protected, and well seen for those dark walks by night. Exercise is still compulsory - you can't use the weather as an excuse to keep your dog cooped up all season! So why not make the most of it and enjoy splashing out of safety items for your canine friend this dark, dark winter now the nights are closing in and we look forward to earlier nights where no light disturbs our sleep. It could also prove fatal to our dogs if they get lost etc on dark walks. Glowing, flashing, neon, high-vis, reflective gear could also come in useful when choosing what to kit our dogs out in. Why not choose a reflective and high-vis waterproof jacket with thick fleecy lining like Earl's? 

Earl showing himself off in his coat

3. A FIT DOG ROUTINE
I think this is a surprisingly important factor in the overall happiness and wellbeing of dogs. Even when its bitter and uncomfortable outdoors, that is still no valid excuse to pack in going out and exercising with your dog(s). Just kit up both you and your dog(s), and get out there! Please see tip number 4 for advice on how to know what limits to set if your dog has a known joint/medical/health problem. Try and keep as much to your normal routine as possible over the colder season, but set limits if necessary. Still try and do the same normal activity, but shorten and differ it is needed for the wellbeing of the dog.

4. SETTING BOUNDARIES SAFELY
You need to have a clear understanding of your dog's medical history and present, plus any joint problems or overall healthy problems your dog may suffer from. If this is the case, shorten your walks and play sessions but make them more frequent if possible and safe for your dog. Keep his stimulation levels high to make sure boredom is not at stake as that could be harmful to your dog's mental wellbeing. 

Limit your dog's activity when necessary if he has joint complaints

5. APPROPRIATE PLAY
Why would either you or your dog want to play with soggy tennis balls all season? Because those are likely to become very messy and a discomfort to hold in both our hand and our dog's mouth, so why not invest in a waterproof rubber ball, that can easily be seen in a bright colour! We don't want our dog's toys to get lost in the snow, that's no fun! 

Let balls continue to be fun!

We hope y'all enjoy this coming season! 

Earl and I.

Thank you to host Jodi from Heart Like a Dog and co-host Flea from Jones Natural Chews for hosting Follow Up Friday today!

Thank you to hosts Peggy's Pet Place, SlimDoggy and To Dog With Love for hosting the FitDog Friday Hop!

We hopped off 2 Brown Dawgs Blog for FUF
We hopped off SlimDoggy for FDF

The first linky list is the entries for FUF, and the second FDF.