Walks in the freezing cold

• Walks in the freezing cold Elaine Posted : 1/17/2007 8:32:06 AM Should I do anything differently when taking my 9 month old lab out for his walks when the weather is very cold?  It is 8 degrees right now and windy.  Should I buy him a sweater or dog coat?  We walk in the woods and fields off leash so I don't have to worry about salted roads.   LIKE 23 REPLIES 312 VIEWS LAST POST ELAINE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• lisa baker Posted : 1/17/2007 9:17:34 AM I am not a cold weather walker.  We have been at -20 for the past few mornings and we have been at -25 with windchills the past few days so my dogs don't want to be out much less myself   I would say yes get a sweater/coat maybe a child's sweatshirt would fit.  Do you have lots of snow that you need to worry about his feet? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Elaine Posted : 1/17/2007 9:28:28 AM No snow here.  We just cut up a sweatshirt and put it on.  It was really droopy on his underside and he kept picking it up and carrying it in his mouth.  Back an hour later and he looks no worse for wear.  I may have to do some sewing to make it fit better.  Any ideas would be a bonus. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• paulaedwina Posted : 1/17/2007 10:08:39 AM I have rhodesian ridgebacks and they are remarkably resilient in cold weather. Yoshi - the only one spry enough for my 3 mile morning walks - is fine down to about 20 degrees (Farenheit).  Much colder and the hair on his butt starts fluffing up.  At the moment he has no coat because the ones I've seen so far are just too heavy (unnecessarily so).  I am going to put himin one of my cotton mock turtlenecks - he's pretty big it might fit.  He just needs a light cover to keep his lungs warm I figure. Paula 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Eric Mies Posted : 1/17/2007 10:13:04 AM There are many jackets, sweaters etc. that you can buy. Just do a search in Google or go to the dog.com retail website from the links above if you think your dog needs something to keep him/her warm.   BUT, some dogs simply don't need it - is your dog shivering? Also look at the jacket, sweater, etc. and if it will address your dogs needs. For instance Presley has a practically hairless belly so when I got her a fleece jacket I made sure it was one that Velcro#%92d down the back and covered her little pink belly....   It's called the Fido Fleece and I have seen them at many pet stores but I#%92m also willing to bet you will them if you do a Google search on Fido fleece.   Ohh also, if you do buy one, make sure you measure you dog right - from the base of the neck to the base of the tail....     0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mudpuppy Posted : 1/17/2007 10:23:37 AM I've seen labs happily swimming around in freezing cold water, and remain happy and content and WARM even while wet in sub-zero temps. Some dogs need extra protection from the cold, but a lab? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• J M Posted : 1/17/2007 10:49:02 AM As long as the dog is not shivering, I wouldn't worry about it. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• ron2 Posted : 1/17/2007 10:58:55 AM Labrador Retrievers originated as a breed in Newfoundland and the Island of Labrador, not far away from there. It is a northern climate and they get their share if icebergs. It just so happens that the Lab is shortcoated but they have the waterproof skin and the "otter" tail. With your dog, it depends on if he seems cold, or not. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• labcrab Posted : 1/17/2007 11:02:05 AM I would be very surprized if your Lab needs any protection at all (unless he is underweight, undercoated or under the weather).  Labs are doublecoated and blubbery for a reason.  They can literally swim in ice water for hours on end with no ill effects.  Take him out "naked" and see how he does.  Unless he's shivering or asking to go back inside - I'd say he's just fine.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jones Posted : 1/17/2007 11:02:55 AM You might have to shorten your walks - possibility for your own sake - but the Lab should be fine. We are having the exact same weather & temps here, with snow on the ground, and my Cocker Spaniel is handling it fine. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• tashakota Posted : 1/17/2007 12:05:13 PM I had a similar question about hiking in the woods in 30 degree weather.  It's cold for me and my concern is not so much do the dogs need extra layers but whether it's safe to let them run and jump things in the cold.  Tasha will go swimming no matter the water temp so I'm not worried about that but was more concerned with the chances of broken legs..... or more easily strained. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mudpuppy Posted : 1/17/2007 1:14:32 PM I worry about that too. If the ground is frozen it's as hard as concrete. I don't want my dogs jumping around on concrete. But they do need exercise. It's a dilemma. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Kim White Posted : 1/18/2007 1:06:28 PM We have been hiking in the afternoon just to keep the dogs from getting cabin fever and us too. ITs been about 17 in the afternoon and not alot of wind and the sun is out and they do fine. We do 2 miles on a lake trail and we are moving fast. I have Westies and Scotties.   I do watch for signs.....I have one Westie that chills extremely easy so he is my baromitor when he seems like he is locking up (thats what I call it) or acting strange we are done with the walk and Im lucky I can pick him up and carry him till we get to the car. I watch for how they act with their paws lifting them up and such. I have happy campers after the walk and after they eat       0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jeano Posted : 1/18/2007 1:30:40 PM Mudpuppy, if you have snow, snow is soft, so let the pooches walk on that. A lab shouldn't need a coat. If he's shivering, then sure, but I bet he's not! Yes, they were originally from Newfoundland and have double coats. They do very well here in Alaska, by the way. If it's freezing and you have a dog with feathery fur between the feet and it is snowy and you walk a long way then you might want to get some booties for your pooch so he doesn't get ice balls between his toes. Labs don't get them, not to worry, but other dogs, such as cockers and goldens, do. But I say go out and walk as much as you can! There's plenty of time up here when it's too cold to walk very far, we take advantage of it when we can! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• seashell Posted : 1/18/2007 1:33:27 PM I just got back from a walk with my dog, she has short hair and an almost bald belly so she wears a sweatshirt.  The only problem we have is that I was slippery in some spots and I almost fell when she pulled me.  With a lab I wouldn't worry about clothes, but I would protect the paws from salt and snow.  I normally just use vaseline and then wipe them when we get home. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login