Travel to Canada (Thor) Advise please!

Here is are the average temperatures for January (winter). So depending where you are it can be quite cold. Just because your dog is used to warmer climates I think a coat may be a good idea. Most areas try to limit the use of road salt to 'icy' conditions which may be half a dozen days. I don't use boots and have never had a problem. You may want to look into 'invisible boots', which is applied as a cream (gel) to the paws and acts as a barrier. I know for sure Eukanuba is readily available in grocery stores throughout Canada but if you are in Calgary or Edmonton you should be able to find almost any food you like. Tell us exactly where you will be (Alberta is very BIG) and I'll send you more info.

Happy Trails! 

We will be near Calgary (south) close to Okotoks.

I lived in Alberta for 20 years, Sierra was with me for 5 of them (we're now in BC).

Summer: HOT! It is not rare when the temperatures are +30 degrees C for weeks at a time. The air doesn't cool overnight, so if you don't have A/C.. good luck  I actually didn't have air conditioning for a couple of those years and during those hot few weeks I had to put wet beach towels in the freezer until they were almost solid, and drape them over Sierra to prevent her from overheating. You can't really walk the dog after 8 AM or before 9-10 PM. It's just too friggen warm. Keep an eye on the pavement temperature - you'll burn the dog's feet.

Winters can also be quite brutal.  We're talkin a week or so when it gets to about -35. I didn't walk Sierra in those temps. Just run outside to pee & poop, then back inside. 2 minutes total.When it was that cold out, Sierra had NO interest in being out there. But she has a very thin layer of fur, and tends to get cold when the temps hit about 5 degrees above zero. But make sure YOU are prepared as well. There's nothing better than the feeling you get when you walk outside and all your nose hairs freeze together lol. Have good gloves and head gear. I also bought cheapo boots for Sierra, and those seemed to perk her up 100x over for winter walks - she previously would try to keep all of her paws off the ground at the same time, but with the boots, she paraded around like she was the happiest thing in the world. I didn't bother with buying her a jacket, since whenever we'd go outside in these temps we'd always be running or walking, so she was fine with that.

Since you'll be living near Calgary, I'd imagine you'd be doing some of your shopping in Calgary. They will have most, if not all, of the good brands mentioned here in the Nutrition section.
 

ETA: Since you were asking about winter, i assumed you'd be here for a while... how long will you be staying, exactly? 

Calinisima

DH, Thor, Luke, Zarina and me are going to AB Canada next month.

You will be in the heat of summer so no jackets or boots necessary for Thor - it will likely be quite warm.

Post where exactly you are going and people will be able to be more specific

Also I bet the food compositions are different even if the names are the same so the Canadians will be your best bet for specific food recommendations!

Me and Bugs just say have a safe and wonderful trip!

We will be near Calgary. My DH got a job and we will be there for two years at least.

Thanks for talking about the summer... I think 30ºC won't be a surprise for us... but I took note on the non-cool nights, because here the temperature always drop at nights. I hope the place we are going to stay has A/C... we'll see.

I think Thor will have the invisible boots thing for the winter... I feel quite anxious about this, because Thor has had some injuries in his paws. I like to be prepared!

Thank you for the advise on clothes for us. I will certainly appreciate any recommendations about snow jackets, winter boots, underwear and all. We are going to bring clothes but most of them are great for the spring/summer, not for the fall/winter. My DH has two winter jackets, I have zero! Even Thor has a sweater and a jacket!

Anyway, keep your thoughts coming, I really appreciate any kind of advise.

Calinisima

We will be near Calgary. My DH got a job and we will be there for two years at least.

oooooooohhhhhhh - sorry I thought you were going to be there for a holiday

I dont' have anyadvice about the winter up there!

But I know that you and Thor will be much closer to us 

Calinisima

Thank you for the advise on clothes for us. I will certainly appreciate any recommendations about snow jackets, winter boots, underwear and all. We are going to bring clothes but most of them are great for the spring/summer, not for the fall/winter. My DH has two winter jackets, I have zero! Even Thor has a sweater and a jacket!

Good boots are critical for Alberta winters. You want them to be warm (obviously), waterproof and light weight. It's very tiring walking through snow with heavy boots. Occasionally you will wake up to 2 or 3 feet of fresh snow so you also want some height to your boots so you can get out there and shovel! LOL! However generally in Southern Alberta there is not a lot of snow on the ground. Average snowfall is less than 60 inches. It is also a good idea to invest in a pair of icers.   

They slip over the soles of you boots and give you traction on icy surfaces. As much as the cold temps, wind can also be a factor. Make sure your outer clothing is wind resistant and waterproof. The coldest thing to wear in the winter is denim IMO! And of course no real Canadian lives through winter without a toque.

Then in late January or so, when you are about to give up on the weather and move back home you will be blessed with the chinook winds  that bring warm air off the Pacific Ocean and temps climb to about 5 degrees (40 F). There have been years that Calgary have enjoyed temps as high as 24 (75F) in February.    

I actually grew up in Winnipeg which is even colder than Calgary although we do say that once you get below 22 Celcius it is all the same ---> cold!

I recommend having layers to wear for fall and winter and agree with the comment about denim above.  I don't have a winter jacket either because I wear a long sleeved t-shirt, a heavy gauge hoody sweatshirt, a polar fleece vest and a wind/water resistent shell over the whole thing.  The hoody works for quick trip to keep the wind and cold away.   A few pairs of woolly socks and some long underwear under sweats or wool pants.

Most of people's body heat escapes through the top of your head so a touque is very important!  Having a nice, wooly scarf to pull up over your face is really nice too.

Morrison did wear a little sweater when he was a small, shivery puppy.  Other than that none of my dogs here (Minneapolis) or in Winnipeg have ever worn winter clothing.

denise m

As much as the cold temps, wind can also be a factor. Make sure your outer clothing is wind resistant and waterproof. The coldest thing to wear in the winter is denim IMO!

Yes, i forgot to mention this! Usually, it's more the windchill factor that you have to worry about. The wind will go right through a lot of your clothes, and chill you to the bone! And yes, jeans are terrible! I bought some long, thin, insulating underwear that i'd wear under my jeans. You couldn't tell it was there, but it's a lifesaver!

I never did like toques, and got away with using a thick headband (which would cover my ears & forehead) and using the hood on my jacket. 

Chinooks, while they have a good reputation, can be a PITA.

Day 1: snow.

Days 2, 3, 4: cold. snow gets packed down by cars/people

Day 5: Chinook! Yay.. everything starts to melt, and you can even go outside for a walk with a light sweater

Nighttime: everything re-freezes...  all that snow/ice that turned into water is now it's a pure flat sheet of ice! (Kids play ice hockey on this...)

Day 6: Chinook again! But now you're walking on a flat sheet of ice.. with puddles on top! But, since that nice chinook is hanging around, the wind is blowing at 100 km/h and there's leaves, dirt, and potato chip bags nailing you in the face. lol

I laugh now, but it sure isn't fun when the wind is blowing you across an icy parking lot!

Don't let that scare you though.. it only happens a couple times per year, and is tolerable.  Looking back at it all.. i find it funny.. and a part of living in the area

Thank you!!

We are taking notes and preparing for the moving. The icers tip is great, I will bought a pair for me!! If I fall so easily in the floor, I don't want to think how it will be in the ice!!!!!

One thing I know is that the skin dries when you live in a heated environment... I learned that when my arms and legs looked like turtle skin!! So I know we have to use body milk and hydratant[?] stuff. Here, we usually don't need more than a little sunscreen. So comments about things like this are welcome and everything you could think

Thank you again and again !!

When is the big move? 

Two words.....  Keri Lotion.

And chapstick (Labello is my favourite brand)

 Though this might seem wierd, don't leave that sunscreen behind.  You need it up here, even in winter.  The glare off the snow in winter can give you a worse sunburn on your face than the worst hot day of summer.  The trouble is you don't notice it until you are back inside since your face is so cold outside. 

I don't know how much Thor will need a winter coat, he might, but I think your best bet is to make sure you get him out there everyday leading into winter.  Don't chicken out halfway through September and then expect him to be ok on a sunny December day.  I think even my dogs would get chilled that way.  The Icy Paws ointment is good for paws though, even without salt, because the top layer of snow can get very crusty and sharp.  I run my dogs with it in the spring when the snow is melting and refreezing every night.

For food, Alberta is where they make Acana and Origen.  Both are great foods and since that is where they are sourced and manufactured, I think that is what I would be feeding for a good kibble.  But like everyone else has mentioned, if you're gonna be near Calgary, pretty much everything should be available.  

Clothing for you....layers.  Don't underestimate the powers of thermal underwear.  It looks really thin and like there is nothing to them, but they work, they really do.  Even under denim.  Wool socks are great too, but don't pack so many pairs of socks into your boots that you can't wiggle your toes.  Your feet will freeze then.  I still love my sorels.  I think mine are called Glaciers and they are good to -75 C, it never gets that cold but with your feet in constant contact with snow or ice, your feet can get pretty darn close.  Whatever kind of boots you get, make sure the felt liners can be taken out.  When you look for outdoor stuff to do anything outside in, for any extended period of time, look at the section for snow machining rather than the skiing section.  Skiing stuff is for wimps that rush back into the lodge after a quick run down the hill.  Us Snowmachiners are out for the long haul.  We've got the good stuff.  LOL.

Oh and when you go inside after a nice long walk, even if you don't feel like your boots are wet, take the liners out and dry them over the heater.  It will make your liners last forever.

Hope you enjoy your stay up here in the cold cold north.  Maybe we'll get out your way sometime next year(I have a wedding to go to in 09) and I'll get to meet that big guy of yours! 

Calinisima

We will be near Calgary (south) close to Okotoks.

DUDE! You'll be really close to where I go every summer! Lol.  Sorry just had to add that in.. .*blush*