Hey Woofa’s,

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m not a fan of winter.

I stack on the layers of clothes and I stack on layers of blankets and doonas.

I also stack on the blankets for Billy as well.

He’s 11 now and I don’t want him being cold.

Actually no matter what age he is I’ve never wanted him to suffer in the cold weather.

And as a dog lover I’m going to assume you don’t want your dog to suffer in the cold temperatures either.

So here are some ideas on the best ways to keep your dog warm in winter.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY DOG IS COLD?

First things first, we need to know how to tell if our dogs are cold!

These are some of the signs to look out for –

• Shaking or shivering;
• Trembling;
• Tucked tail;
• Whining;
• Seeking out heaters and other sources of warmth, the sun on the floor;
• Trying to tuck into you or the corner of the lounge;
• Any change in behaviour, like seeming anxious or uncomfortable;
• Seeking places for shelter;
• doesn’t want to leave the house to go on a walk;
• turns around and around trying to find a warm spot to lay in;
• scuffing the blankets around so you will put them over the top of them;
• lays all curled up in a ball, trying to make themselves as small as possible;
• hogging the heater/fireplace/air conditioner;
• avoid laying on the cold floor or tiles;
• your dog’s belly feels cold;
• they move less staying tucked away and trying to be warm;
• joints are stiffer making it harder for them to move.

They are just a few ways to tell if your dog is feeling the cold weather.

The best way is to know your dog, and know their behaviours so you can tell when there is a change in the way they are being.

THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP YOUR DOG WARM IN WINTER!

The basics are:

• Keep your pet inside a warm house;
• Provide a warm, elevated, soft and comfy bed for them, if not on your own bed;
• Warm coats are great for pets (if they will wear one) that are senior, small or have thin coats;
• Keep all bedding dry;
• Wrap loose blankets over your pet, make it easy for them to get up and move if they need the loo or get too hot etc;
• Walk your furry friend during the day when it’s not as cold;
• Watch for changes in your dog’s behaviour as to whether they are cold or not;
• Warm up their dinner.

OUTSIDE DOGS 

On a side note, in this day and age I’m not happy to hear any dog is sleeping outside, especially during the cold weather!!!

1. Put a jacket on your dog on cold days and nights (if they’ll wear one).  There’s also doggy footwear available, again if your dog will wear them!  However, if your dog has a huge winter coat naturally, then they may not need an extra dog jacket.
2. Make sure they have a place to sleep that is dry, warm and up off the floor.  A Dog kennel preferably, and place it so wind or rain cannot blow into the door or windows of the kennel.  Placing it under shelter would be a good idea such as under the pergola, in the garage or even laundry.
3. Alternatively, you could bring your dog inside at night in the laundry or garage.
4. Nice warm blankets – you don’t have to spend lots of money on dog blankets.  Ask around your family and friends and find out who has old blankets or doona’s that they no longer need.  You can pile them up in your dog’s kennel or on their bed in the garage/laundry.  Most dogs love getting all snuggled in under blankets. Second hand shops also sell blankets for dogs at a cheaper price.
5. Heat mattress – when Billy was younger and slept outside with Isabel, I bought them low voltage heat beds.  I plugged them in under the pergola, and put them in their kennels.  The way it works is when they lay on the mattress it warms up.  Billy being a puppy did chew his up and no he didn’t get a shock or electrocuted!
6. Warm up their dinner – yes I know, I know but so what if this means they’re spoilt!  Billy’s food comes out of the fridge so to take the coolness off it we put it in the microwave for a few seconds to a minute, just to take the edge off it.
7. Make sure their water bowl isn’t out in the elements either, no matter what the weather they’re still going to need to have a drink.
8. If you’re able to – bring them inside whenever possible.

INSIDE DOGS 

1. Put a jacket on your dog, if you haven’t always got the heating on.  While we’re at work we usually wait until the afternoon before we put the fire on.  So the house is a tad cool which means we put Billy’s jacket on him until the house is warm again.  Billy is a short haired Staffy, however if your dog is fluffy and doesn’t need another jacket don’t put one on them, use your common sense here.  There’s no point putting a jumper over the top of a dressing gown!!!
2. Even though your dog is inside they still need a warm bed to sleep in – whether it’s on your bed or their own bed.  Billy sleeps on our bed with his own Doona over him. He doesn’t sleep in is jumper because he’ll over heat and it’s uncomfortable for him.
3. We have started feeding Billy inside, purely because the evenings are cooler and to stand out there while he eats his dinner doesn’t seem fair.  Billy has his bowls on a small stable table on the floor permanently inside now.  So if you can feed your dogs inside, either the laundry or garage if not the kitchen!
4. Always make sure your dog has water available to them while they’re inside or outside.  We have a water dish in our ensuite bathroom that Billy has access to as well as two outside.
5. If you’re warming up the house for yourselves, guaranteed your dog will enjoy that heat as well.  Whether it’s from a heater (my friends dog hogs their heater), air conditioning, or a log fireplace.  Always make sure they can’t burn themselves.
6. There’s nothing better than letting your dog sit on your lap or near you as body heat will keep you both warm.

LONG HAIRED DOGS

Some long haired breeds of dogs such as the Husky, Malamute, Samoyed, Saint Bernard, Border Collies are better equipped for the cooler weather.  However, if you can tell that your dog is cold, take all measures mentioned above to keep them warm.

Sometimes it’s not just about the breed but about the individual dog as well.

The more you know your dog’s behaviour the better you will be able to know whether they are feeling the cold or not.  Just because you might not feel the cold doesn’t mean your dog doesn’t.

SHORT HAIRED DOGS

Short haired dogs will feel the cold more than their longer haired companions.

If your dog will wear a doggy coat or jacket put one on them when appropriate.  If they are sitting inside in front of the heater or in warm air conditioning you can probably take it off them.

Some dogs sleep in their coats or jackets, however Billy is under a heavy doona so we take his off.  He lets us know if he gets hot by flicking the doona off himself and if he gets cold  he stands up and nudges to go back under the doona.

Take note of your dog’s behaviour and you’ll know what they require from you.

EXERCISING YOUR DOG IN WINTER!

If it’s pouring with rain, snowing or it’s too dangerous to go out in the winter weather, then don’t take your dog out in it.

There’s plenty of dog games you can play indoors until the weather passes, just google (indoor dog games)!

Billy runs up and down our long hallway with zoomies, jumping up and down from our bed down the hallway to the spare bed.

However, if you don’t have the room there’s mentally stimulating games to play with them until the weather does change for the better.

If you take your dog out for a walk, try walking them during the warmer part of the day.  If they are short haired, put a jacket on them (if they wear one) at the beginning of the walk, but make sure they don’t get too hot while walking.

OLDER DOGS!

With the colder weather comes joint pain.  If your dog suffers from arthritis or other joint pain injuries just be aware that the colder weather is going to make it worse for them.

However, they still need to move around as well, as much as possible, to keep the joint working and lubricated naturally.

There are also lots of joint pain holistic therapies, supplements and medications they can take.  Even if it’s only during the colder months.

Check with your trusted Veterinary too see if such supplements and therapies need to be increased in winter or what you can do to ease their pain during the colder months.

Keep our oldies nice and warm and cozy as much as possible.

DOG GROOMING IN WINTER!

Yes you still need to have your dog groomed in winter whether you do it yourself or have a trusted Dog Groomer do it for you.

Tips for a good winter grooming –

1. Make sure warm water is used;
2. make sure your dog is dried thoroughly;
3. don’t groom them yourself if you have to do it outside with the cold garden hose and a towel;
4. most Groomers whether salon or mobile have warm water running through their baths and warm air dryers to dry your dog thoroughly with;
5. if your dog is a matted mess, no matter what the weather you’re going to have to have it shaved and put jumpers on them to keep them warm.  It’s more detrimental to leave the matted hair on!
6. if your dog is long haired and not a matted mess then NO you won’t have to have a shave!  Maybe just a tidy up around, face, feet, bottom and toilet areas.
7. preferably a dry day would be best to have them groomed if using a mobile groomer, it doesn’t matter if using an actual Salon set up.  However do what’s best for your dog and keeping them warm during the grooming process.
8. you still need to keep your dog’s long hair brushed and knot free during winter, especially if you don’t want to have them shaved off.
9. if you put a jacket on your dog and they have longer hair, always remove the jacket and brush your dog’s coat.  The jacket rubs against your dog’s coat causing matting, so do collars and harnesses

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

It means that our dogs feel the cold just as we do.

It’s up to US as their responsible owners to keep them warm and out of the cold elements.

So make keeping your dog warm in winter, your number one priority.

Your dog will love you for it.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – WHAT’S THE BEST WAY YOU KEEP YOUR DOG WARM IN WINTER?