Getting Cold

As I'm sure you all know, it is going to be a cold, cold weekend so we thought we'd share a few safety tips for your dogs in the cold.

1. If it is too cold for you, it is too cold for them. They might have fur but you have long underwear, a down jacket, a wool hat and big mittens.



2. If you have a short haired dog, big or little, they probably would appreciate a sweater. Yes, seeing a great dane walking down the street in a sweater would probably turn a few heads, but if you have a great dane you are probably already used to attracting attention.



3. If you notice your dog lifting their feet when out on a walk, keep an eye on them. It is common for this to happen at the start of the walk as they get used to the cold pavement but if they don't stop doing it after a minute or two you should probably head home. If you notice discolouration on your dog's feet after a walk, call your vet - they may have frostbite.



4. Puppies and older dogs don't cope as well with the cold so keep this in mind and make your walks shorter than usual.



5. If your walks aren't providing enough exercise, try some mental exercise - teach your dog a new trick, practice obedience or send your dog on a scavenger hunt. For the scavenger hunt, put your dog in one room while you run around the house placing treats in easy to reach places. When you let your dog out into the rest of the house, it won't take them long to discover that there are goodies to be found.

And don't forget, we have indoor dog park on Sundays from 11-1. It should be a busy one this weekend!