How To Keep Your Dog Warm On Winter Walks

It feels like this year went by in the blink of an eye, doesn’t it? You’re reminded of that every time you step outside now because let’s be honest with ourselves: the summertime is over. Fall is expiring and winter is going to give you snow days, popsicle toes, and cold walks outside with your pooch.

Just remember this: If you’re cold, they’re cold.

Your dog’s health relies on those walks you go on together. No matter the season, walks are happening. 

But these winter walks don’t have to be a miserable experience for you or your dog. You know that when it’s time to take on freezing temperatures, you have a process you follow to deal with it. 

Your dog needs that same help and they can’t do it on their own.

In this blog post, we share with you tips and tricks for how to keep your dog warm on winter walks.

Starting from the top!

1. Adjust your walking schedule.

This is an optional tip. The schedule you have right now might’ve worked perfectly for you and your dog during the spring or the summer, but it is barely working out for the fall now that the chill in the air is turning into frost. 

Do you and your dog a favor and make an update to your walking schedule while you can. Look at your forecast for your area on a weekly basis (daily even) and note the temperatures and the time of day. 

If it’s cold and early in the morning or late at night, the likelihood of your walk being freezing is stronger. Save the long walks for the times of day that give you the most sunlight exposure or higher temperatures. Reserve quick potty breaks for the rest of the day.

Important Tip: Your walks don’t have to be long. Keep them short and sweet if the weather is severe. Your safety and your dog’s safety are most important.

2. Invest in footwear for your dog.

If you live in a region that is or bridges the extreme side of winter weather, it’s wise to invest in protective footwear for your dog. There are dog boots (booties) and socks available at pet retailers in most locations to protect your dog’s paws in hot and cold temperatures.

3. If your dog is shorthaired, bundle up with a dog sweater or vest.

Help your dog keep warm on winter walks with a dog sweater or vest to go with those dog booties. Dogs with short hair or not a lot of fur may have trouble with insulating that heat their bodies are working to create. This is especially true when they’re outdoors and exposed to the elements.

With a dog sweater or vest, you would think that it would be impossible to take them out for a walk while they are wearing it. But that’s not true.

There’s walking gear and accessories that you can use with your dog’s sweater or vest. After you bundle up your fur baby in their dog sweater, put on their new Joyride Harness. It’s so easy to use and slip on over dog sweaters and other dog clothes. 

We see it every day this time of year!

Just take a look at some of our favorite photos from Joyride Harness ambassador @rubyraeeveryday. 

4. Keep your dog’s paws groomed and fur trimmed.

You never know when you can expect a snow day. When you and your dog go on walks through the snow, if they have long fur coming out between their paw pads, that snow can accumulate and stick with your dog for the rest of the walk.

This can be an uncomfortable, cold experience for your pooch so stay on top of trimming the fur between the paw pads of your dog. This rule of thumb can also be applied to long-haired fur babies, especially of the curly variety. 

This is just a sampling of tips and informational posts we offer at Joyride Harness. You can find more content including tips and tricks and how-tos for caring for your dog on our blog in this section.