Here are some winter safety precautions that every dog owner should be aware of, whether yours is an indoor dog or an outdoor dog.
These are the best tips for keeping your dog safe during the colder winter months…
Winter Safety For Dogs
1. Keep your dog inside whenever temperatures hover around freezing.
2. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice (especially during a snowstorm) because dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost.
3. Make sure your dog always wears an ID tag. Winter is the most common time for dogs to become lost.
4. When your dog comes in from outside, wipe off his legs, paws, and belly. Otherwise, he could ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking himself dry.
5. Never shave your dog in the winter. If you own a short-haired breed, consider a doggie clothes to cover him from the base of the tail to the belly.
6. After bathing your dog in the wintertime, be sure to completely dry him before letting him go outside.
7. Never leave your dog in the car during cold weather months — he could quickly freeze to death.
8. Active dogs need a little more food & water in the winter. Increased protein will give your dog (and his fur) the best winter conditioning.
9. Keep dogs away from the garage to avoid any antifreeze spills.
10. Give your dog a warm place to sleep that’s off the floor & away from drafts.
More cold weather tips for dog owners at ASPCA.org, like these winter dog exercise tips.
More Winter Safety Tips For Dog Owners
- Have you ever tried dog boots to keep your dog’s muddy paws from tracking dirt in your house? I have! (I use them every time he goes outdoors during the winter months and on rainy, muddy days in the rest of the year.)
- Do you know the answer to this one?… Should you or should you not trim your dog’s hairy toes?
- If your dog has dry, flaky skin (mine did)… here’s the best remedy that my vet recommended: olive oil!
- Fun winter activities to do with your dog: skijoring and sledding.
- Bonus tips for keeping your dog warm in the cold outside. Plus a video which highlights many winter & holiday safety tips for dogs.
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn’t think of.
I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube).
My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year!
When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.
