SarahRainey

So I tried to be the good basset parent and I purchased/found-for-free dog coats and booties to protect my two bassets' feet and body from the harsh weather. Well, it FINALLY snowed here and they don't seem to like them. They wear the coats o.k. but as soon as they start running around in the playground, they start falling off. And don't even start me with booties...they start tearing at them immediately.

Today I let them run around outside in the snow for 15-20 minutes without coat or boots. They had a ball! They didn't exhibit any sign of pain or discomfort, but I want to make sure I'm not overexposing them. They certainly need their exercise and time out of the house (Copper won't poop without running around first) but I also want to protect them from the elements.

I checked their paws when they came in. They were cold but didn't look chapped. Gwen, of course, hopped right on the couch and snuggled into the blankets for warmth, but she didn't seem to mind running around in circles in the snow a few minutes earlier.

Any ideas?

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Rescue Mom to Copper 52 pounds (Estimated DOB July '10--Fostered then adopted through BBR, Gotcha Oct. '11)
Foster Mom to Jamie doxie/basset born 9/11/2005
Former Foster Mom to Taz & Tommy (trans. to med care 4/12) Ashley (A 3/12) Gwendolyn (A 2/12)and Dudley (A 8/11)

Basset Buddies Rescue Grant Writer: (IL, MN, WI) http://bassetbuddiesrescue.org/

If you are looking to adopt young, old, or in between, please let me know!

miss.abbey.road

maybe just keep esposoure time to the snow down like 10 15 min?

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Fetch? Sit? Stay? Those are some weird names for a treat... Can I just have it already?

CatherineM

I use a lotion that was designed for dog sled teams. I knew booties weren't going to work. I made some anyway, and they lasted about 10 seconds. Not until he took them off, that was half a second, but until he had ripped them to shreds.

barneysmom2510

Forget booties I tried that on one of my dogs they would just lay there and not move. The lotion sounds like a good idea I had not been using anything.

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-LISA


Mini daschunds Sadie Lou & Daisy dukes
Chihuahua Lola
Bassett Hound Barney

paisleysmom

I know what everyone means about boots!!! Wworrmmie sent us a great pair of boots --- Put them on Paisley and she stood still looking like an ad for a poor abused Hound. She then did a stiff legged tap dance across the hall floor. So far we haven't had to use them much since the city decided not to sand or salt our road this year and if it is too too cold we limit her walks to just our yard. This morning we are getting freezing rain .. on her quick potty trip it was tough to keep her four feet underneath her. She has gone back to bed probably dreaming of better times.

Mikey T

why? it is a matter of acclimating the dog to the conditions over time but as long as they are active they should manage okay on snow.

Keep in mind folks snow is actual a very good insulator it does not very much from 32 degrees unless it has melted and refroze at which point it is no longer snow but ice.

jaylii9

Just saw this article the other day and found it very interesting. New research shows that dogs have very intricate circulation systems in their paws which means that they are build to play in the snow! There is no need to restrict how much time they are outdoors or stop walking your dog during the winter. Dogs Have Built-In Snow Boots, Researchers Find | NewsFeed | TIME.com

For the salt, I usually grab a damp wash cloth and wipe off Libby's paws when we come in from a walk. She has not shown any signs of cracking on her pads.

houndmomma

Our kids walk 365 days a year if our schedule and temperatures allows it – doesn’t matter if its rain or snow – that said – since we are in Chicago and have a place in Northern WI with sub zero temps – we don’t take them out then – but the weather is our guide not the snow. They love it – and will let us know when they’ve had enough.

Personally for me – it’s more dangerous to walk them in the heat – years and years ago when I was still a teen – a friend thought they were doing me a favor by walking one of my German Shepherd’s to the college I was going to in the heat of summer. It was about a mile from where I lived so I guess they figured it shouldn’t be too far for such a healthy Shepherd to walk. Well, he walked all the way to the school and when they got there he laid down and didn’t get up again – when I ran him to the vet – I was told he died of heat exhaustion.

I wanted to kill this person – but really how could I get mad just because they were ignorant and thought they were doing me a favor in taking my dog for a walk? They were told in no uncertain terms to never touch another one of my dogs again though – of that you can be sure.

I’m an over protective momma in the summer and wouldn’t let them out for a walk when it hot – drives hubby nuts – but it falls under – oh well!

Jen~

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Momma to Lucy age 12 ~ Basset Hound
Momma to Rickie age 5 ~ Shi-Poo (don’t tell him though – he thinks he’s a hound dog)
Momma to Mabel age -1 ~ Basset Hound
Momma to Flash – RIP 2000 ~ 2011 – Gone in body but with me in spirit ~ You will live on forever in my heart baby ~ Je t'aime

loopylou

Jen - what a terrible thing to have happened, I don't know if I could be so understanding!

I've used Pad Wax in the past, more to protect from salt that snow as my last doggy used to get badly cracked pads. I used to buy it in Pets at home which is our version of Petsmart. It seemed to work fine. I did try the boots once but he started to walk like Michael Jackson and I couldn't hold it together long enough to walk him!

jaleely

I've heard of the pad was, but haven't tried it. I honestly haven't thought about the heat around here...i feel like a bad mama!
I know they hate the booties, and in the snow they just came right off...or the dog stood there and wouldn't move *lol*

houndmama, you have been through *so* much with your doggies...i'm so sorry! I don't know what i would have done to that person if that happened to me. I'd probably be in jail right now *lol*

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Baby Bowsah's Bwog