Safety Tips for Dogs in Winter

Winter can mean skating, skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor fun...
...but it can also bring dangers for your dog. Here are a few tips for keeping your dog safe and comfortable this winter.Just because he's wearing a fur coat doesn't mean he's warm.
Yes, your furry friend is wearing a fur coat. But he also wears a fur coat in the summer. That coat helps regulate his body temperature but that doesn't mean he's always warm regardless of the conditions. Just as some people tolerate cold better than others, some dogs have a higher tolerance for cold. Breed, type and length of coat, and size of your dog are all factors, but his age, health, and individual make-up can also effect how quickly your dog gets cold.Know your dog's limits.
If he gets easily chilled, get him a sweater or coat to help keep him warm. It's also a good idea to have a couple of coats of each variety, so you can always put a dry coat on him when he comes back in after a romp in the snow. If your dog is very small, and/or has short legs, he will likely get cold more quickly since his belly is closer to the cold pavement and snow. Consider getting him a sweater or coat that covers his underside as well as his back.Take more, shorter walks.
Consider breaking your dog's hour-long constitutional into two or three shorter walks. He still will want—and need—to go out, but he'll be better off if you take him for several shorter walks than one long one.Cold cars can be dangerous.
Most people know better than to leave a dog in a car on a hot summer's day. But as you know from experience, cars cool off pretty quickly once you turn them off. A cold car doesn't help your dog stay warm.