For many, the idea of snow covered mountains and perfect flakes falling from the sky is a nightmare… I am not one of those people! Winter is one of my most favorite times of the year. I love the chilly air, the hot chocolate, and the beautiful glow of Christmas lights.

While there are numerous other reasons why I love the season, it does bring some challenges when it comes to my dogs! Keep in mind, dogs are quite literally “built different” than each other. Some have a high body fat ratio, some have a double coat, some have special eyelashes that even help shield their eyes from cold drifty winds!

My two dogs, are the perfect example of this. Remi is lean, and strong, and has absolutely NO body fat and hardly any fur! Koda is thick, muscular, has body fat, and has a nice thick double coat. (Do you see the difference.?)

When the cold air hits and the snow starts to fall, us humans bring out the coats, boots, gloves, scarves, and any other item to help us stay warm outside. Your dog needs the same!

Now, for my cold weather breed owners, things are going to be a bit different for you, but please read on!

Remi gets put in her coat, and booties to cover her bare paws from the cold surfaces. Koda, on the other hand, get a lighter coat since she would actually be at risk of overheating! (Lovely isn’t it?) Now as I said, every dog is going to be different with what they need, but it is crucially important that your dog stays hydrated, is well fed, has a way to remain warm, and isn’t outside long enough where frostbite or worse could start to set in. (It happens more than you’d like to think..)

Here are a few items to consider using for your pup this winter:

• Coat or jacket
• Paw booties
• Paw/nose balm
• Heated water bowl
• Outdoor kennel heater (if applicable)
• Goggles (makes your dog look so cool)

Now, are all those items absolutely necessary? No. You don’t have to implement a single thing I’ve listed above. Just like kids, (OMG I said it….) your dog might complain about putting on a coat, or booties, or even letting you apply balm to their paw pads or nose. But, it will make things better off for them and mitigate the risks that so often occur to animals of any kind during the winter season.

The most important thing to remember is that winter is a beautiful time of the year, it’s also a dangerous one too. The precautions we take each day will make for a more enjoyable season together with our dogs, as it should be!