With winter well underway, spare a thought for your four-legged friends and remember that they’re just as vulnerable to the elements as we are. And yet despite that, we often get so caught up with the care of our human family members that we forget about our dogs.

With that in mind, we thought it would be the perfect time for us to share a few winter safety tips for dog owners so that we can keep the whole family safe and happy this winter. Let’s get started.

1.     Keep them warm

First and foremost, keep your pets as warm as you can, whether that’s by drying them off and warming them up when you get back from a walk or whether that’s by providing them with extra layers.

2.     Use reflective clothing

While we’re on the subject of layers, take the opportunity to use reflective clothing so that your pets are more visible in the darkness. Consider wearing reflective clothing yourself, too – especially if you’re walking in rural or poorly lit areas.

3.     Don’t leave them in cars

We all know not to leave children and animals in hot cars in the summer, but it’s also a bad idea in the winter. The temperature will cause them problems, of course, but they can also get dehydrated, distressed and start to panic. Plus you never know when you might get held up somewhere and be unable to get them out.

4.     Keep them on the lead

Steve Basset of Assignment Holic suggests keeping your dogs on the lead when walking them in the winter. “We let them off the lead in the back garden,” he says, “but the last thing we want in the winter is for them to run off and get lost in the middle of a walk.”

5.     Be mindful of little legs

Smaller dogs have smaller legs that can get sunk in snow, mud and puddles. Their bodies also hang lower to the ground and can get exposed to the elements. It’s also harder for them to walk longer distances, especially in difficult conditions.

6.     Check the weather forecast

John Holmes of Xpertwriters.com lives in the Canadian countryside and regularly walks his dog throughout the winter. He suggests downloading weather forecasting apps on your smartphone and always double and triple checking the weather before you head out on a walk so that you know what weather to be prepared for.

7.     Listen to your animal

Get to know your dog’s abilities and understand what they can and can’t do. You’ll be able to tell when they’re tiring or if they’re being overambitious when deciding to tackle snow and other winter conditions. And remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Conclusion

Using these tips could be what keeps you and your pet healthy and safe this winter, so take the time to familiarize yourself with them and to start applying them until they become a habit. Stay safe this winter.

Author Bio

Scott Matthews is an animal loving freelance writer who lives in the scenic British countryside with his wife and two children. He has three dogs that he walks every morning to start his working day, where he writes for clients like Paper Writing Pro, Resumes Planet and EssayShark. He also has a small collection of rescue chickens and an ever-growing library of pulp horror novels.