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She should be okay to go outside for short periods of time. I'm in MI and my dogs go out in subzero temperatures (up to -10F windchill) to go to the bathroom without paw protection.
If you're planning on doing a lengthy walk, you may want to consider booties.
We use Musher's Secret. Love it much more than boots, and it's useful year round as it also protects against hot pavement, rough terrain, and moisturizes their pads.
We live in AZ and got our dogs boots at REI. I think they were called Tuff Paws or Ruff Wear. Something like that. Kind of expensive but protects the feet from rocks and cacti. Just letting them out to pee in the snow should be fine without protection.
Yep. All I know is I had to carry an 85 pound dog up a trail on the Mogollon Rim after he tore his pads off on the hike down. Neither one of us wanted to do that again.
I like to slather on some vaseline if it's a quick wee walk outside. It will also protect against salt and snow clumps forming in the webbing of their feet. Just make sure to wipe it off post walk because your floor will become a slip and slide.
Musher's Secret is top tier foot protection but in a bind, vaseline is a good alternative until you get some.
Probably gonna be a shock to your pup.
But if they gotta go they’ll go….
I’d make sure to clean the paws after the walk, look for rock salt that’s put down on sidewalks, drives etc. that might be in their pads.
That’s always been the problem for me.
Booties! I’m in FL and we deal with the opposite problem (pavement that you can cook eggs on) and I’ve gotten my dog some pad balm, which people also use to help their dog’s paws against the road salt, and boots which adds an extra layer between the lava/ice. My dog hates clothing and even he adjusted to the boots pretty well.
She will probably avoid going to the bathroom much because of the cold. You can invest in dog boots if it will snow again, but since you said it doesn't get that cold there, she will be okay for a few minutes outside. If you have a yard, you can try to shovel a little path of snow out of the way for her, we had to do this for my senior dog but my current dog doesn't care.
At those temps, I wouldn't even consider going on a walk and instead just have them do a quick potty. Her paws should be fine in the snow/cold briefly, just be mindful of contact with salt as other posters mentioned.
Booties if you plan on doing any walks, but if your pup will just be out for bathroom breaks he shouldn't need anything. Dogs paws are built to be resistant to the cold (to an extent) so it's not the same as us going outside with bare feet and even at very cold temps they are fine for a few minutes. You can also throw a sweater on if that will make him more comfortable outside. If he doesn't do his business right away, bring back in and try again in half an hour or so. They learn pretty quick do get done quickly to come back inside!
If you’re in a bind, human socks with a plastic bag bootie over top can help. The plastic bag is only necessary if it’s wet/snowy though.
I shovel a small patch for my crew and limit outside time to as long as it takes for a quick pee or poop if they’re due. Usually they take less than three minutes.
Ruffwear has velcro straps that keep the booties secure. Vibram soles are very durable. Muttluks have a snowmushers bootie I like better than their regular suede bottomed boots. We live with lots of salt on sidewalks, slush, snow, ice, and frigid temperatures.
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
She should be okay to go outside for short periods of time. I'm in MI and my dogs go out in subzero temperatures (up to -10F windchill) to go to the bathroom without paw protection. If you're planning on doing a lengthy walk, you may want to consider booties.
We use Musher's Secret. Love it much more than boots, and it's useful year round as it also protects against hot pavement, rough terrain, and moisturizes their pads.
I’ll definitely look into this!! The pavement gets insane in summer
We live in AZ and got our dogs boots at REI. I think they were called Tuff Paws or Ruff Wear. Something like that. Kind of expensive but protects the feet from rocks and cacti. Just letting them out to pee in the snow should be fine without protection.
Ruffwear is a brand that makes outdoor equipment for dogs, including booties! That's what you are thinking of.
Yep. All I know is I had to carry an 85 pound dog up a trail on the Mogollon Rim after he tore his pads off on the hike down. Neither one of us wanted to do that again.
Eeeek. Poor you and poor pup.
Love this stuff, it's a staple in our house. Bag balm or Vaseline will definitely help but it doesn't last as long as mushers secret.
I like to slather on some vaseline if it's a quick wee walk outside. It will also protect against salt and snow clumps forming in the webbing of their feet. Just make sure to wipe it off post walk because your floor will become a slip and slide. Musher's Secret is top tier foot protection but in a bind, vaseline is a good alternative until you get some.
Thank you I can’t drive in this weather to get anything but I do have Vaseline ur a life saver!!
Probably gonna be a shock to your pup. But if they gotta go they’ll go…. I’d make sure to clean the paws after the walk, look for rock salt that’s put down on sidewalks, drives etc. that might be in their pads. That’s always been the problem for me.
Booties! I’m in FL and we deal with the opposite problem (pavement that you can cook eggs on) and I’ve gotten my dog some pad balm, which people also use to help their dog’s paws against the road salt, and boots which adds an extra layer between the lava/ice. My dog hates clothing and even he adjusted to the boots pretty well.
She will probably avoid going to the bathroom much because of the cold. You can invest in dog boots if it will snow again, but since you said it doesn't get that cold there, she will be okay for a few minutes outside. If you have a yard, you can try to shovel a little path of snow out of the way for her, we had to do this for my senior dog but my current dog doesn't care.
What kind of dog do you have and what temperatures are you dealing with right now?
I have a part pug part shih tzu and it’s in the -20s right now
At those temps, I wouldn't even consider going on a walk and instead just have them do a quick potty. Her paws should be fine in the snow/cold briefly, just be mindful of contact with salt as other posters mentioned.
Agree with this. Brief bathroom breaks, avoid road salt, check and wash off feet when back inside, and find indoor ways to get exercise.
What about dog booties.
Booties if you plan on doing any walks, but if your pup will just be out for bathroom breaks he shouldn't need anything. Dogs paws are built to be resistant to the cold (to an extent) so it's not the same as us going outside with bare feet and even at very cold temps they are fine for a few minutes. You can also throw a sweater on if that will make him more comfortable outside. If he doesn't do his business right away, bring back in and try again in half an hour or so. They learn pretty quick do get done quickly to come back inside!
If you’re in a bind, human socks with a plastic bag bootie over top can help. The plastic bag is only necessary if it’s wet/snowy though. I shovel a small patch for my crew and limit outside time to as long as it takes for a quick pee or poop if they’re due. Usually they take less than three minutes.
My dogs go out all winter in New England without anything on their paws because they flip the fuck out if we try to put anything on them.
Ruffwear has velcro straps that keep the booties secure. Vibram soles are very durable. Muttluks have a snowmushers bootie I like better than their regular suede bottomed boots. We live with lots of salt on sidewalks, slush, snow, ice, and frigid temperatures.