Overcome Those Winter Blues: Playing with Dogs in Snow!

| Published by |

It’s a Snow Day!

The weather channels are all calling for it, but will it be true? I wake up, look out the window and see a nice coating of white. Shortly, the kids wake up and run out to the living room. Do we have a delay? Do we have off? They turn on the local TV station intently waiting for the school closings list to scroll to our area. They start jumping for joy – It’s another snow day!

Dog in Snow Wearing Hurtta Frost Jacket

Our Vizsla, Odi, sporting his winter coat, which keeps him warm and comfortable in cold temperatures.

I have to admit that I love the snow too. I don’t really care for just plain freezing cold days or ice storms through winter, but there is just something mystical about snow. It glistens in the sun and makes the outdoors look beautiful. However, for most adults it is a nuisance. You think of all the snow removal that must be done, a day without pay, and a long commute to work due to bad roads if the office is still open. Then to even start thinking about more work with your dogs in snow – shoveling a path through the yard for your dog to go to the bathroom or even removing all those snow balls off your dog’s hair.

Enough is enough. It’s time to get quit worrying about the stresses of snow and start enjoying our snow day too! Think of playing with dogs in snow, going sled riding, taking walks through the woods, building a snowman, throwing snowballs, cross country skiing and all the other fun winter activities. The best part, all these activities are not just for parents with kids. They are perfect for dog owners too because we know that there is just something about dogs in snow that causes excitement too.

Playing with Dogs in Snow

playing-with-dogs-in-snow

Image Source: Flickr/Creative Commons/cocoleroc on weather.com

Just like kids, dogs love snow! In fact, an expert in canine psychology, Stanley Coren, says that “snow provides dogs with a new experience, a new material to interact with, which is fun and exciting!” Playing with dogs in snow is a great bonding opportunity.

I know this is true for Odi. He absolutely loves the snow and we love playing with him in it. We throw snowballs, frozen sticks or toys to play fetch, we go tromping through the woods, and we even just run around like crazy for a good old fashion game of chase. One of his favorites is to chase us down the hill when we go sledding.

While playing with dogs in snow is fun and enjoyable for dogs that love the snow, there are a few that just don’t care for it. If you want your pup to play in the snow more than they want to, try making sure they are warm and comfortable. Dogs in snow often get wet & cold. I know that as a vizsla, Odi gets cold quickly, as do many other short-haired dog breeds. To keep him warm, we bundle him up with his dog winter coat, especially when it is very cold or when we are going to be outside for quite some time. We have friends that also put light winter coats, rain jackets or vests on their long-haired dogs to prevent their fur from becoming one big snowball.

In addition to Odi’s winter coat, we often put on his dog boots to keep his paws warm and protected. The boots are particularly handy when there is ice as they keep his paws and bottom part of his legs protected from cuts and scrapes when he breaks through the ice layer. With his winter gear on, he is ready to go.

Another perk of playing with dogs in snow is that it provides a great way to exercise. Dogs need daily exercise. Running through the snow adds a challenge and will tucker them out. I know that when my family and I are out playing in the snow with our dog, Odi, they all come in tired. When we come in from outside, Odi heads straight to his dog bed to curl up and relax. And we know that a good dog is a tired dog!

Dogs Playing in Snow Video

Playing with dogs in snow can be really entertaining! We came across this video of dogs in snow that look like they are having a blast. Thought you might enjoy.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Also on the blog: