Doggone Etiquette—

Winterized Dogs

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:             

How are you doing with this long, cold, snowy winter? Do you think you look pretty sharp in your snow coat and boots? Or, are you the kind of dog that grows your own? Lucky you, if you do, but then there’s all that brushing, combing, and drying off when you come in! Can’t win! Some of you little guys don’t even get to go out the door when it’s cold or raining, so let’s hope you know to use whatever “facilities” your VIPeople have provided for you. Warmer days are on the way. Dream on!

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

How have you VIPeople been coping with this amazing winter? We still have a few weeks to go, despite an occasional mild day or two to keep our hopes up! If you live in an area where you can now walk the dog, you still need to keep him on leash. Any of those snow banks or icy patches could cause a dog to slip and slide — and break a leg. Given a small fenced-in, shoveled-off area in which to eliminate, it’s amazing how quickly dogs can learn to walk cautiously on ice! But real walks are a different matter. Both real walks and those solo outings need your supervision, especially if Rufus is an exuberant pup or a slightly unsteady senior citizen.                

If you are lucky enough by now to have cleared streets where you walk Rufus, you should still be aware of whatever rock salt, sand, or other ice-melting compound has been used on sidewalks and the streets. When the snow and ice have melted, the chemicals may still be in the puddles and drain areas. And, of course, we may still be in for more snow! (On this date in 2003, we had a blizzard!)

Don’t take chances. When you get home from such a walk, continue to wipe or wash off the pads of the dog’s feet, the hair between the pads and all the hair surrounding the lower part of each leg. You don’t want Rufus “doing it himself” and ingesting any of those chemicals. Use paper towels, which can be thrown out. This advice carries over into springtime when weed killers and some fertilizers are toxic to dogs. Lucky you if your backyard is completely clear and your dog can get his normal daily exercise!  But keep an eye out for any icy ground patches, especially if your Rufus considers chasing squirrels normal exercise. 

Won’t it be nice when we can talk about warm spring days and dogs getting soaked in the rain, rolling in mud — and tulips and daffodils?             

Did you by any chance catch the Westminster Dog Show? If not — and speaking of spring — there will be several dog shows and special dog events taking place nearby where you can brush up on what a dog like yours can (or should) be doing other than eating and sleeping. Even if your Rufus can’t participate, or is not geared for particular events such as agility, herding, hunting, etc, they are great fun to watch. Watching them on TV is not the same as actually being there and seeing the dogs in action, being part of the cheering crowd, and talking to people who can explain how they trained their dogs to do any of these things. Your next dog (and anyone who ever had a dog will always have a “next” one) could be a dog you specifically choose from having seen how that particular breed could perform what it was bred to do. Many dogs are still experts at what the breeds were originally bred to do hundreds of years ago. 

While you are dreaming about spring, keep one eye on the dog presently by your side or at your feet. The one making occasional little yips or groans. He’s probably sharing those spring dreams right along with you. 

Until next time — BE GOOD!

—Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me!, which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.