Posted on 11/14/2008 7:22:18 AM PST by yankeedame
Let your dog check the weather. Allow your dog to step outside and feel for itself that it's too cold or stormy...Instinctually, the dog will understand why it has to come back inside where it's safe.
Don't let your dog manipulate you. Dogs can learn to use that open door as a means to control you. When you let your dog do that "weather check,"...you decide when the assessment is over.
Don't rely on natural protection from the cold. Some dogs do develop thicker fur and maintain their fat as a natural protection from the cold...But many breeds...do not have this natural resistance... If you're unsure...consult your veterinarian.
Gear up! If you have a breed that's not built to handle cold... [get] the proper gear to handle it, such as doggie boots, winter jackets, and even paw waxes that protect your dog from the cold and aid its grip on slippery surfaces...
(Excerpt) Read more at pets.yahoo.com ...
doggie ping at you...
OR live in, say, southern Texas or Arizona.
Instinctually, the dog will understand why it has to come back inside where it’s safe.
Unless the dog in question is Rummy. He would beg to go out in Texas spring storms. Dear hubby opened the back door once for him to show him that he didn’t want to go out in the downpour, and off he went...to stand in the middle of the yard. It’s either the water retriever in him, the blond in him or he’s just too dumb to come in out of the rain! He does wait to come in before shaking though!!!!! :P
Our dogs get to do their “weather check” once I boot them out the door.If it’s raining or too cold, they better do their business with a sense of urgency.
“He does wait to come in before shaking though!!!!!” :P
Smart dog!
I live in southern CA. My 3 big boxers are afraid of the rain and wind. They just hold it!
My dogs never come into the house.
My two black Labs lives outside where they roam the farmsite (two chihuahuas stay inside). When I got the first Lab I renovated an old granary. I lowered the ceiling, completely insulated the room and ran power out to it and installed a milk barn heater and heated water dish and heated dog bed. The dang dog preferred to stay outside regardless if the temperature -20 or colder. He would usually sleep up on the deck. And, he continues to jump into my pond up until it freezes over.
Our late and greatly missed Golden Retriever, Prior Lake Jake loved nothing better than a walk out on the frozen lake in January snow to check out what was happening in the local fishing shacks. He was known to bum beers and eat small bass and crappies off the stringer. He could consume beer from a can if it was poured slowly. By the second car he was starting to blow beer foam bubbles via his nose and had to come in for a nap.
My mom called me and said she was worried about Jake, apparently he was standing out in the cold rain. I said “does he look miserable or happy”.... “kind of happy I guess” she replied. “He is fine” I concluded.
Sure enough I was up there the next day and we were walking by an ice cold snow melt creek. For the last few months everything on the farm has been trying to keep as warm and dry as possible, but not Jake. He got into the creek and then, deciding it wasn't deep enough, laid down in the ice cold water with a look of utter satisfaction.
If you have a “doggie ping list” please add me. If not, no harm asking...
Labs and other water dogs love cold wet days.
We had German Short haired pointers as a kid in Michigan. My dad, a frustrated engineer built a dog house that was better than most people live in. Totally insulated with a lift off top. A flip door insulated, two rooms each (this was a duplex,one for sleeping with a mat and one for eating. A thermalcouple with a heat lamp that was guarded so no burns from the hot lamp. It maintained a constant 50 Degrees. And of course a fenced dog run. Our babies lived better than most people.
Our Weims love to swim and go in the pool or gulf, but they won’t go out in the rain, go figure.
My choc. lab Cosby was the same way.....no matter how cold he was in the creek. We would have to brush the ice cycles off of him before he came into the house....I don’t think I ever saw him shiver....
Then why do you have them?
Yeah, I have to admit my wife and I tend to pamper our dogs, especially the Chihuahuas. We make our own dog food for them, they have their own room and beds but they usually prefer to sleep with us. The Labs have several hundred acres to roam, all sorts of critters to chase. One learned the hard way not to chase porcupines. There’a a meat shop in a little town close to us where I can get all the beef bones and trimmings they can possibly eat. I should have it so good.
I don’t worry about my Dobie and weather for the most part. My theory is he wouldn’t do well if had to stay outside on cold days. However walking or running, he’s generating enough heat where he can handle the cold.
Of course he hates the rain (like today) but life ain’t always easy for dogs as well as humans.
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