Dog Feet Have Special Blood Vessels That Protect Them From Cold

Ruperts hairy feet were a big problem in the snow. The cold didn't bother them, the snow did. It stuck to the hair between his pads and formed big balls of ice there. He couldn't walk due to them. I'd have used boots for him if I thought he'd wear them. At least then he'd have been able to play in the snow for longer than 5 minutes before having to hobble in and have his feet de-iced.

All my dogs have loved the snow and cold, frosty weather. Rupert woke me up at 3am one morning simply because he wanted to go out and play in the snow, Shadow had to be forcibly brought inside when it snowed and even Wolf got all excited about it.

It took me ages to get Louie in the other night

I don't think reckon much to boots - as if I'd get close to any of my dogs with those! But then I do think there are people who aren't as intuned with their dogs. But then I will be stood at the bus stop today with Louie, he will have a coat on due to it being freezing and we'll be just stood there and hopefully the shelter will have some bit of it without snow and he'll be stood on that..

I don't think people should stop taking out their little dogs just because of snow - or bundling them up especially if they are offlead. Elderly and really young dogs yes, but not perfectly healthy dogs, I saw 3 Bullies and a Pom out the other day and none of them had coats on and they were bombing about - it did look very odd that there were 3 bullies and then a pom with the same owner though

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maybe didn't like the feel of the snow/slush/ice what ever on his feet.
Never crossed my mind that my dogs feet would be cold actually,
But then again that are not small dogs

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I would be too cold to stand still for long enough to bother the dog!
Thank goodness I have never seen a dog with bootees on so most owners obviously dont use them. Never seen them in our pet shops either.

You cant possibly compare how we feel the cold with how a dog does. We dont tear around happily in bare feet and no clothes in the snow. We dont jump into a semi frozen river and swim through the ice. We are made differently!

My dogs do wear coats out in the horse yard for various reasons. When they are newly clipped they feel colder on their bodies and also it protects them from smelling so bad in the house! But I feel faddy doing it, they would manage perfectly well without them. I put a coat on one of them to agility just after a very short clip. Very cold night in a very cold indoor school - and I was asked why she had it on - by someone else with a similar sized dog that was newly clipped. I think we put them on for ourselves rather than the dog most of the time. Before coats became the fashion all the short haired breeds managed just fine.

Good heavens, do you know I re read my post and discovered that I had NOT

1 mentioned YOU or your dog.
2 made any reference to spaying

Do you ALWAYS find it necessary to INVENT and/or put words into the mouths of others?

My dogs (and all the dogs I know) exercise throught the winter and maintain muscle mass quite well without the need for "booties" both breeds were bred to work outside in rain, wind, cold, ice, snow.

What we really need is a Pug owner to respond to this thread!! coz all dogs are different and what will suit one wont suit another.
Im pretty sure booties are abit extreme but its mean not to put a coat on a little short coated breed when its icy. 2 of mine are happy to go out in the snow and minus temps without coats, although I wouldnt keep them standing around but Heidi cant go out in snow for any length of time. Being a short coated deerhead Chihuahua she has the coat and build of a whippet (a 5Ib whippet!!). If her legs sink into snow its like her blood cant heat p enough before it pumps around her long, skinny legs.....she just judders to a halt and stop moving after about 20 minutes.
Luckily today the snow has a frozen crust on so she has been buddled up in t shirt, coat and harness and has been walking on top of the snow in the park!LOL

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SUMMER...JUST SAY NO!

I love my furkids.
dogs-Adam, Hannah, Heidi.
cats-Banjo, Bess, Eric, Tootsie, Blossom, Gracie.
Syrian Hamster-Inigo Montoya.
Rats-Ezri, Audrid, Emony.
Corn Snake- Kiora.
Kenyan Sand Boa- Kushti.

RIP- Winter, Autumn, Leela, Spring, Gandalf, Summer,Jet, Pip, Moo, Lilac, Wild Thing, Patrick, Frisbee, Echo.

You didn't directly mention me or my dog, but a few other people took offence at what you said too. I'm glad your dogs and the dogs you know tolerate the cold well, but to be so hurtful about our dogs that can't is just uncalled for IMO!
And you mentioned not breeding them for the feeble genes, I mentioned getting Cassie spayed.