Winterizing your Pets

genuinemommy · Dec 8, 2011

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Do they spend more time indoors?
Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?
Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.
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Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
Yes, I bring our rabbit indoors and keep all our critters in the warmest room of our home.
Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
I don't have dogs. None of my animals spend enough time in teh snow for booties.
Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
Yes! Our rabbit has a sweater which she wears when she's outside and it's cooler than 50 degrees. I havne't found sweaters for our hamsters yet.
Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Nope. They're just too adorable to laugh at.
Do they spend more time indoors?
Yes. Most of their time is spent inside. It's exciting when it's warm enough to let the rabbit run around on the balcony for a half hour.
Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
Yes. If Cinnabunny spends too much time outdoors, she develops a heavier coat which she promptly sheds when she's back inside.
Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during
the season?Yes. There are still some parts of living in a snowy climate that I'm getting used to. That includes making sure my pets are adequately equipped to deal with the cooler temperatures of winter. We've been careful, but apparently not careful enough. Last night T and I came home to unresponsive hamsters. It gave us a big fright. Turns out the basement temperature was a little too low and they went into hibernation. After an hour of holding them in our hands, a little time warming themselves on a heating pad, and some delicious dried fruit, they were back to their usual active selves. We have moved their cages to our warm guest bedroom where our other love-muffin Cinnabunny spends her winter days. We're going to be more careful with our furry friends this winter.
Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.
Here is my Cinnabunny with her long-hair chihuahua friend:

Not my pets or my photos, but these are totally adorable.

Canthook · Dec 8, 2011

When we lived in a colder area, the dog had a jacket. The cats always stay inside.

Baraka_Guru · Dec 8, 2011

I have a lab, which pretty much means she's winterized year-round.

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
We take her where there is snow for her to roll in. She loves doing that.

Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
I live in the city, which means the sidewalks here are quite literally encrusted with salt. That means we must put booties on her paws so the salt won't dry out and irritate her paws. Otherwise she wouldn't be wearing them. I hate putting them on twice a day and she hates wearing them.

Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
Labs have a double coat. I've never seen my dog cold, even on the coldest winter days. She's the most alive when it's really cold. There we'll be standing frozen and turtled up in our winter layers, and there she'll be running around like a puppy, asking us, "Isn't it grand?"

Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Generally, it looks cute/funny. So yes. I only get judgemental when I don't think it's a breed that needs a coat or if it's not even that cold out. Some dogs just give that pathetic look of being demeaned by having to wear it.

Do they spend more time indoors?
No. The season/weather does not generally affect the amount of time we walk her. Exceptions are made for storms and other severe weather.

Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
It really seems we fight shedding year-round (again the lab, the double coat).

Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?
Again, she thrives in cold weather. She loves it. It's like the hills are alive with the sound of music. It's the summer where we have to watch out for her. She overheats quickly, and on the worst days we go very early in the morning or after sunset. We'll often hose her down in the shower before we go out as well.

The cold weather? Pfft.

Zweiblumen · Dec 8, 2011

My opinion "if your pet needs a dress for winter then it ain't a dog".

SuburbanZombie · Dec 8, 2011

We are currently dog-less but I'll answer for the last one.

Actually, just reread BG's post and subtract the booties.

There...that saved me some typing

aquafox · Dec 8, 2011

He enjoys the snow. Just not allowed to stay out there as long

PonyPotato · Dec 8, 2011

My jack russell is wire-haired, and has a pretty thin coat (with no underlayer). When he's running around outside in the cold he's usually okay, but if he has to stay out for extended periods of time or on the days when it's so cold he doesn't WANT to run around, he wears a jacket or sweater. His "jacket" is a dog-sized horse blanket, essentially.. keeps him dry in the snow and gives him an extra layer of wind protection and insulation. His sweater he wears when he's inside most of the day but is just going out to go potty.. if he's running around on adventures, the sweater gets burrs and all kinds of crap stuck in it. Dexter is a farm dog.

Wish I had a picture of him in his sweater, though.

snowy · Dec 8, 2011

I have two cats. They are mostly indoor cats. Occasionally we let them out on a Saturday or Sunday. We don't get a lot of winter weather here. They typically don't like to go out in the snow for long, so there isn't really any need to worry. One of our cats is a sort of longhair with huge tufted paws. She likes the snow, and because of how furry her paws are, they don't get too cold. She likes to prance around on our deck when there is snow, pounce on invisible mice lurking under the snow, and then she comes back inside.

Cats find the warmest spot in the house on their own and stay there. It isn't unusual to find Tumble burrowed into our blankets on our bed, or to find Ruff sacked out in front of the register.

grumpyolddude · Dec 8, 2011

Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
No.
Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
I think it's cruelty.
Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
No. I scowl and grind my teeth.
Do they spend more time indoors?
Same as always.
Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
Seems the same, year 'round.
Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?
Nope.
Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.
Thanks, but no thanks.

QW tried to put a vest on our Dane a few winters back. I objected, and so did he. Our beagle mutt doesn't even care for a collar, let alone a sweater or booties.

As Baraka_Guru stated, cold climate animals actually thrive in the cooler temps and the snow. When it gets truly bitter out, you should monitor their exposure, but normal winter weather shouldn't be a hardship for them. Warm climate pets should only be let out for short periods.

Play dress-up with dolls, not pets

Stan · Dec 8, 2011

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
I trim the fur on her feet to minimize ice balls. I'll apply Vaseline if we are going snowshoeing.
Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
No, her feet are huge and nothing fits. I've tried them and she loses them all, generally in several feet of snow.
Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
You're kidding, right? She wears a bright bandana while hiking to indicate that she isn't a bear.
Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Yes, Molly ridicules them, too.
Do they spend more time indoors?
Yes, but not by her choice.
Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
Shedding and slobber come with the territory. I brush her constantly, regardless of season.
Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?
Keeping her cool in the summer is more of an issue. She has her own kiddie wading pool in the summer and frequently sleeps in the bathtub (because it is cooler).
Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.
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fflowley · Dec 8, 2011

We have a golden retriever.
She is fully winterized except for her paws. At 0F and below she wears booties because her paws freeze. We also keep the hair trimmed short between her pads, like Stan said.
She is a wonderful cross country ski companion; we could not ask for better. Her ideal operating temperature seems to be 10-15 F. When we are skiing and it's above freezing you can see her getting too warm.

Cayvmann · Dec 9, 2011

When I had a dog, the only winterizing I did was make sure she had a warm bed in her dog house, and if the weather got too bad, she got to sleep inside. I never had a dog that wanted anything on their feet, regardless of the cold.

Remixer · Dec 9, 2011

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?

No.
Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?

No.
Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?

I find clothes for dogs ridiculous. My fiancée doesn't.
Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?

Yes.
Do they spend more time indoors?

My dogs are 95% of the time outside so they can play with each other and be complete retards without wrecking the furniture.
Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?

They sleep/live outside, so no.
Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?

Yeah, during summer. As with Stan, I have problems keeping the Central-Asian Shepherd cool on hot days. He usually spends them by lounging around and being a couch potato at the coolest spot he can find.
Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.

Check out my blog entries "My dogs" and "Retard". Those guys are so ready for winter.

Borla · Dec 9, 2011

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
Not really. The cat is indoors 100% of the time. The only thing I adjust with Stanley is to make sure he doesn't have any salt in his paws after a walk.

Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
No.

Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
No, he actually seems to love the cold, he wants to be outside more in the winter than any other time of year.

Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Sometimes. My sister's dog hates being dressed up. He will just stand very still, and very stiff when he has a sweater on. Usually he's a ball of energy.

Do they spend more time indoors?
Yes. We have a fenced in back yard, and Stanley gets walks. But he's only outside when he goes to the door to want out, and he's let back in as soon as he wants back in. He's never left out when we are gone.

Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
Not really. Both are short haired and don't shed too badly.

Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during
the season?
No. As I said, the cat is indoors, so that's a moot point. We were worried that the dog wouldn't like the cold when he was a pup, but he absolutely loves snow and ice. In fact, we just had our first snow last night that covered the ground, and when he realized at 4AM this morning that there was snow out there he immediately wanted outside to play. I was not impressed.

Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.
Here are a couple from last winter:

Grasshopper Green · Dec 9, 2011

I have a bird. In the winter, I have to be aware of drafts (either from windows, doors, or heating vents) because drafts are bad for birds. We've moved her into my son's room because it is the warmest, most draft-free area of the house.

The funny thing about shedding is she loses her feathers prior to winter, so a couple of months ago there were feathers EVERYWHERE, even in the bathroom!

As for furry critters, I never put coats or clothes on them when I had them. I guess if the animal doesn't mind it, I'm ok with it.

Zweiblumen · Dec 9, 2011

fflowley said: ↑

We have a golden retriever.
She is fully winterized except for her paws. At 0F and below she wears booties because her paws freeze. We also keep the hair trimmed short between her pads, like Stan said.
She is a wonderful cross country ski companion; we could not ask for better. Her ideal operating temperature seems to be 10-15 F. When we are skiing and it's above freezing you can see her getting too warm.
Click to expand...

We were told to butter the paws but I never did, just tried to make sure that ice didn't build up on the paws. If the cross country skies were in the truck then it was almost impossible to get her into the truck if we hadn't walked. People also tend to learn faster how to ski when there is a 4-legged paramedic around that applies her tongue to the face of the fallen while standing on that persons chest.

ASU2003 · Dec 9, 2011

I winterize myself and my house . I bring in my palm trees and cactus.

But my house is much too cold for any normal pet. Maybe a sled dog.

CinnamonGirl · Dec 10, 2011

Benjen absolutely loves the snow! As far as I know, Leia hasn't encountered it yet, so I look forward to her reaction.

Benjen is part lab, part something else (probably chow, but maybe golden retriever), so he doesn't need a sweater. I considered getting one for Leia (she's an Australian Cattle Dog mix), but Lordeden said it wasn't necessary (actually, I think his exact reaction was "no fucking way.")

Salt's not a big problem on the streets we walk, so I've never tried booties. I don't think they'd get a good reaction.

Willravel · Dec 10, 2011

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
I do! I generally change the type and amount of dog food I feed my beagle, we take walks in the afternoon instead of the evening, I have a nice, festive collar he really enjoys, and, of course, I lavish him with gifts on Christmas. Last year, I got him one of those full-body things I can attach his leash to instead of just the choker. He proudly pulls things around with it when we're on special walks. This year, I'm going to the butcher to get a special beef bone for him (organic, free range, etc.). He's going to love it.

Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
It doesn't snow here, but if it did I don't think I would try to get shoes on him. He hates it when there are things touching his paws other than that which he chooses to touch. Additionally, despite centuries of breeding, many dogs are still very well adapted to cold weather. I've not had a chance to take my beagle to the snow yet, but when I eventually do, I'll simply allow him to romp with not but his collar. The only thing I think I'd do is be sure to dry him off very thoroughly after a day in the snow and provide a warm fire for him to nap by.

Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
I don't think my dog would appreciate that. He puts up with enough weird human crap already.

Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Not at all. Perhaps some animals require extra insulation.

Do they spend more time indoors?
Yes, my dog is a largely indoor dog. I wish I had a larger backyard, but the sad truth is there's not enough space for my dog to spend a great deal of time interested out there. Additionally, beagles are especially social dogs, and my beagle is unaccustomed and uncomfortable with being alone.

Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
I vacuum and sweep 5 days a week. I don't even think about it anymore.

Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?
Actually, yes. For all intents and purposes, my dog has his own room. The master bedroom of my home has a small entryway that leads out to my courtyard, to my bathroom, and to the basement. It turned out to be the perfect sleeping location for the dog, in that he was very close so he felt comfortable, but at the same time he wasn't jumping all over the bed or stuck in a crate. The problem is that this room does not have a heating or air conditioning vent. The outside door is thick and weather-stripped, but still cold seeps in on colder nights. It's about 46°F right now outside, about 69°F in my room and, perhaps, 62°F in the dog's room. While he's never really communicated discomfort, he does tend to bundle up more during the winter, curling up into a tighter ball and bunching the big, soft blanket he sleeps on into a cocoon. I'm thinking about possibly changing his sleeping arrangement temporarily if we end up having an unusually cold winter.

chinese crested · Dec 11, 2011

Do you do anything special for your pets in the winter?
They have piles of blankets to snuggle into - especialy in the car. Having said that, it was particularly cold this morning, and they had pancake and sausage in bed with their tea as a treat. I tend to cook them more casseroles in the winter - and dumplings to stick to their ribs.
Do your dogs get booties for their long walks in the snow?
No. Plasma bags make god temporary boots - just stitch a drawstring. Our vet gives them away as such for sore or injured feet.
Do you dress your fluffy friends in sweaters or coats?
I dress my hairless friends in the winter. Morgan and Timmy are wearing t shirts. Morgans says 'beware of owner'. They also have jumpers, fleeces and coats and bomber jackets. First time I took Timmy out in the snow, his willy went purple with cold! Mulan has naked boobies but back hair, so she will be needing coat to go out, but not a t shirt in the house - but will probably get one so she doesnt feel left out.
Do you laugh at other people who dress their animals for the cold?
Not at all. Older joints feel the cold. First time I saw Morgan, she was being dragged across the road in the snow totaly naked and very very unhappy.
Do they spend more time indoors?
We all do. We are all older.
Do you find yourself fighting their shedding winter coats in your 70 degree home?
Hair not fur so not a problem.
Have you ever had a problem with getting your pets comfortable during the season?
The purple cold willy scared me more than the dog. Wrapped him in a blanket and put the heater on driving home. We are happy under a duvet sharing body heat and snuggles.
Feel free to share photos of your pets or any adorable pets ready for winter.

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Winterizing your Pets

Do you dress your pets for winter?

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genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

Canthook Vertical

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Zweiblumen Slightly Tilted

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fflowley Don't just do something, stand there!

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Borla Moderator Staff Member

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CinnamonGirl The Cheat is GROUNDED!

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Winterizing your Pets

Do you dress your pets for winter?

Yes

No

Other

genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

Canthook Vertical

Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

Zweiblumen Slightly Tilted

SuburbanZombie Housebroken

aquafox Getting Tilted

PonyPotato Very Tilted

snowy so kawaii Staff Member

grumpyolddude Very Tilted

Stan Resident Dumbass

fflowley Don't just do something, stand there!

Cayvmann Very Tilted

Remixer Middle Eastern Doofus

Borla Moderator Staff Member

Grasshopper Green Getting Tilted

Zweiblumen Slightly Tilted

ASU2003 Very Tilted

CinnamonGirl The Cheat is GROUNDED!

Willravel Getting Tilted

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