Is It Too Cold To Walk Your Dachshund?
With the recent spell of very cold weather we have had in the UK, including some snow fall and icy conditions, you may be wondering if and when it is too cold to walk your dachshund.
Walking is obviously great exercise for dachshunds, and provided you use common sense and avoid prolonged exposure to the cold, you should be able to enjoy at least a short walk in the snow - provided your dachsie will actually go out in the snow, of course! We have found our boy absolutely LOVES the novelty of snow, even though you wouldn’t catch him going out at all with a drop of rain.
Wrap up warm, with a jumper or coat for your dachshund
If you are going to brave the cold, it is important to make sure your dachshund is dressed for the weather with a warm jumper or coat. We have previously published a review on the dachshund equafleece which is a great choice for cold weather. The water resistant fleece fabric protects against the wet and cold conditions that snow and ice can bring.
Keep your dog on a lead where possible and use reflective harnesses and collars
It is safest to keep your dog on a lead when walking in the snow and ice to avoid them running off and getting lost in the cold weather. We also use a high visibility harness and collar that have reflective details on them, and keep an up to date ID tag on the collar just in case. Hi vis also help if you are walking during the shorter hours of winter daylight, as it helps keep you and your dog visible to any cars or other traffic.
Wipe paws thoroughly after returning home
One of the biggest concerns with walking outside during very cold weather is the salt and grit used to keep roads free from ice can be an irritant for your dog’s paws, legs and even bellies for dachshunds that are so low to the ground. It is therefore important to thoroughly wipe any exposed areas after returning home from a walk on a cold day. Also be sure to dry off the dog thoroughly with a towel if they have got wet on their winter walk. This will help to prevent any issues with irritation.
Keep away from anti-freeze
One final point to note is that anti-freeze is exceedingly poisonous to dogs and can be fatal if consumed, so take care to avoid your dachshund coming into contact with any anti-freeze or related chemicals during the winter period.
