First winter with dog questions, including how to cut down on dog going outside so much

[cantthinkofanewnameatall]

This will be our first Winter of dog ownership. Pup is 8 months and fully toilet trained fingers crossed.

Pup does want to go out quite often though, either to play or use the loo facilities (i.e. pee on the lawn).
I can't always tell which it is so the result is he is in and out a lot and the kitchen will become cold when the weather cools (it's a little chilly today in here even). So I want to try and cut down how much he goes out into the garden or I will freeze to death! Any ideas how?

Also any general Winter dog tips and winter gear for our walks for me? Best way to clean off mud after walks?

[mistlethrush]

Shut the door behind dog - don't leave the door open. We managed to teach our previous dog to bark to come in (bark once, wait...... bark again if not answered after a minute or so, so not constant barking!).

What sort of dog is he as that will significant affect what impact wet and mud has - we have a long-legged dog and the mud she gets on her feet and tummy towels off easily. We have a waterproof coat for her when its tipping down so she's not wet all over. She has her feet wiped every time she comes in from now on due to the garden becoming muddier.

I have seen a standard poodle wearing an all-in-one suit with legs going all the way to his ankles. eg here

[cantthinkofanewnameatall]

He has started scratching at the door to come in and I am closing it now but it still feels chilly and I'm sure will be so in the Winter if he is in and out like a yoyo. I suppose I need to start ignoring him sometimes when he goes to the back door to go out and I know he has had a wee recently?
It is driving me mad!

He is somewhat shaggy so not so easy to clean. At the moment I either hose his feet or stick him in an old tub of cold water outside. Any reason I can't do that still in Winter or will it be too cold for him (or me!)?

I've seen some fleecy suits similar to the one linked to to prevent mud going everywhere. Quite interested in the idea but wonder if I'd just get muddy struggling to get it off him!?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Turtle mats are meant to be good for muddy paws.

You may find he's less inclined to go out once its cold and dark.

[AnitaWilson75]

He'll probably want to avoid the cold and stay in the warm with you anyway as the winter goes on, but having a pup means a few small sacrifices. Maybe get a big wooly coat?? :)

[cantthinkofanewnameatall]

That's a good point about him wanting to stay in anyway! Let's see then as it might well not be as bad as I think.

I can run a fan heater in here which will a. keep me warm, and b. keep pup cosy and wanting to be here.

I am trying to train him to 'lie down at feet' as surely a dog's main purpose in life is to keep their owner's feet warm

[BravePotato]

just TRY getting him out on a cold wet windy day , LOL.

Depends on the breed of course, but my whippetty-grey would be happy to NOT go out when the weather is bad, at all.

As to the jojo-joing, dogs can hold up wee for a bit. My dog is jus 1, and she sometimes stands by the door, but that doe snot always mean I run to let her out. They can go without weeing for a few hours!

[WeAllHaveWings]

our pup is 18 months old and we had our first winter of dog ownership last year. It was a bit of a shock to the system to begin with, but once we were kitted out properly and accepted it had to be done, it wasn't too bad walking for an hour in the cold and rain. And we got used to the smell of damp dog.

Our dog still loves/needs off lead walks in the dark and rain, yours might not. He doesn't bother much with the garden in the winter except to dash out for a quick pee and straight back in.

Think about where you are going to walk him during the winter months. If he is pavement walked it shouldn't be too bad, we still walk in fields that become very muddy in the winter. If you are walking off pavement, for everyone who walks the dog, think whether you need to invest in:

• a good breathable waterproof jacket
• waterproof trousers
• waterproof boots and/or wellies (we walk in muddy fields in the winter so wellies are a must)
• thermal socks/gloves
• warm jumpers/fleeces (I prefer layers underneath a waterproof jacket rather than a padded jacket)
• a spare collar/lead (we found our nylon ones got muddy and took a while to dry between walks, or got damp and smelly so had one just for for wet walks)
• light up collar or attachment (we have a black lab who goes off lead and is invisible after 7pm on a winters night)

We never got a dog coat (we've got a lab so doesn't need the extra warmth, and not too hairy), but we've got about 10 dog towels (old towels) that we use for cleaning/drying the dog after a walk (can take 2-3 to dry/clean him off especially if muddy). Most of the mud/wetness is on his legs and tummy anyway.

Our car boot is also now properly lined so its wipe down/washable and we can take him places without worrying too much about a muddy or sandy dog in the car after.

[mistlethrush]

I know some people swear by these and say that, put in one in the boot on the way home, dog is dry and relatively mud free by the time they get home in 20 mins. There are various alternatives.

Whether or not your dog requires a waterproof coat will depend on their natural coat - we have a lurcher with a scruffy coat but she gets cold, particuarly if wet, so needs one. A labrador doesn't need one for warmth, but you can get waterproof ones that are not warm too which might be useful for when its tipping down to minimise the damp coat.

[cantthinkofanewnameatall]

Love your list!
I have most of that from trips to very cold places apart from waterproof trousers. Are yours over- trousers or all in one? Very tempted to get some.

We walk off lead but one of my places has a tarmac path so at least I don't have to get muddy even if he does. He seems fine too if his walk some days is just on the roads. So if it is very muddy I can stick to these places.

Luckily we don't seem to need an evening walk. Maybe that will change but he manages fine with 45 mins in the morning (with lots of him running around if off lead) and a little outing by car and mini walk at school pick up time.