Can you take a small dog out in snow

[MrsNonSmoker]

Hello again, back on to the subject of my 10 month old Cockerpoo puppy, he's 11 inches at the shoulder which means he has to prance in the snow rather than walk, but if I let him he would stay in the garden all day. My question is - should I let him? How often and how long can he go out for - do any of you worry about dogs getting frostbite or have I lost the plot?

I don't have boots or a coat for him. His fur attracts snow into, well sort of "stones" of ice which are hard to get off, towelling won't do. He loves the snow so much, the children have gone to the park with their sled and I wouldn't let him go that would have been about 2 hours out in the cold - sort me out, what should I do?

[stickersarecurrency]

You are being PFD. It's only snow - he'll soon look sorry if he gets cold. Best way to get snowballs off feet is a warm bath.

[Madsometimes]

My cockapoo has decided that he hates the snow. I took him out for about an hour in it yesterday, and the walk back took ages. He kept stopping to lick his paws. Unfortunately the snow balls had compacted into painful stones and I think that he was very uncomfortable. He also really dislikes the way that nothing smells right. He is walking with his nose stuck in the snow trying to smell his way around, but it is just not right.

Today I attempted to take him to the park, but he kept on pulling back. I did make him have a 30 minute lead walk because I think that he does need exercise (he normally has 1-2 hours), but did not force the park on him because he clearly did not want to go.

[ditavonteesed]

my poor little baby dog is not going out too much, actually lost her in the garden, it totally covers her, mind you she still seems to love it, not going for a walk though worried I would actually lose her out and about.

[MrsNonSmoker]

Madsometimes was that 30 minute walk actually through thick snow? I am thinking I might take him for a quick hike round the block - do you think 30 mins or so is about right?

[Madsometimes]

I don't know if I did the right thing or not! Some of the walk was through thick snow, and some on the pavement. When he was in this thick snow his tummy covered.

I have decided to let Patch be the guide as to how much exercise he needs at the moment. He crashed out after his short walk, so I am guessing that he has had enough. If he was charging around the house, then I would take him out again.

[Lizcat]

The mobile mop/cockapoo loves the snow prancing about in it, rubbing his head in it and then behaving like the tart he is.

[MrsNonSmoker]

Right, so I took him out, we live in a cul de sac so just let him off the lead and he went beserk, very cute. After about 15 minutes he was chewing his fur and I could see he literally had "snow balls" - egg shaped globes of dense ice hanging off his legs and genitals - he could hardly walk. Got him in, saw that his fur was actually matted into them, you couldn't pull them off, although he was tearing it out with his teeth.

We haven't got anywhere to bath a dog so we put the hairdryer on low on him. Quite a few remain but it is better. I am soaked to the skin, and the dog is letting the rest melt off into my chaise longe. Oh well, he enjoyed the prancing!

[Lizcat]

More top level pracing this morning including mad running to. He has been forced into winter coat to go to work today and is currently very grumpy about that. Not as grumpy as he'll be later when he discovers third job of the day is to remove his crown jewels - no more humping DD large ladybird soft toy for him.

[higgle]

Cockers and poodles originally working breeds and should be fine in the snow on reasonable walks. Be vigilant with male dogs - our sadly deceased Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen went out with DH one snowy frezing boxing day and came back with very sore bits where they had caught on the frozen furrows in a ploughed field - hounds can hang very low!

[Habanera]

I've heard the humping behaviour can persist despite the reasons being gone...fingers crossed for you, we have a problem with a certain toy too. Entertains the babysitter no end, she (yes dog is she) drags it to the center of living room and gives it what for.

We bath our dog especially if snowballed in the same bath the humans use-AIBU?

[Batteryhuman]

Took my 4 month old cocker out in the snow and he too got snowballed with great clumps of ice on his chest and underside. The snow just drops of our lab. They both had huge amounts of fun and small dog is exhausted after dolphin jumping through snow that was a foot deep.

[MrsNonSmoker]

Habanera YANBU I want to do that too but our bath is a spa bath, it has holes in the bottom so not very hygenic, we are awaiting a new bathroom wherein I have specified I want a dog friendly bath - we can't wait! I think putting dog in (normal) human bath is fine.

Anyway hoping for a thaw this weekend he is going stir crazy!

[MeMudmagnet]

I think vaseline is meant to prevent snow balls on the fur?
You try putting a load on his feet before a walk.
My dog is very happy out in the snow, actually rolls in the stuff!
But then she is huge and a very hardy breed.

I think dogs like whippets can suffer with the cold, but I'd have thought your cockerpoo would be fine. He'd soon let you know if not.

[MrsNonSmoker]

top tip re vaseline thank you