Dog walking in winter

[justpoppy]

Ok so this might be a daft question but the dogs I’ve had before have been small and could be walked any time of the day so I’m scratching my head over this one.

Our new rescue dog has tonnes of energy and loves nothing more than playing chase with other dogs at the local park. He also needs routine. I take him out first thing in the morning for over an hour and the same again around 5/6ish In the evening. All fine in the summer but how do you do it when it’s pitch dark? This morning I was out at 6 with him in the park before I went to work.

Also, recommendations for warm, waterproof, dog walking clothes/boots. I need to kit myself out for winter walks and hate being cold and wet!

I do an off lead in the morning for an hour depending how cold it is,(dog is a big girl but hates the cold!) And in the evening I keep her on lead for a sniff walk.

@LimitIsUp

He has an aversion to picking up poo

Jeeze - none of us love it

I know right! He’s a cat person. Has never had a dog before and although he will do it he moans that it make him gag! I told him to hold his breath

@loveliesbleeding1

I do an off lead in the morning for an hour depending how cold it is,(dog is a big girl but hates the cold!) And in the evening I keep her on lead for a sniff walk.

When I spoke to the behaviourist about it she said that should be ok which is fine as I can do the morning work and DP can do the shorter evening one. Still want to kit myself out in some proper warm gear though.

I had a reflective collar with flashing red LEDs for my dog so I knew where he was in the dark 😁

I have a beanie hat with a light (rechargeable) in it... it's a game changer as you don't have to carry a torch :) amazon.co.uk/TAGVO-Rechargeable-Lighting-Flashing-Flashlight/dp/B01MQXZ9QA/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1N5KTQXABFK10&dchild=1&keywords=light+up+beanie+hat&qid=1631913688&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A2BHL5Y4R6MN15&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNFVMU0pCODJSQkw4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDU2NTYxMjExODVUMUdNVUlEMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjk2MjExMU04U0VQOUNWRUo0QyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=]]

And Ariat leather wellies and a massive seriously waterproof poncho that goes over any coat. I look like a tent on the move but who cares :)

Bad link.. try again..
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Headlamp-Lighted-Brightness-Walking-Camping/dp/B07L3GBRB5/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=69JOHNIVPXJ1&dchild=1&keywords=light+up+beanie+hat&qid=1631913872&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNVc1VExZWlE4VU43JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjQzNzcxUlI0S1NFV0lVNzBIJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4NDE1MDRMVlJYWUhKTjNONVImd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl]]

Rechargeable LED dog collars and a rechargeable head torch.

Seasalt Janelle coat. Wore it every single day last winter and was never cold or wet. Worth every single penny.

Waterproof trousers. I've got 3 or 4 pairs of ACAI ones and they've been amazing. They look and feel like skinny jeans but dry in seconds. Size down though..... they're generous!

Aigle wellies or Muck Boots......... and a boot jack is a lifesaver.

And lots and lots of old towels piled right next to the back door. With an equafleece to put on dog once they've been towelled down.

We've got winter walking down to a fine art.

Know there's a lot of replies to this so it'll probably have been suggested already (many times over I'm sure) so apologies in advance but every year around this time I stock up on the following essentials for dogs in winter.

Hi vis jacket or harness with reflective strips
LED collars
We've had a few different ones since they first came out on the market but the best by far in my opinion is the “Blazin' Bison” collars. They hold up well, recharge brilliantly and can take a relative beating weather wise in that they're waterproof in anything other than an actual dunk and being submerged in water. Come in several colours so I get different ones for mine so I can see which dog is where from the lights bounding around like UFO's)
Ovlileaf rechargeable torch for playing “Hunt the turd” in the pitch black
Protection / panic alarm in case anything happens and / or you run into trouble and get injured.

Good warm woolen beanie hat, scarf and glove set.
Comfy wellies / yard boots and thick socks.

Thanks for this thread OP, I’ve been wondering the same thing. My pup has 2 walks a day, morning and evening. He likes a good off lead run, but we live in suburbia, and I wouldn’t want to be out after dark in the places we usually walk.

I suppose as a pp said, I could make the morning walk the big one, then just do a slow sniffy walk round the streets near us in the depths of winter when it’s dark by 4.

Ancol Blinker lights are brilliant. Mine are on their third winter and only now beginning to dim a bit. They take the button batteries and I have two on the lead and one on the collar. Bought mine on Amazon and eBay for a couple of quid.

Loving this thread! Can I just ask for those of you who have recommended the muck boots would you recommend sizing up to allow for thick socks? Would thick socks need to be worn with them or are they warm enough
(Thanks in advance)

I have nordic breeds so winter is their happy place. Get a good pair of waterproof hiking boots plus ice grippers. Waterproof coat plus trousers. I wear a wool peak cap keeps wind out my eyes plus a thick neck gator to pull up to eye level. Also you can get waterproof gloves. I am not a welly lover they are crap for food support and grip.

@Kathy2020

Loving this thread! Can I just ask for those of you who have recommended the muck boots would you recommend sizing up to allow for thick socks? Would thick socks need to be worn with them or are they warm enough (Thanks in advance)

I personally always have thick socks with the boots but I'm a cold cow and get shocking Reynauds and my fingers and toes turn green smack bang on 1 October.

My feet are an odd inbetween size so I always go with a size up (7.5 so I buy an 8) which for me is fine cos I have thick thermal socks pulled up over my jhods and then the boots on top so everything is tucked in, covered well and toasty warm.

Socks you can buy any type and kind without too much problem but I do think it's worth paying for a good decent pair of boots and be comfy. Bought a cheaper pair of riding boots a month or two back - shite. Not worth cheaping out for boots I don't think.