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The doghouse

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Original poster

Skipping dog walk in the cold

76 replies

Pawtucketbrew · 09/12/2022 13:28

It's about 2 degrees here with frost on the ground. I have a small shorthaired dog breed (chihuahua x) who seems to want to spend her days lying under my duvet. I could take her for a walk now and I don't mind braving the cold but honestly she seems just as happy skipping her walks.

She's been out in the garden twice for wees and poos. She does have a coat but she's shivering just from doing her business in the garden.

Anyone else skipping walks for their little ones at the moment or should I force her out in the brisk weather 😅

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7
Mostmarriedcouple · 09/12/2022 13:31

I think it’s totally fine to keep her inside! The walk is beneficial for the dog for mental stimulation rather than physical exercise especially when it comes to tiny breeds. Id personally keep her in and play some extra games with her favourite toy in the house.

picklemewalnuts · 09/12/2022 13:32

If her behaviour isn't suffering, I'd leave her be.

Mine will cope with minimal exercise in inclement weather.

Have you done any training games? That can distract a busy brain if she starts to get restless but still can't go out!

The only thing I would say, though if the weather gets worse it could be a long time before she makes it out! So go while you can! I'm just imagining her trying to negotiate snowdrifts...Grin

DivaDroid · 09/12/2022 13:45

I've an old ex-racing greyhound. Obviously don't walk him when it's hot.
But he refuses to go out in heavy rain, wind, ice & wont go far in snow.
I'm in NE Scotland, so not particularly handy that he dislikes that kind of weather Hmm, especially since we've a good 6 inches & counting of snow.
He prefers to snooze on one of his many beds & will run out to toilet before returning to the sofa.
Pic of the lazy one with mashed potato on his nose...

Skipping dog walk in the cold
Creativecake · 09/12/2022 13:57

Can’t get my small dog out in rain or cold. Literally would have to drag him. It’s annoying, I fancied a nice winter walk. Looks like I’m going alone!

Snoken · 09/12/2022 14:58

I think if the dog isn't bothered and they have access to a toilet (garden) they don't need to if it's just for a few days a year. Wouldn't keep them in for weeks or months but the odd day is propbably fine.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 09/12/2022 15:05

My chihuahua is the same, she has a jumper on but still shivers when she goes in the garden. Have been doing some training with her for mental stimulation but will be skipping walks today.

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 09/12/2022 15:07

I have two pugs and they will be wearing winter jackets and we are going out now since if I leave it any longer I will not want to

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 09/12/2022 15:07

Here she is snuggled up on me:)

Skipping dog walk in the cold
picklemewalnuts · 09/12/2022 15:09

My lad is always keen to go out, but once he's done his business he's keen to get home.

onmywayamarillo · 09/12/2022 15:11

Probably feels the cold ! I would stay inside too... couldn't get away with that with a lab. Was absolutely boiling after my walk today so that's a plus 😀

KangarooKenny · 09/12/2022 15:17

As long as they have opportunities to toilet, I’d keep them in if they aren’t bothered.

BellaVita · 09/12/2022 15:23

I am skipping dog walks too.

She hates going out at the best of times and quite often when we do it’s because I want to go for a walk and not her.

Curled up on someone’s lap snoozing is her idea of heaven. Ddog is 10 so missing a few days here and there isn’t going to hurt her. We have a garden and she asks to go to the toilet so when she wants to go.

ReedOfFate · 09/12/2022 15:35

I have no advice to offer but having seen the title, was hoping for pictures of dogs in knitted jumpers. I was not disappointed (the one with mashed potato on his nose was a bonus!)
Flowers

loislovesstewie · 09/12/2022 15:39

My dog is 14,he refused point blank this morning, he's been outside to cock his leg, but is currently snuggled up under a blanket. He's getting slow and old. I think it is kinder to leave him.

Hoppinggreen · 09/12/2022 15:40

I have a Golden Retriever, he loves the cold/wet/mud so no missing walks for me

Creativecake · 09/12/2022 15:41

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 09/12/2022 15:07

Here she is snuggled up on me:)

Adorable

WhaleInAManger · 09/12/2022 15:42

Anyone else skipping walks for their little ones at the moment or should I force her out in the brisk weather 😅

I have no little ones. Just a massive hairy one. Even for him I would think about skipping walks once it gets to -5c.

In this weather I would absolutely feel fine about skipping walks for tiny breeds like Chis or any other heat-loving breeds, like Greys.

Iamclearlyamug · 09/12/2022 15:44

I'd skip the walk if she's happy inside and can dash to the garden to do her business.

I live in a flat so dog and I have to go out for walks - he's a hulking 26kg of Staffordshire bull terrier and even he had a coat on 🤣🤣 (in my defence he's old and was shivering so 🤷‍♀️)

WetBandits · 09/12/2022 15:44

Mine looks at me in disgust if I even tell him to go out for a wee in this weather!

He’s got doggy school in the morning so that’ll be fun convincing him to do what he’s told when he doesn’t want to even go outside. Might put his jumper on him Grin

SirChenjins · 09/12/2022 15:50

God no - leave them inside where it's warm. Mine has decided to grow a big thick coat to keep him toasty on our -5 degrees walks at stupid o'clock - he and are at not seeing eye to eye on these Arctic walks.

alloalloallo · 09/12/2022 15:55

I’ve got a springer spaniel who hates the cold. She’s got a couple of jumpers and a coat, but she’s not having a bar of it.

She usually comes up to our yard in the mornings when I do my horses. She has a good blast around their paddock while I poo pick. She was deeply unimpressed yesterday morning and point blank refused to get out of bed this morning.

Then I took her out across the fields at work at lunchtime but we got half way across and she fucked off back to work.

She’s been out for a couple of weeks and a poo and then comes straight back inside

Motorina · 09/12/2022 16:31

Think yourself lucky. I have beagles, who will happily charge around no matter how filthy the weather is. Problem is they insist that I come too!

Original poster
Pawtucketbrew · 09/12/2022 17:11

@pinkandpurplehairedlady 😍

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Original poster
Pawtucketbrew · 09/12/2022 17:13

Thanks everyone. We've just been out for a 10 minute walk and she seemed happy enough but just crawled back under the duvet 😅

She has a snuffle rug and we play ball as well but she's definitely a lap dog. Lazy just like her owner!!

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Original poster
Pawtucketbrew · 09/12/2022 17:14

@divadroid what a lovely boy

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