Guest Turkish Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 It's getting pretty cold in south-central Pennsylvania. Granted, not as cold as the listmates further north . . . How cold is too cold to walk the dog? Of course, we have a pretty well-insulated winter coat and "snood" for his neck. I'm concerned about paws, legs, ears, etc. Maybe we should just move to Florida. Thanks! Chilly in Chambersburg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bethf03 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Were down in TN (not as cold as you are up there), We were down to 17 degrees this am, I took Unique out for her walk, and I have put a sweater on her since about November when it started getting cold. I even took her up to Illinois with me at Christmas and they had snow and ice when we got there, she wanted her walks so I bundled her up and out we went, we didnt stay out to long. I think as long as you bundle them up there ok, if you think there feet are getting cold put some booties on them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packmom Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 My guys start holding up their feet after only a few minutes in this weather. They are out and back in in about 4-5 minutes. We're "fair weather" walkers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieProf Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I think the dog will let you know! Beth loves her walkies, even subzero (though at that point I put boots on). She played with another dog for a bit at the park the other day when it was -4 (with her coat on of course). But right now, when it's like -30 with the windchill, she was ready to go in after about a block and a half (she needed that long to pee and poop). I'm learning to tell when she's pulling me towards home. But I certainly don't think it's "too cold to walk the dog" unless it's in the danger zone (like here!). Quote With Cocoa (DC Chocolatedrop), missing B for Beth (2006-2015)And kitties C.J., Klara, Bernadette, John-Boy, & Sinbad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Liz_in_PA Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 So...my dog is VERY furry for a greyhound--Dashiell has no bald patches and I cannot see his skin through the fur on his back and butt. Am I terrible for not putting a coat on him in order to speed up our walks? I don't want to be out for more than 15 minutes right now. Living 70 miles away from OP... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi there from Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania......I took my greys for two quick walks today and sprints out to the backyard just as a reminder of how cold it is and they were fine. Zoe doesn't like to get her feet too cold. Like PrairieProf said..."they'll let you know how long". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sheila Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 My guys start holding up their feet after only a few minutes in this weather. They are out and back in in about 4-5 minutes. We're "fair weather" walkers! What she said! When the temps are below freezing we don't walk. A few zoomies in the yard will suffice around here. If I didn't have a fenced yard a few zoomies in the LR would have to suffice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greensleeves Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 My husband asks me this every day! It's about 9 degrees here now, which is too cold to walk *me,* so I figure the dogs don't want to be out in it, either. Well, except Ladygirl, who's been outside barking at the neighbor's dogs for the last 10 minutes. :rolleyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hello from balmy Southern/Central Maine (that's a joke). My rules of thumb for cold-weather walks are: Under 45 F: light jacket; Under 35: Winter coat w/ snood rolled back; Under 15: boots go on; Under 10: snood gets rolled down over the ears; Under 5-ish: we walk only until he "does his business" then it's back inside. I developed these guidelines based on how Arty behaved, and now I check the thermometer outside on our porch before we get suited up for a walk. I noticed, for example, that he wimpers and lifts his paws if we don't put the boots on at 15, and that under 5, he's dragging me back to the house after he's done what needs to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Am I terrible for not putting a coat on him in order to speed up our walks? I don't want to be out for more than 15 minutes right now. You're only terrible if he's clearly cold and you don't put a coat on him anyhow, and I assume you're not doing that! Watch for signs like statuing and lifting his paws, wimpering, not wanting to go out, and even shivering (if your dog is shivering, it's DEFINITELY time to put a coat on). If he's trotting along like normal and doesn't seem to mind the weather, then no, you're not terrible for not putting a coat on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Liz_in_PA Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 You're only terrible if he's clearly cold and you don't put a coat on him anyhow, and I assume you're not doing that! Watch for signs like statuing NOPE and lifting his paws, NOPE wimpering, NOPE not wanting to go out, NOPE and even shivering (if your dog is shivering, it's DEFINITELY time to put a coat on) and NOPE. If he's trotting along like normal and doesn't seem to mind the weather, then no, you're not terrible for not putting a coat on! all RIGHT! No guilt for Momma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EmilyAnne Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Age and arthritis should play a factor in deciding what temp. is too cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArtysPeople Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Age and arthritis should play a factor in deciding what temp. is too cold. Definitely. Older dogs, under-weight dogs, and ones who are recovering from sickness or surgery definitely get colder faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest redtweet Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Maybe we should just move to Florida. Thanks! Chilly in Chambersburg We're getting in the 20's in northeast Florida tonight...so if you're moving to FL, you'll need to go way south to be warm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest myneedlenose Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 20's? I'll take 20's!! It's been minus 30's up here with the windchill, damned Alberta clipper!!! Mayhem will hold it until his eyes bug out to avoid going outside these days, despite being bundled up better than me, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinggreysslp Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I too let my hounds let me know when it is too cold. Yesterday it was 13 below in the morning (without factoring in the windchill). The hounds walked into the backyard and almost instantly were "limping". While I do have boots for them, they are still shivering with their warm coats on. That tells me that we will walk another day. Generally they are fine with all their warm gear on until we dip below zero. The other issue we face is salt on the roads. Quote Cosmo (Fuzz Face Cosmos), Holmes (He's a Dream), Boomer (USS Baby Boomer), Ella and missing our angels Clay (Red Clay), Train (Nite Train), Trip (Bock's Teddy Bear),Larry (Bohemian Frigid) and Jimmy (Bohemian Raw) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josie Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 -31 F this morning... 10 minutes to dress up, 5 minutes walk... happy hound and human.. Quote Our first greyhound, Tuffy: You will always be there with us my angel! Tuffy greyhound-dataOtis greyhound-data Abbey greyhound-data"When you open your minds to the impossible, sometimes you find the truth." W.Bishop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorraineandcrew Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well, we're in Toronto, Canada, right now it's -30 with the windchill. Your dog will let you know what's up. My big boy goes out and doesn't complain no matter how cold, my little girl won't even come when I pick up her leash right now, she's holds out her paws right away when we are outside, HATES it. But they do need their bathroom breaks, I don't have a fenced yard. Right now it's 15 minutes max at a time - and we are all bundled up, lemme tell ya. I have to find something for her feet though, she really doesn't tolerate it well. If you need a a hat or gloves, your pups need a coat on. As we are not walking as much as we would normally, I play with them inside a lot more to give them stimulation and drain some of the energy. It's a good time to learn new tricks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
September Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi!! Another Pa person- Bradford County area. I don't do walks in the cold, and last night, the dogs were all limpy when I came in from a 5 minute bathroom walk outside. Hopefully spring will be here soon- or at least much warmer temps. Quote http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc124/TgrrValily/CookieMac2009pt2/siggyyayayayayay.jpg Waiting at the bridge: Buddy James, Cookie Dough, Shelby, and Mac. My angels New dog mom to dachshunds Ginger and Ruger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldNELLIE Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 So...my dog is VERY furry for a greyhound--Dashiell has no bald patches and I cannot see his skin through the fur on his back and butt. Am I terrible for not putting a coat on him in order to speed up our walks? I don't want to be out for more than 15 minutes right now. Living 70 miles away from OP... If I take the time to put Nellies jacket on I can be sure that we will be out for twice as long. She just doesn't like pooping in her jacket. Who knows why? We take a longish walk in the am and I make sure she is all bundled up for that, but after work when it is just a quick 3-5 min walk, I don't bother. She doesn't like it, and I don't like having to watch her pace and pace and pace and shake and shake and then think about going The cold just doesn't seem to bother her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Funny, DH just asked me this!!!! I said, well Beau is bothering you for a walk, so you know he wants to do it!!!!! it's really cold here right now for LI. Coldest it's been for 5 years. 10 degrees today. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IrskasMom Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 We go to the Park every Day twice ...... Sunshine , Rain , Snow and 20 degrees . My Morty is all bundled up with a double Fleece Coat with Snood on there. Our Walks are shorter at this frigid Weather but we GO . Backyard Pees are short at this time to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey8greys Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 We walk every morning for about a 1/2 hr. before I leave for work, I put fleece coats on the girls if it is below 32 degrees and/or windy. and they are fine. I find, if I bundle them up to much they won't do there business, they just play around. In the evening we just go out into the yard no coats, they pee, poop and sometimes run around, usually back in the house in 15 mins. Weekends we go to the park and walk maybe an hour. For these longer walks I put their heavier coats on and they are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KsFrets Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 We run 2 miles every morning and 3 miles every evening (I'm a jogger). Maggie has told me no, by not going out the door, twice this year due to cold and snow. Magnus could care less... he loves his run and hasen't missed a single run. It was 6 degrees yesterday morning and 8 degrees this morning. Magnus leads the way, and will turn around to go home if it gets to be too much for him. That's only happend one morning when it was -18 wind chill and snow blowing sideways... we only made a half mile that morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytluck Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Hello from balmy Southern/Central Maine (that's a joke). My rules of thumb for cold-weather walks are: Under 45 F: light jacket; Under 35: Winter coat w/ snood rolled back; Under 15: boots go on; Under 10: snood gets rolled down over the ears; Under 5-ish: we walk only until he "does his business" then it's back inside. I developed these guidelines based on how Arty behaved, and now I check the thermometer outside on our porch before we get suited up for a walk. I noticed, for example, that he wimpers and lifts his paws if we don't put the boots on at 15, and that under 5, he's dragging me back to the house after he's done what needs to be done. This is pretty much my exact guide line as well. It's been really cold here the last few days, this morning it was -30C (-22F) with the wind chill, needless to say we were out for a very short time. Quote Hobbes-Ricard Hatch09/23/99-12/21/09 Always loved, never forgotten. Wally TNJ Boy Howdy, GLS Genuinerisk Corinna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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