Winter sports holidays with a dog
In a few days or a few weeks, will you be on the slopes? Are you going on a snow holiday with your dog? We are going to see in this article how best to prepare for these “cold” holidays and take full advantage of the joys of winter in complete safety. Go on vacation with your dog in the snow : this is Wow Good but it's getting ready! A quick look at everything you need to know to enjoy the snow with your dog and enjoy the pleasures of the mountains with your dog.
dogs love snow
Has your dog never tasted the joys of sliding in fresh snow? Most dogs love snow. It's a safe bet that your pet will appreciate the walks in the powder. Musher, my dog, loves it. She rolls around in it happily. What she prefers above all is to lie down on her stomach in the direction of the slope, front legs spread apart and let herself slide all the way down! My dog on vacation figured out how to have fun.
Do you want to go winter sports with your pet this year? To help you find a dog-friendly hotel or an pet friendly vacation rental, I advise you to take a look in the “accommodation” tab of the site. All our dog-friendly hosts will be delighted to welcome you to their home for your next vacation. Discover our articles, and take advantage of the Alps with your dog, choose the Pyrenees with your dog or even the Vosges or the Jura with your dog.
dogs and the cold
Yes, our dogs can get cold. Just like us! The short-haired dog is more sensitive than the others. It does not tolerate cold very well, so you can equip it with a down coat for dog or dog winter coat before going for a walk. Thus: no danger for him to catch a cold snap.
For the other dogs, the excitement of this new setting is such that the dog exerts itself a lot and warms up very quickly. However, with the heat it gives off, the snow melts on it and your animal will therefore possibly have wet hair. Remember to dry it well when you return from your walk and not to let it lie down in the cold. There microfiber towel or microfiber bathrobe we can be your best allies! Above all : dry his paws up between the pads. If you have wandered around the resort, remember to rinse his paws. Sidewalks and car parks are often sprinkled with salt and other anti-freeze products to prevent the whole station from turning into a giant ice rink. These products are very irritating to the paws of our doggies. THE fortifying pad will help you protect your dog's paws.
Also remove the snow packs that will have formed in his hair and under his belly. A few easy gestures that your dog will greatly appreciate!
A little note here for our friends the dachshunds. Fresh, deep snow can be dangerous for their backs. Indeed, by dint of jumping to advance in the powder snow; they can hurt themselves… Think about it!
Lagrasse is the perfect setting for chilly dogs, opt for a coat that will keep them warm.
Discover in our article Should you dress your dog in winter, our coat tests and lots of advice and information! You will find the essential equipment to have for a dog who is warm in winter.
You want to go to winter sports with your dog but you do not know in which accommodations you will be welcomed with him? That's good, on EmmèneTonChien.com, we have listed all the accommodations in which you will be welcome WITH your dog. Discover here the dog-friendly accommodation
The dangers of snow for your dog
Your dog will surely love its snow vacation but beware of this white powder. It seems pure and harmless… However, watch your dog closely because ingesting snow can cause him some digestive problems such as diarrhea or vomiting. Massive snow ingestion can be even more serious. dogs eat snow because it's cold, crispy or because he's thirsty. Remember to hydrate him so that he doesn't want or need to eat it.
In ski resorts, roads and streets are treated with de-icing salt. It is responsible for irritation on the pads of our animals. Only one precaution to take to avoid trouble: always rinse your dog's paws with clear water when returning from an outing. And above all, dry them well between the pads. Spend fortifying pads on your dog's paws as soon as possible, to limit irritation.
Personalized ski holidays perfect is a sunny vacation. And everyone knows that when skiing, with the reflection of the sun on the snow, it is better to protect your skin to avoid serious sunburn and to have a good pair of sunglasses to avoid eye damage. Your dog will also be sensitive to the sun, be careful not to expose him too long if the sun is shining or to protect him too with a sunscreen for dogs if he has fair skin and a very pink nose. Dogs are prone to sunburn too. Opt for dog sunglasses for the most sensitive.
Protect your dog's paws
We put on après-skis to go for a walk: not our dog! Is there a risk for his paws?
Yes !! Between the pads, depending on the breed of dog, there is more or less hair. These hairs will retain the snow which will form small ice cubes. The latter, which are very abrasive, risk damaging the bearings and causing injury.
Three solutions:
- cut the hairs between the pads: a little too radical for my taste… if they have hairs in this place it is because it is useful..
- put on socks ou boots to your dog. Musher took a few minutes to get used to walking with them, but once in the snow, she quickly forgot about them while playing.
- prepare the pads a few weeks in advance by applying a fortifying pads daily to tan the pads, make them more resistant, waterproof and prevent cracks.
I tested the dog shoes Walker from Trixie in neoprene. They are much more resistant than simple socks. They close with Velcro strips and are flexible enough not to bother the dog. Normally, with this equipment, your dog's paws should stay dry; which is not the case with simple socks. Whatever ski resort you choose for you and your dog, think about equipping your dog for a peaceful holiday.
Snowshoeing, ski joëing, etc…
Your dog can follow you in all your mountain activities. However, as for you, it will take time to adapt to these new conditions: cold, altitude, new terrain. Do you want to test the cani-hiking on snowshoes, skijoring with your dog or even the cani-scooter: discover the article dedicated to winter sports to practice with your dog.
Your dog will exert himself a lot in this new environment: excitement and heat production. Be sure to compensate for this large energy expenditure by increasing its daily food ration by 20 to 30%.
For all traction sports, remember to equip your dog with suitable equipment. No question of making him pull your children's sledge with his collar! It will have to be equipped with a pulling harness to its size and adapted to its morphology.
I hope I have made you want to go on holiday with your dog for winter sports! Don't forget to share your photos in the snow with the #emmenetonchien. Have fun 🙂