Diana Myers
Now it’s finally over with the warm, bright season. But you can arm yourself and your dog against darkness, fog, cold, and ice. We will help you!
As the days get cooler and shorter, there are things you can do to prepare your dog for fall. Read here what you can do against the dark, wet and cold.
Shining examples
The shorter the days, the more likely it is that you and your dog will have to go out at dusk or after dark. On foggy days it doesn’t seem to get light at all. In addition, foggy or rain-dampened roads become slippery due to fallen leaves. The braking distances of motorists are correspondingly long. If you walk a lot on streets or sidewalks, you should equip yourself and your dog with reflectors: Many outdoor jackets already have silver stripes that shine in the headlights. For dogs there are harnesses and leashes with reflectors that show every road user: Here a person and a dog are walking. If your paths lead you through fields or forests, a reflector is of no use. Then switch to light collars and blinkies that show you and other runners where your dog is at the moment.
Perceived times of day
The first two weeks after the time change are the most accident-prone of the year. Because we switch with the head, not with the biorhythm. Dogs and all other animals also initially retain their normal sense of time. For dog owners, the evening hours are particularly explosive, because then there is a lot of game – from rabbits to foxes to hedgehogs – on the move. There can be problems with a dog that likes to hunt. The morning hours, on the other hand, are more relaxed, because then deer, badgers, and Co. have withdrawn.
Brush massage
The coat change is now in full swing. The thin summer wool hairs fall out and are replaced by twice to three times as much fluffy undercoat. In the case of short-haired dogs with little undercoats, brushing them daily prevents your carpet from becoming gray and feather-light hairballs from getting caught in every corner of the apartment. In the case of long-haired dogs with a lot of undercoats, you can use the brush to prevent the undercoat from matting and thus no longer being able to fulfill thermoregulation.
Movement keeps you warm
In the cold season, no chatting among dog lovers is announced, no casual strolling in the confidence that the dog is already moving. Keep him busy, let him fetch, search, race you. After a warm-up phase, running next to the bike or horse is very good now, as it lets all your muscles work. You can also practice dog sports as long as the places are still open.
Little warm-up
They dress when they go outside, most dogs go unprotected from room temperature to the damp cold. It’s good if you can move freely with the muscles that are still warmed up. If you go for a walk in the car or have your four-legged friend on a leash for a while, you have to give it a short warm-up phase before you go to romp, because the muscles harden again in the cold car and when walking slowly. Very important: Dogs that like to swim and still jump into any body of water should not stay in the cold water for more than five minutes.
The right clothes
Dog clothes are plentiful. On the other hand, you have to look for functional clothing that really protects you. Take your dog with you when you choose and try on the coats. They should be water-repellent on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. The abdominal area, which is particularly at risk, must be covered. The joints, which are hardly hairy and thin-skinned, also need protection. Models that have an undercoat and an outer coat that can be buttoned together are recommended. Then you can choose to wear just one of the items of clothing. Also, think about warm clothing and winter-proof (waterproof) shoes.
The dirt deflectors
There is a terry towel in the car or in front of the front door to roughly dry the foggy or rain-dampened dog. In addition, a towel with which you can temporarily clean muddy paws. Cold animals that still have to drive a car should be wrapped in a blanket. At home, you can treat everyone – if they want it – to a warm, dry place after the walk. There, most of them do post-hygiene and clean themselves extensively.