Tired of freezing to death on your winter dog walks? Read on for tips! (Photo: person and dog hiking in the snow)
It’s “Ottawa cold” here in Guelph, Ontario. It’s the kind of cold that freezes your eyelashes and makes snow look like glitter.
The price you pay for blue skies in January and February is minus 25 degrees Celsius with the windchill (and below.) You need to walk your dog, but you don’t want to freeze to death. I’ve got you!
Here are my top five tips to stay warm on your winter dog walks.
There is no cold weather — only poor clothing choices. (Photo: snowboarder shredding down a mountain wearing a helmet, goggles, and warm snowboarding gear)
Tuck in your shirt. Like Urkel. Do it! You can thank me later when you’re nice and warm on your walk.
Tuck in your base layer. You won’t regret it. (Photo: orange shirt tucked into blue pants)
2. Long johns, two pairs of pants, fleece-lined pants, or snow pants for anything below a windchill of -11 degrees Celsius.
3. Snowboarding mittens with a thin pair of fleece mittens inside. Snowboarding mittens can be pulled up overtop of your sleeves and tightened.
If I can see your ears, face, neck, and wrists, you need to try again :) Or be cold :) (Photo: person in green mittens — you can see their wrists)
Mittens should cinch overtop of your sleeves. You can thank me later :) (Photo: snowboarder with a snowboard and mittens that are cinched overtop of his jacket)
4. Warm winter boots with good tread.
5. Make sure you have a hood. When the wind hits your neck you are a goner. Pull up your hood, cinch it, and tie a scarf over your face to keep the wind out.
I run private loose leash walking sessions outside and all five of those keep me warm as I coach clients in frigid winds.
Ready to master the loose leash walk?
Schedule your free call or in-person session here: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/take-action
If you’re tired of leash pulling, reactivity, barking, and lunging on your walks, click the take action button and schedule your free call today.
Hope these tips help keep you warm this weekend, Dog Leaders!
Alyssa
Photos by: Upsplash Images (person and dog hiking in the snow,) Joshua Reddekopp
@joshuaryanphoto (snowboarder shredding down a mountain wearing a helmet, goggles, and warm snowboarding gear,) Frank Flores
@frankflores (orange shirt tucked into blue pants,) Maxim Hopman @nampoh (person in green mittens — you can see their wrists
Karsten Winegeart @karsten116 (snowboarder with a snowboard and mittens that are cinched overtop of his jacket,)