Winter Dog Training

Sadly the days are getting shorter and soon the snow will fly so what does that mean for you and your dog and your training?

Here are some things to keep in mind. When it starts to get colder if your dog is not an outdoor dog their coat will not prime like an outdoor dogs coat would. Also their feet will not climatize to the colder weather. You will need to have a coat on hand for outdoor dog training when the temperature dips and you will also need booties for those extra cold dog training days. Now is the time to start getting your dog used to booties and their winter coat. You don't want to do this when it is -25C outside and you have to take your dog out.

You are better off slowly easing your dog into their winter booties over a few trial periods of a week or two.

When the temperature does drop you can still easily do many dog training exercises. If you are doing any treat training then you will want to get a pouch where you can easily access your treats. Buy yourself a pair of mits that flip back to expose your finger tips for ease of access to treats. Many people say they will continue training their dog in the Spring when it warms up because it is too cold to handle treats. So remember there are still many dog training exercises you can do without the use of treats.

One that you can do is training recall with a harness and a long rope. Having mitts makes this easier on your hands if you need to grab the rope while it is moving. Also practicing loose leash walking to eliminate leash pulling can be done using the techniques we will show you all without having to take off your gloves.

Deep snow is also an excellent exercising tool when your dog runs through it and plays. Another trick is if you can get your dog to start digging a tunnel, this will also help tire them out if they are high energy before a training session.

Keep in mind that many dogs with thicker coats will seem to have more energy in the winter because the heat does not tire them out as quickly. Cross country skiing is also a fantastic way to tire out a dog if you are skilled enough on skiis and your dog is trained to follow your commands.

Always dress in layers and buy a few of these items if you don't have them:

Balaclava - to cover your neck and part of your head
Ski Goggles - very awesome for training on days it is blizzarding out
Winter Hiking Boots - a necessity for traction on snow and keeping your feet warm
Micro Spikes - available at MEC for your boots and give awesome traction on ice
Windproof ski pants and jacket
Multiple warm layers
Moisture wicking base layer clothing
If you dress for the weather no matter what it is it can feel like a Spring day even if it is -20C and it is blizzarding outside. Many dogs love being out in a blizzard and not to mention you usually get the dog park all to yourself. Happy training.