Let me start off saying, I love my daily walks with my pups! My husband and I walk our dogs two times a day, he has the morning walk and I have the evening one. Now, I will admit, we were not always like this with our previous pups and I feel awful about it. Throughout all my years of having dogs I have grown and learned a lot. ASPCA wrote this article in 2019 that outlines some great benefits to walking your dog. There are also many apps, like ResQWalk to track how far you walk and donate to your favorite charity.
Living in the midwest, we experience all 4 seasons, and yes, I walk during each one! Here are some of things I love and have learned along the way for each season.
SUMMER
My favorite season! For our four-legged friends, maybe not so much. They overheat so much faster than humans! Here are my summer walking tips:
Always check how hot the ground is before walking! You can test by walking outside in your bare feet. If they ground is too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pup’s delicate paws.
Walk during dawn and dusk when it is slightly cooler. The sun is not out, but the weather is still warm.
Bring water with you! They make amazing travel water bottles and bowls you can purchase for your pup.
Walk to a nearby park or patio – a win/win for all.
FALL
Fall is by far the best of both worlds for walking! Your dogs love the weather, you can just wear a hoodie, the leaves look beautiful, I mean what more can you ask for! I really only have one major tip for fall:
Watch those leaf piles! You may never know what is in them, trash, critters, bugs. My dogs personally love running through them so I always have to check them when I get home for any unwanted guests stuck to their fur.
WINTEr
UGH! This is my least favorite season to walk in, but I still get out there every day because I know my dogs need it. Here are my winter walking tips for both you and your dog’s survival:
Bundle up! Both you and your dog, especially if they have a short coat. I have busted out my parka and snow pants for many walks. There are many cute coats and sweaters to keep your four-legged friends warm and looking cute too.
Some dogs love the snow, some hate it. My two are very different. My Shih Tzu loves snow and will run through all the piles where as my Papillon is ok with it, but mostly walks on the cleared road or sidewalks. Just go with the flow.
Clean your dog’s paws when you come in. This is so important since there is salt and many other chemicals on the roads and sidewalks. I have learned to take my Shih Tzu right to the tub to give his feet a warm rinse to remove the grime and snowballs he collects in his fur!
Check the weather! Many sites out there advise its ok to do short walks if it is above 20 degrees. Monitor your dog, if they are lifting their paws differently than normal, you know it’s too cold and time to head home. Watching their cues can be very helpful.
Since there is limited daylight in winter, invest in a reflective vest or collar for your pup and a headlamp for you. You will need it.
Just try to enjoy the walk and bring some music along with you if that helps. Remember that not only is your pup benefiting from being outdoors, you are too.
SPRING
Spring is the raining season in the midwest, but the weather is starting to warm up! You may even get some sunny days in there as well. When walking in the spring there are many things to enjoy, keep in mind, and watch out for!
Spring is when your neighbors are treating their lawns. Be observant when walking to keep your pups off the treated lawns.
Spring can be so enjoyable with all the flowers blooming and the sweet smells of summer coming soon – a great time for a doggie photo shoot!
Keep a raincoat handy, for both you and your pup, you will need it.
Overall, keeping up with your walking routine is not only good for your dogs, but for you too. No one wants to be stuck in the house 24 hours a day and dogs thrive off routine. When I don’t get to walking my dogs, or the weather is just WAY to bad, their routines are totally thrown off. Make it a priority to walk at least once a day!! You can also help support Private School Pups by downloading the ResQWalk app and selecting them as your charity.
- Justine Smith