I live in Michigan where we can sometimes have alot of snow. I have a 5 week old puppy..I know too young to have had but It was from a shelter and the mom was gone so we took her. Anyways shes doing the potty training really well already. Shes smart as heck she wines when she needs to go out and everything the thing is we are suppose to get snows sometime soon and I am afraid its going to be too cold out there for her. But we have mad soo much progress already that I dont want to have to confine her inside to use the restroom, and on top of that she wont go on the pads she wants to go out side so what should I do when it snows here? Make it a fast in and out? Or dont risk it?!
2006-12-27 01:58:58 · 9 answers · asked by Meg 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Depends what kind of dog. In any case for short periods of time it is okay to let a dog out in the cold. (emphasis on short).
You may be surprised how much the puppy will love it.
Altering the training to inside will only confuse the puppy.
Have fun and get pictures of her playing in the snow.
If its a chihuahua or something like that be sure she is dressed appropriately and do not linger outside for too long.
Animals are hardier than we are, nonetheless if it is a "fragile" breed dog like mentioned above it is best to limit her time outside.
We had a dachshund we couldn't keep inside when it snowed)
He'd go out and romp and romp then come in and sit by the fireplace eager for us to light it for him.
2006-12-27 02:11:03 · answer #1 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the snow is so deep that the puppy can't walk in it, then you'll have to clear an area for it to do its business. No point making it physically difficult for the dog to get outside for a pee. Keep your coat and boots right by the door. And clean up right away. Dog poop frozen into snow or ice can be very difficult to pick up. Otherwise, don't worry about it. It will learn to walk around in the snow just fine. Watch for snow clumping in the paws, it's very uncomfortable for the dog, and ice salt can be very painful if it gets on their paws. Rinse the paws when you get home if the puppy has walked on any. Many dogs like to play in snow, and it can give them a lot of exercise without going far from home. Make the walks short if it's really cold out, until the puppy has a bit of adult coat, but generally, as long as they're moving they can stay warm till they get back to the house. And you didn't ask, but 6 weeks is too young for a puppy to leave the litter. It needs until 8 weeks minimum, a couple more is better, to learn social skills from its mother and litter mates. Getting an improperly socialized dog will just about guarantee behaviour problems down the road.
2016-03-29 08:08:31 · answer #2 · answered by Michelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the puppy lives indoors, it is fine to go out for a little while, let it out to do its business, and bring it back in. The only problem I see is if the snow gets too deep, to solve that problem, just shovel an area where the dog can go to the bathroom. Also if the dog has a fine coat, you might have to pick the snow balls out of its fur, no big deal.
2006-12-27 02:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by THEGUY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Petsmart and get her a little coat (Weather-proof - Nylon with fleece lining). They also have little boots, but if the snow is too deep, the snow will just get inside them.
Don't break her training due to weather - as an older dog living in Michigan, she'll need to learn to go out during the winter.
2006-12-27 02:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by Yo LO! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Buy her a sweater, keep the trips outside short, and shovel off a little area for her in the grass so she doesn't have to stand in the snow. Try using a low warm setting on a blow dryer to dry her feed and belly and warm them back up when she gets inside. It's unfortunate she has to be potty trained in this weather, but you're right, you shouldn't ruin her training because of it. Just be very cautious.
2006-12-27 02:03:14 · answer #5 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
She'll be fine with going outside. In fact, it might help speed the process up. She'll rush out, do her business, and rush back in. It might help reinforce that the backyard is for pottying more than for sniffing the grass, looking at the fence, listening for squirrels, and all the other distractions of a yard.
2006-12-27 02:26:25 · answer #6 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you hide from the cold now she will never go out in it. Go ahead and let her get used to it. If you get a lot of snow clear and patch out for her.
2006-12-27 02:07:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You'll just have to shovel out an area for her, keep your poop supplies near at hand, and hope for the best. Keep this in mind, be certain her poop spot isn't an area that will be cause for embarrassment when the snow clears. She will remember where she goes. It will be terribly embarrassing if, on a warm day, she goes right outside the door. My dog is very particular about where he poops. He won't do it when we go to the park for walks, we have a dog run in the back yard, that's his area. In public places, he simply won't do it, that's strictly for marking trees, lol.
2006-12-27 02:06:23 · answer #8 · answered by *~*~*~~~His Angel~~~*~*~* 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A fast in and out shouldn't hurt her. You might want to look into getting her a sweater which will help her out with the cold. If its a blizzard - then I wouldn't take her out, but just snow... shouldn't be a problem. =)
2006-12-27 02:03:47 · answer #9 · answered by dcVixen 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋