Winter hikes with your dog: managing snow, cold and paws safely

Not all dogs handle cold and snow the same way. Tolerance depends on size, coat type, age, fitness and any medical conditions. Overestimating your own dog is the most common and most dangerous mistake.

A dog used to the sofa does not become a mountain companion in a single weekend. Endurance is built with progressive outings in the preceding weeks, exactly as for a person. And if there are doubts about health, particularly heart and joints, the vet's assessment comes before any plan.

The paws are the most exposed point in winter. Packed snow forms ice balls between the pads, de-icing salt irritates and dries the skin, and ice crusts can cut. Neglecting the paws ruins the outing and sometimes leaves after effects for days.

• Check and trim the hair between the pads, where the most troublesome ice balls form.
• Consider technical booties or a protective wax on the pads, testing them at home rather than on the day.
• After the outing, rinse and dry the paws, especially if the dog walked on salt treated roads.
• Inspect the pads for cuts, cracks or redness, and stop the activity if they appear.
• Take breaks to clear accumulated snow from the paws, without waiting for the dog to start limping.

In the cold the dog burns more energy to hold its temperature and to move through snow, while at the same time it tends to drink less because it does not feel thirst as it does in summer. Three fronts to manage together: warmth, calories and water.

1. 1

   Warm up before setting off

   A few minutes of light movement before the effort prepares muscles and joints, which in the cold are stiffer and more prone to strains.

2. 2

   Dress the dogs that need it

   A technical coat makes sense for short haired, small, senior or lightly covered dogs. Nordic dogs with a double coat usually do not need one and risk overheating.

3. 3

   Offer unfrozen water at intervals

   Bring water from home and offer it often, even if the dog does not ask. Eating snow hydrates poorly and lowers body temperature.

4. 4

   Match calories to the effort

   A demanding outing in the cold raises the requirement. Small rations before and after, and an energy snack during long breaks, sustain the dog without weighing it down.

5. 5

   Do not let it cool down during breaks

   A sweaty dog standing still in the wind cools fast. On breaks keep it in light movement or under shelter, and set off again before the muscles stiffen.

The practical rule is to alternate effort and recovery without ever leaving the dog still and wet in the cold for too long. The most critical moment is not while it walks, but when it stops sweaty and the wind strips away its heat.

A dog does not say when it is too cold, it shows it through behaviour and body. Learning to read these signs lets you head back before a pleasant day turns into a problem.

• Shivering, a stiff gait and a tendency to stop or hunch up are signs the dog is losing heat.
• Repeatedly lifting the paws or limping indicates pain from cold or from ice between the pads.
• Sudden apathy, reluctance to continue or an insistent search for shelter should be taken seriously.
• Extremities very cold to the touch, such as the tail tip and ears, call for warming the dog gradually.
• A dog that slows markedly and seems confused may be in early hypothermia: stop the outing and warm it.

In winter the margin for error is narrower: the days end early and the weather changes fast. Sober planning and a well thought out pack turn surprises into manageable inconveniences.

1. Choose routes suited to the dog's level, with limited elevation and the option of a quick return if needed.
2. Check the weather and daylight hours, and set off with a wide margin to get back before dark.
3. Bring unfrozen water, energy snacks, a dry towel or blanket and a first aid kit.
4. Add a torch, spare gloves and something to dry the dog during breaks.
5. Keep the contacts of a vet in the area and the dog's up to date health records with you.
6. Never let the dog loose on unfamiliar snow covered ground, where cornices, frozen lakes and drops are hard to judge.

The winter mountains are less forgiving of mistakes than summer, but that is exactly why they offer more intense outings to those who respect them. A prepared, protected and closely watched dog is a remarkable companion on the snow, provided the decision to turn back is made ahead of time and not when it is already late.