Just because it’s snowing outside doesn’t mean that you and your furry pal should stick with indoor activities that the two of you can share. If truth be told, snowshoeing with dogs is a winter activity that more and more dog lovers as well as their pawed buddies are engaging in!
Want to know more about this interesting and highly rewarding pursuit during the coldest months of the year? Read on — below you will come across some of the most important tips for snowshoeing with your dog.
Practically Everyone Can Snowshoe These Days
Gone are the days when snowshoeing is an awkward and a tedious task most especially for beginners — advancements in technology allowed snowshoes today to be very easy to use. Needless to say, if you haven’t tried snowshoeing before all you need is a little getting used to walking wearing a pair and in no time, you will be snowshoeing like you’ve been doing it all your life!
Snowshoeing with your dog is a great idea! It’s a wonderful form of recreation that you and your beloved pooch can share, plus it’s a superb form of exercise for the both of you.
However, just because snowshoeing with dogs is a trendy and fun activity doesn’t mean that you and your barking buddy should experience it ASAP. For a memorable snowshoeing experience without any issues, there are some things you need to consider for a trouble-free winter bonding with your dog.
Make Sure You’re Geared Up for the Task
What’s so nice about snowshoeing with your dog is that it doesn’t require a lot of preparations or special considerations. This is especially true if you’re fond of partaking in all sorts of winter activities.
Having your preferred winter clothing and footwear, put simply, is enough to get you started with snowshoeing with your pooch. Of course, snowshoeing is not snowshoeing if you’re not wearing a pair of snowshoes. Whether you wish to buy your own snowshoes or simply rent them, it’s of the utmost importance for you to pick the right snowshoes for your needs and snowshoeing experience level — yup, there are different snowshoe types! And by the way, consider grabbing a pair of poles for safety.
It’s also important that your dog will enjoy the activity, too, and that’s why you have to ensure that it’s just as geared up for the task as you.
Let’s find out how.
Consider Your Dog’s Welfare, Too
For the best possible snowshoeing experience, see to it that you and your dog are both geared up for the activity. If your dog is not made for the cold, make sure that it is protected from low temperatures with the help of an insulated dog jacket. Waterproof dog booties are very good at safeguarding your best friend’s paws against frostbite.
Water is something that you should regularly offer your dog while the two of you are snowshoeing — just because it’s not sweating like you doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to being dehydrated!
Before snowshoeing with your dog, it’s a good idea for you to take it to the vet for a general checkup. If the vet gives the go signal, then feel free to snowshoe with your dog. Just remember to keep your snowshoeing times short especially if the two of you are newbies to snowshoeing.