Pup-cicles: Why Some Dogs Love Snow and Others Hate It

Snowmageddeon. Snowpocalypse. Snowapalooza. Whatever fun name you’re giving it, it’s a coming! Denver is expecting up to two feet this weekend. And as I am prepping for it, I starting thinking about dogs and how they react to snow. Some love it. Some (like mine), not so much. I think its pretty acceptable to say that cats are united on their hatred of it. But why? What causes some dogs to frolic and play in it like middle school kids on their first snow day from school? While others put one paw in it and immediately give you the “oh hell no” look and refuse to go out?

As a dog walker, I love to watch the snow lovin’ pups pounce & run & roll in it. It seems to energize them like a kid hopped up on Mountain Dew & Skittles. Alexandra Horowitz, PhD, and author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know told Scientific American, “More than anything, I suspect that the sensation of snow on the body is engaging for dogs.” I guess I can understand that. I know when I am hiking in the mountains, when the fresh air fills my lungs and the scent of the woods hits my nose, I get energized.

Another opinion is that it is new & different. Certified trainer and behaviorist, Susie Aga from Atlanta Dog Trainer, says, “I think it’s just fun. It’s something new. Plus, snow is like a brand new toy.” A lot of the dogs I walk like to bite at it. Scout, a Great Dane, loves to do “drive by bitings.” She just takes big ol’ bites of it while she walks without missing a step. “Dogs like to manipulate their environment,” Stanley Coren, a scientist and Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and an authority in canine psychology, “They will play in pile of leaves, just like the way kids do—the mind of a dog is very much like that of a two-year-old.”

Although the fluffy white stuff may excite some pups, others, not so much. Why? Is it the cold & wet? The salt that hurts their paws? The possible delay of their Bark Box or Chewy delivery? It seems like maybe many reasons. “A small dog might be swallowed by a snow drift; a light-coated dog is freezing. For a fearful dog, hesitant about the outside, snow means the world is transformed—but they were just getting used to it as it was, thank you” advises Alexandra Horowitz, PhD.

When my rescue Shiba Inu was younger, she liked it a small degree. We lived in Chicago at the time and we rescued Akiko from Wisconsin. She grew up in snow. We played in it. She loved “Snow Monster,” a game we played in which I would kick snow and Akiko would chase/bite at it. But, there was always a limit; she hated the deep snow. If it was getting to her chest, she was out. Nope. And nowadays, in her sightless senior years, that is a big “NO” from her. She starts shaking and refuses to move when I set her down in it. I have to shovel out a patch of grass for her to handle business. SMH. I have become that pup parent.

Whether they love it or hate it, they have to go out in it. And it is up to us parents to ensure they are safe & comfortable. Here are a few tips according to the ASPCA –

• Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in-between the toes. Remove any snow balls from between his foot pads.
• Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
• Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
• Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
• Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
• Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.

So, as winter wraps up and those unpredictable late winter storms keep us on our toes, please stay safe and warm out there. Let those pup-cicles frolic & play, keep the haters comfortable in the chilly elements and maybe play a game of “snow monster” on your next walk.

Thomas Thacker, is the owner of Mr. Woof, LLC., a Dog Walking & Pet Sitting company in Denver, CO.