Toys! And Winter Dog Ownership.

[SaddlePsych'D]

I know it's not on the same level as winter horse ownership, and I have a fair-weather dog who gives a very hard 'no' to rain and mud, I just need a minute to go urrrrgh at the winter walking situation...

Last year we had only just got Ivy so there was less pressure to walk and the novelty of having her saw us through a lot of the 'do we have to go out in the dark?!' moments. This year I'm living 4 days/week on my own while OH is away working, so it feels even more challenging as there's no-one to take turns or to go out with. It's also a much less nice neighbourhood to be out in the dark.

I've been trying to make dog walking friends locally but it's hard. I try to get us out in the daylight where I can and have some flexibility with work to be able to do this. I even thought of hopping in the car to a posher part of town; if we have to pavement walk at least they could be nicer pavements! Aside from the occasional indoor zoomie which tells me we're under-doing the walking (remedied with a trip to the secure field, now having to book a week or two in advance as all the slots are going), Ivy doesn't seem to mind too much, and Fri - Sun we do long daytime walks in nice places. I still feel guilty.

Thankfully, Ivy has decided she does quite like her graveyard of dead toys after all. Something about me putting them all in a basket together has made her interested in them again (previously discarded after decapitating/destuffing and/or de-squeaking) and she loves grabbing them all out one by one, chucking them and sometimes the basket too, around the room. The card recycling is being repurposed for enrichment, the kong is being stuffed, the sniffaris set up, to try to make up for the crap walks!

How do you and your dogs fare in winter?

 

[Spotherisk]

Rew would happily reabsorb his wee all winter thanks.

 

[Karran]

I hate it, I hate it. Dark morning walks, dark evening walks. Always plodding around the same pitch black park where I can't see anything coming that might cause a collie-incident. Instead of doing an hour plus walking, we might just do a quick 20 min leg stretch and play games or do our version of scent work so they (I) feel like they've done stuff!

I deffo do more enrichment and fitness stuff indoors, and thankfully we still have obedience and agility during week to keep us ticking over and not becoming fat slobs

 

[TGM]

Ha, I have a whippet too, and am very grateful for the fact during the winter months when she is happy with short walks when the weather is foul! I'm fortunate that I am freelance and work from home so I can get her out in daylight hours and we are in what most would call a 'nice' area. I do take her on longer walks (1.5 to 2 hours) when the weather allows, but otherwise she is usually happy with two half hour walks a day, one all on lead and one with an off lead run around. We keep the horses at home and have a sand school, so if the weather is really bad I let her have an off lead run around in there! She does show much more interest in her indoor toys when the walks are shorter though, and I actually had an indoor 'fetch' session with her today which is quite rare!

I'm lucky to have a friend nearby with a spaniel so we often arrange to walk together in the afternoons, which then commits us to a longer walk with dog play, rather than a quick spin round the block.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Do

Rew would happily reabsorb his wee all winter thanks.View attachment 103363

Do they have a secret winter bladder somewhere?! I spend a lot of time standing with the back door open waiting for Ivy to go out. In the heavy rain last week she refused to walk with me, or go in the garden, all day, despite multiple attempts at each. In the end I rather unceremoniously shoved her out the back door and then stood out there under my brolly until she went!

 

[TGM]

Do
Do they have a secret winter bladder somewhere?! I spend a lot of time standing with the back door open waiting for Ivy to go out. In the heavy rain last week she refused to walk with me, or go in the garden, all day, despite multiple attempts at each. In the end I rather unceremoniously shoved her out the back door and then stood out there under my brolly until she went!

We often do what I call 'pee pee, poo poo' walks when it is raining heavily, I pop her on the lead, we don our waterproofs and literally go far enough up the lane to do a pee and a poo and then turn round and leg it back home again, which pleases her as much as me! If we leave her to her own devices she will hold her wee all night and up to 1pm without asking to go out if there is torrential rain!

 

[Karran]

Mrs Spaniel is the same! We got home about 11.30 on Sunday morning. She refused to go back outside in the rain and dark until 7am the next day!
I don't understand how she does it!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

When the weather is vile we put the dogs into the car and go to a cafe but we are lucky in that, being retired now, we can walk in daylight. We have done our share of walking after dark in driving rain and howling wind.

 

[AmyMay]

I’m very lucky I walk both ends of the day in the daylight. I’m semi retired and self employed. If the weather is vile we don’t go out (Daisy hates the rain). Although surprisingly for where I live, it’s not very often that the weather keeps us in.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ivy's other favourite thing to do is fake enthusiasm. So when I do muster the strength to go out in the dark, faff about getting us ready, she then plops herself down on the rug and refuses to go out. Infuriating!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Like this! So rude.

 

[Clodagh]

Well, working labs mean winter is their raison d’etre. However, 2 consecutive days off mean their appalling sky high fitness levels means they are an unmitigated PITA. And they don’t mind rain at all.
Ask me in February when shooting finishes, I’m back at the pub and it’s raining and dark all day.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I have three dogs that get walked 3x a day separately in all weathers, from home. I have a very good head torch, a police smock that makes me look like Darth Vader, oh and seasonal depression.

I can't really just let them out in the garden, the front wall is too low, they just dick about and eat grass/cat shit and don't think about going to the toilet.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I also have a lab who doesn’t care about the rain and would fancy a swim if it was icy ?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

We often do what I call 'pee pee, poo poo' walks when it is raining heavily, I pop her on the lead, we don our waterproofs and literally go far enough up the lane to do a pee and a poo and then turn round and leg it back home again, which pleases her as much as me! If we leave her to her own devices she will hold her wee all night and up to 1pm without asking to go out if there is torrential rain!

This is exactly what P dog does in wet weather, she comes to the yard and either refuses to get out of the car or if I pop her out then runs into hay store.
When I'm done with Fuzzy stuff, we walk/run up the track about 50ft, pee and poo then race for the car!
If at home and its pouring, we can get as far as next door but one before she does what's expected and we handbrake turn and run back in again ?

 

[Spotherisk]

Do


Do they have a secret winter bladder somewhere?! I spend a lot of time standing with the back door open waiting for Ivy to go out. In the heavy rain last week she refused to walk with me, or go in the garden, all day, despite multiple attempts at each. In the end I rather unceremoniously shoved her out the back door and then stood out there under my brolly until she went!

Rew refuses to go outside for a late night pee with the other dogs and unless he is kept an eye on will go in OH’s workshop (which secretly makes me snigger)! I chuck him out the back door where he uses the outside but roofed over gravelled passage as a giant litter tray ?

 

[splashgirl45]

As she is a greyhound she won’t need too much walking so 20 mins in the dark should be ok as long as she can have some longer walks and some off lead or long line time during the day. I used to walk my old dogs twice a day whatever the weather. The ones I’ve got now have a good Hours walk in the morning mainly off lead so lots of zoomies and in the winter that’s all. They seem quite happy with that arrangement . There’s no reason not to put her in the car to walk-in better lit/safer streets if you want to., I would if mine had to walk in the dark as my village has virtually no lights and I wouldn’t be happy walking now I’m older and not so agile.. you are doing a great job with Ivy and need to stop worrying ??










M

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve changed our routine a little in the morning. I used to get up let the dogs out then feed them. However in this weather I let them out to sit at the back door which seemed pointless.
So now I get up and go do bits with the horses and they come too. So they get a decent time out, have a good run and come back to breakfast a bit later.
I walk Cecil at lunch time in all weathers, Basil
Daughters dog comes if it’s nice but point blank refuses to walk and makes his misery clear if it’s not just comes if it’s dry!
I then use things like poo picking as a good run around opportunity and they come out again for big play/flat out running (yes sometimes I have to join in ?) in the evenings.
I don’t really have to walk in the dark as I can fit bits in round my work during the day and have him outside a lot.

 

[oldie48]

I think that Stanley, our border terrier, is basically a bladder covered in hair with a terrier head stuck on it and four legs with a tail. If it's wet, he won't go out for a pee before bed, if it's dry he'll go out to shout at a rat he thinks he saw two years ago but still won't have a pee. He goes for hours and hours! He doesn't like the rain but if you can get him past the house gates, he doesn't mind at all and will happily walk for miles. If it's wet and muddy I put an equifleece on him to keep him clean and dry, if OH puts it on him, he refuses to walk until OH takes it off him again.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Ivy's other favourite thing to do is fake enthusiasm. So when I do muster the strength to go out in the dark, faff about getting us ready, she then plops herself down on the rug and refuses to go out. Infuriating!

I would just accept her view gratefully and hang my coat up, quick!

 

[poiuytrewq]

I would just accept her view gratefully and hang my coat up, quick!

Agree! I used to be very smug when the weather was terrible and my old
Collie just refused to leave the house, would be cruel to have forced her!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I would just accept her view gratefully and hang my coat up, quick!

I should have! She eventually came to the door, we got round the corner and something scary happened so she sharpish decided that was the end of the walk. I've no idea what it was. She has been doing so much better with her walks lately, especially on the short loops we do, it's usually much easier now to work out specifically what has worried her.

She got a bit snorty and animated when she wanted second dinner but back to snoozing now

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think that Stanley, our border terrier, is basically a bladder covered in hair with a terrier head stuck on it and four legs with a tail. If it's wet, he won't go out for a pee before bed, if it's dry he'll go out to shout at a rat he thinks he saw two years ago but still won't have a pee. He goes for hours and hours! He doesn't like the rain but if you can get him past the house gates, he doesn't mind at all and will happily walk for miles. If it's wet and muddy I put an equifleece on him to keep him clean and dry, if OH puts it on him, he refuses to walk until OH takes it off him again.

Stanley sounds like a great character! Also, good reminder for me to order an Equifleece

As she is a greyhound she won’t need too much walking so 20 mins in the dark should be ok as long as she can have some longer walks and some off lead or long line time during the day. I used to walk my old dogs twice a day whatever the weather. The ones I’ve got now have a good Hours walk in the morning mainly off lead so lots of zoomies and in the winter that’s all. They seem quite happy with that arrangement . There’s no reason not to put her in the car to walk-in better lit/safer streets if you want to., I would if mine had to walk in the dark as my village has virtually no lights and I wouldn’t be happy walking now I’m older and not so agile.. you are doing a great job with Ivy and need to stop worrying ??

Thank you. I do my best for her but often it doesn't feel good enough. I try to step back and see that she's pretty settled, snoozing a lot, not showing any problematic/concerning behaviour (maybe a little bit of pre-dinner 'sass' and the odd indoor zoomie but I think these might just be her character!), and is looking good weight/condition wise. We had guests at the weekend which we don't often have, and it was a joy to see her actually enjoying all the attention instead of being scared. She also had some pub roast dinner with us because being in the bigger 'pack' seemed to help her feel brave to come in with us and settle (she got generous gravy-covered rewards for this!)

I don't feel safe going to unlit areas locally; I thought about a torch but that wouldn't help. There's a really small enclosed space just round the corner which is good in the daylight/handy for those quick toilet break walks but it doesn't get any light from the street so it's pitch black at night and there's often people sitting/lurking on the benches in there.

Long-term plan is to move to a house with a better garden for Ivy and in an area we can access better walking/feel safer out in the dark. For now just doing what I can.

 

[Annette4]

Training has finished for our guys so they're getting even less exercise although in an effort to help Jack settle they are getting a pack walk every day.

Fizz has resumed her winter strike with zero interest in taking her pj's off, walks or even pees in the garden if she can help it. Dobby and Ginny are doing more brain games in the evening but both have been on gradual wind down for winter and don't seem too fussed about reduced exercise.

 

[some show]

My greyhound doesn't care about rain, wind, snow, whatever, we have to go out (unlucky me)! Morning walk at 5:30am, lunch time walk for an hour, evening walk (some time from 6:30pm - 9pm so in the dark again at this time of year) for another 45 mins to an hour. He's nearly 10 now and still just loves his walks. It's good for me but I really envy the majority of greyhound/sighthound people who say theirs won't go out in the rain! I'd make the most of it if I were you

 

[Nasicus]

The wee Gremlin says 'Thanks but no thanks' to going out for cold, wet walks. She'd rather have 10 minutes of play with her toys a couple times a day, a sniff around the garden and then settle down with something to chew before a good nap.
Absolutely fine by me!
I'm trying to commit to getting her out for a nice walk up the woods or something at least once a week, but we're both as lazy as each other so without the 'subtle' reminders other dogs might give that they're due a walk, it's easy for the days to slip on by!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ivy and I got in a good 45/50 minute walk this morning. A misty and somewhat spooky cemetery walk but at least it was daylight. On the way home I was reminded that last year the Christmas lights and decorations really cheered up the cold, dark evening walks. I am looking forward to seeing those over the next few weeks.

 

[Hannahgb]

I run with mine a lot over the winter during the week, headtorch and layers.
Then longer walks in the countryside over the weekend

 

[Morwenna]

I sort of miss the days when mine would refuse to go out in the rain. She’s well and truly embracing her gundog heritage now. Luckily I work from home and can generally squeeze in a daylight walk around meetings. I actually prefer it when the weather’s miserable as it seems to keep most of the idiot dog walkers at home.

 

[Birker2020]

Summer is a very cold Beagle, had she been born into a pack, she'd never have survived!

She spends all day when partner works at his brothers house only venturing from under the duvet on the sofa when partner arrives at lunch time to let her out for a wee! She has been known to go to bed at 10pm and when partner has the day off the next day, might amble downstairs and ask to go out for a wee around lunch time! She has an iron bladder.

This photo was when I was taking her to the yard one cold 6am Saturday morning. She has her seatbelt harness on over her flashing coat, ready for the journey. The flashing lights stop my horse and his friend jumping on my head when she suddenly appears out of the dark in front of them. Partner sits on a chair in the evening to watch telly and she jumps onto arm and turns around and her bum goes between the gap, then she is covered up with a throw. She's a very cold dog, feels the cold very quickly.