Of all the benefits to living in the valley of the sun, the weather is at the top of the list. Even though there is little chance of us getting snow here in phoenix we have beautiful flagstaff just over two hours up the road that has all the snow you would ever want. If you plan on hitting the snow with your favorite dog here are a few things that you might want to keep in mind.
- Be very careful when letting your dog off their leash in the snow. Dogs depend heavily on their sense of smell and on the snow they can become easily disoriented and lost.
- When you come in from the snow make sure you thoroughly wipe of your dog’s legs and stomach. This will get all the pieces of ice that can get caught in their fur off it also helps make sure they aren’t tracking in things like road salt or antifreeze they might walk across when in the snow.
- Look into getting your dog a sweeter. Most dogs will start to grow a thicker coat during the winter months but with the warmer average temperatures here in the valley their own coat might not grow as thick as it would if they were around the snow everyday.
- Puppies are not as tolerant of the cold as adult dogs. Try and limit their time spent in the snow and keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t get to cold.
- If your spending more then an afternoon in the snow make sure you give your dog a little extra food. They will need the extra food, particularly protein, to help their bodies stay warm.
A trip north to visit the snow can be a great time for you and your pet, keep warm and stay safe.