Sometimes you might blow off walking your dog. But do this too much, and your dog suffers–more than you know. You do too whether you realize it or not. Check out this great article by Christie Keith on the Pet Connection Blog about

“What you lose when you can’t walk your dogs”

A general rule of thumb is if it is too cold for you, it’s too cold for the dog. But make sure you looking at weather fairly. “Don’t want to” and “too cold” can be two different things. It is important for your dog get some physical activity even in the winter.

The flip side is if you have an active and enthusiastic dog, it is still you, not the dog, who needs to decide when to go out. I can tell you there is nothing more embarrassing than carrying your heavy 50 lb dog down the block because refuses to put paws on the ground because it’s too cold.

Others things to look at when deciding when is cold “too cold”: the dog’s breed and type of coat, her age, any health conditions, and what she’s wearing if anything.

It also depends on who you are asking. After talking with my and three other local vets, I compiled these guidelines.

By “cold”, I mean 32 degrees F (0 C) or below.

Generally, many healthy medium or large size dog can walk for up to 30 minutes as long as it’s above 20 degrees F (-7 C). (Don’t forget to factor in the wind. If the wind chill is 10 degrees than we’ll call the temperatures is 10 degrees.) Lower than 20 degrees, walks of 10 to 20 minutes are OK but protection on the dog’s feet is highly recommended. For smaller dogs, cut the time to 15 or 20 minutes for temps above 20 F/ -7 C. Below 0 F / -18 C, everybody stays in. If it is snowing, it’s OK to walk if it doesn’t bother the dog and they have an appropriate coat or fur, but shorten the walk still. Wind and moisture lower body temperatures faster.

Breed and coat

You have to get information about your dog’s breed and his tolerance to weather. For instance, huge Bullmastiffs shouldn’t be out in very hot or very cold weather. Even Alaskan Huskies shouldn’t be left out in the cold too long unless you know how to work with dogs in cold for sledding, etc. (For instance, dogs that spend a lot of time in the cold need a slightly different diet.) In general, dogs with longer coats and/or are double coated (they have an undercoat of fur for the winter) are good in the cold and snow are good for up to 30 minutes. Single coat dogs should wear a sweater or jacket. Get more information on your dog’s breed from your vet or look up information about the breed on a dog book or Web sites like Wikipedia.com.

Age
Very young or very old dogs should stay in if the weather is below freezing. If under 40 degrees, consider a dog sweater or jacket and booties. Puppies and older dogs have trouble regulating their body temperature. Both are more prone to injuries on slippery surfaces, puppies due to lack of coordination and older dogs due to loss of flexibility.

Health conditions

With conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia, for his comfort, it’s better to keep the dog inside if the temperature falls under 40. Check with your vet about any conditions your dog has.

Temperament

Just because your dog does not want to go out doesn’t mean she should stay in. Use your judgment more than the dog’s. If the weather is appropriate (not bitterly cold, not very wet), get the dog outside, even if for a short while. It is still important to get some physical activity even in the winter. When walking in the cold, you still want to consider safety as well, especially for the feet. Also check out “ Winterize Your Dog”.

A fellow dog Mommy friend of mine has an adorable Border Collie named Angela, a dog that really needs regular exercise and mental challenges. But Angela’s mom was in the great position to be a part of this software start-up company. If you know anything about a start up it’s long hours, at home and in the office. After a couple of Angela was not digging this. The walks had gone to almost non-existent.  When Angela decided she would walk herself one day (we figure she lucked out figuring that sliding door latch) and the neighbors left 10 messages before they could reach Mom, Mom knew she needed to do something different.

I suggested a dog walker or doggie day care until her schedule smoothed out. Angie’s mom went with dog walker, twice a day, and both seem to be very happy with this. The walker–a very nice woman with 2 Huskies of her own–takes Angela out, by herself for walks and even tossing the ball. After every walk, the dog walker leaves a note saying what they did and where they walked. On the very late days, Angela’s mom calls and the dog walker would even make sure Angela was fed.

Even when you are very busy, you can’t neglect the pup, or you both will pay for it eventually. Dog walkers are great permanent or temporary solutions. When it comes to finding a dog walker, or any other pet care provider for that matter, it can be a bit of a minefield, but ask a lot of questions and take your time checking them out.

If you don’t have a friend that can give a recommendation, seek one from your vet or even the local shelter. After that, it’s surfing the Net or Yellow Pages.

However, after you find one or two dog walking services, your want to check out a couple of things. First, do they have liability insurance and/or are bonded–important if you’re going to be letting someone into your home while you’re away. It’s also worthwhile checking if they hold and professional / trade qualifications and are members of any recognized pet service industry associations. Other things to check include business registration details (Better Business Bureau? Professional Dog Walkers Association).  And don’t be shy to ask for references from other clients.

Some services are better than others. Better ones will 1) use the same walker for your dog so your dog is not having to get used to a new person several times 2) Offer at least 25 minute sessions, and most importantly 3) have staff that are knowledgeable about and like dogs!