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Winter gear for the city dog. (first dog)

2K views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  sassymomma 
#1 ·
What winter gear is needed/suggested for the city dog? I have bought my new guy a coat, and I'm looking at his feet now- he's developed a sore from the salt- so I know I need something for his feet- some kind of balm...boots...combination of the two?

For the sore, which is not bad, but he wants to lick, I've been washing with lukewarm water and epson salts...applying polysporin, and covering with a sock. He tolerates this well, and doesn't walk funny at all witht he sock on

I've been walking on the Martingale collar, but with the icy sidewalks, am now putting the Easywalk harness back on him because he pulls a bit, and that's not safe for me. I'd originally stopped using it because he rubbed his armpits raw(he's between sizes, and it's too big) so I put it Over his coat in hopes of a better fit.....I'm considering a padding to protect him fromt he wear in his armpits- like you put on a childs seatbelt?
 
#2 ·
You can use mushers secret on his feet, and to give the harness extra padding to prevent chafing you could try strap wrap, if for some reason he's still chafing due to the harness being to big you can use bag balm on those areas!!

here are links to those products mentioned above:

https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Do...&qid=1359389869&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+paws+salt

https://www.amazon.com/Strap-Wrap-F...05-20&linkId=38ca9610cfd955bb420b0fd96df2002d

https://www.target.com/p/vermont-s-...VxoWzCh0-lAAuEAQYAiABEgIY_PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
#4 ·
Why not a Y-harness that fits properly? - With the leash clipped at the front?

.

if his EasyWalk is too big, does it adjust with tongued buckles? - If so, melting a new hole thru a strap is easily done.
Heat the tip of an ice-pick or awl over an electric stove coil, or in a gas flame - YOU NEED A VENT to the exterior of the house!, already operating with the fan on high, B4 U touch the hot metal poker to the nylon webbing: melting produces nasty fumes.

If U have no vent that exhausts to the outdoors, get the awl / ice-pick very hot, then work outside, away from windows or doors.
U really don't want that stink in the house, blecch. // Go halfway thru the strap, quickly, then flip it & finish from the other side - don't linger, & be sure the awl-point is VERTICAL to the strap thru-out the process. Once it's cooled, if there is a large glob of melted nylon, apply the hot awl a 2nd time & lightly, gently flatten the lump.

If the EasyWalk adjusts with sliding buckles & it cannot be made any smaller, i'd buy any sturdy Y-harness, something that fits smoothly & snug, being sure that no hardware is close to his tender armpits.
Then i'd clip the leash to his chest - if there's a metal-ring linking all 3 straps, that's perfect. If there's no ring, buy a LOCKING carabiner in an apropos size at any outdoors supply or camping-gear retailer - any carabiner rated for 100# should have plenty of safety-margin for the average dog.
Run the carabiner diagonally under the junction of the 3 straps on the chest, & LOCK it; clip the leash to the carabiner, & off U go. :)

I'd leave the locked carabiner on the harness when he's running loose, as taking it off means someone could easily forget to lock it when putting it back on - & unlocked, it'll pop right off under tension, leaving him unexpectedly free wherever U are. :eek:

I'd want boots or rubbers for any dog in the city in winter -
many ice-melt products are toxic, & barefoot dogs pick them right up; they can enter thru the skin, or be ingested when the dog licks paws, plus they're carried into the house on paws - into the carpeting, upholstery, onto the kitchen floor, etc.
A quick wipe of legs & belly after removing his boots is a good precaution - dog's feet splash stuff onto their abdomen, inner thighs, & the length of the legs as they walk or run. A warm damp towel is great for this - microfiber washes & dries quickly, BUT it must be laundered ONLY with other microfiber! - wash it with terrycloth towels or any conventional fibres, & those hooky little microfibers will be jammed with lint, & won't work so well, anymore.
I hand-wash my microfiber cloths, & simply hang them to dry. :)


Any coat should cover all his undercarriage except the penis & prepuce - coats that end even B4 the ribcage does, are too skimpy. Gore-Tex is good, it keeps rain out but allows the skin to breathe & exhale if he's overheated. Thinsulate is also wonderful stuff.

- terry

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#5 ·
Shamas's coat may or may not be a little skimpy. It's a 3-in-1 from Petsmart, and I put both pieces on individually, for better coverage..but he's between sizes there too- so I couldn't fit him into a Large, and got XL instead..it sags a bit. It covers a band about 7 inches on his belly-ribs, and 5 inches on his chest. All of his back, right to the tail, and all of his sides. I've checked his temperature under the coat, and he seems pretty warm, and I've never seen him shiver, except from stress(tail tucked). So far we've hit -15C here, and that was today. He enjoyed his walk in the snow, and we visited the new pet store that just opened up around the corner.

The Easywalk has slide buckles. I shortened the top strap by sewing a loop, which also has the benefit of letting me clip an emergency 1' lead, in case he gets aggressive. Unfortunately, it still slides forward, no matter what I do- I did manage to get it pretty snug this morning, but the moment we walked, the whole thing turned sideways and got under his pits again. I think it's the shape of his skinny ribs-they angle up towards his front, and the harness slips.

I'm looking at the KONG harness..the one with the mesh front, and a loop for a seatbelt? I wonder if i cound get away with sewing a Dlink to the front of that? Or use the seatbelt loop, placed at the front of the harness....it's like a tiny collar attached to the harness, with a metal clip.

The owner of our new local pet store says he can order me anything I need. He figures Shamas is a Medium in the Muttluggs(spelling) boots. Given the horrendus mess that is often left on the main streets after plows go by, I think he'll need the best, and I hear that those ones don't come off? The plows kind of go by, and leave a couple of inches behind them...which turns into sandy, disgusting, sand-filled slush. He's going to get me a special waxy stuff for Shamas' feet too
 
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#6 ·
Well, the KONG harness was not a go- Where the Easy walk rubbed his armpits, the KONG rubbed is chest. I'll check another pet store and see if we can fit him for one that doesn't rub. I mainly want the harness for those times when I plan to let him loose to roam, so he's not pulling on his neck. For controlled walking, I can use the prong again, if I need to, though he behaves not too bad on the Martingale, so I'm not inclined to pull that out just yet. it's not like he pulls in a hudred different directions...mostly he tries to drag me home because he's anxious. Which is my other reason for avoiding the prong

My training plan is to teach him that he can pull on the harness, but not on the collar....but I need a decent harness to put that plan into place
 
#7 ·
a review of front-clip harnesses - rated 4 paws, 3 paws, 2, or just 1

...
For controlled walking, I can use the prong... if I need to, though he behaves not too bad on the Martingale, ... mostly he tries to drag me home because he's anxious. Which is my other reason for avoiding the prong
.

Please try to continue to use other mgmt tools. :thumbsup:
After all, it's a given that his anxiety won't be lessened by dragging U home while stabbing his own neck. :(
.
.
...
My training plan is to teach him that he can pull on the harness, but not on the collar -
however, I need a decent harness to put that plan into [action].
.

Why not just use the limited-slip martingale?
If he pulls, so what? - he's not going anywhere. :p

Any fairly-sturdy Y-harness, whatever the name-brand, with 2 straps coming forward over the shoulders to meet on the chest, & 1 strap coming up between the forelegs from the girth, also to meet on the chest, should be easy to adjust, & should fit him.

Try to find a Y-harness with at least 3 adjustments - 1 should be a tongued buckle secured in a hole, or an eared buckle that must be pinched on both sides to be opened, for security. That's usually the girth buckle.
The other 2 can be slide-buckles - generally on each shoulder strap, & there may be a 3rd, on the strap running chest-to-girth, between the forelegs.

here's an April 2017 article comparing a SLEW of front-clip harnesses -
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/20_4/features/Best-Dog-Harnesses-2017_21622-1.html

the Perfect Fit Modular Fleece Harness which has 3 component pieces that are bought separately to size them, & buckled together to create the harness, could solve his fitting issues - but it's not cheap.
It's well-made, but costly.

- terry

.
 
#8 ·
Martingale is what I'm using now, and I love it. I haven't had time to train with him, between dealing with his anxiety but it's enough control that I can generally manage him. . I'll look at the Y harness and read you article, thanks. I think Global Pet carries a variety, and can help me fit him out. That'll be when he's allowed to pull, and I'm all for attaching the lead to the harness for the drag home lol. I always take it off his neck on the times when it's Ok to pull, and put it back when I want him close to me- that way when I start his Heel training, he'll be able to understand the difference.
 
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#9 ·
I think I'll go Perfect Fit, based on the custom fit. when I look at what I've already spent, and what I could potentially spend trying to fit him out for a rub-free harness, the initial cost makes sense...
 
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#10 ·
I made a quick adjust ment to the Easy walk for now, while I wait for the Perfect Fit. I sewed a loop on the back strap, letting me hook a leash there..which reduces the rub on his pits, pulling the frame of the harness away from the friction point.

Since he doesn't want to walk in the snow right now, I don't think he'll be wearing it a whole lot anyway- as it stands he only wants to go in the yard, and if I tell him it's time for a walk he kind of responds as though he's not sure if he wants to...and pulls me home after less than a block. He's not fond of getting plowed up snow chunks in his paw pads, and he knows that the back yard has no dangers.

I extended his tie-out by adding a second 15' to the first one and attaching them to a flag pole int he middle of the yard, so he can play with the kids out back and has the run of about 3/4 of the yard.... and I dont have to worry about salt or anything there either.

I've taken to wrapping a warm cloth around his paws when he comes in, to melt any snow or ice that could be in his paws..and clean off salt/toxins. He's not sure he likes this level of handling, but he acccepts it better than placing his paws in a pan of water lol
 
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#11 ·
We were out at Petsmart yesterday, and I couldn't resist getting Shamas a new harness, to hold him over. It's fleece lined, and rigid- a step-in that sits on the front of the chest, and under the ribs. The fit is exactly as I want it- no slippage, not too snug. I actually really like it, and so does Shamas. He's not pulling, so I must assume it works on the same pressure point as the easy walk.... I walked him around the store for 1/2 an hour before deciding to buy it. He stops when I do, and is responsive to my verbal cues. Out on the street, he is less reactive, and I have a solid grip on him. AS an added bonus, I can run the seatbelt through the Traffic handle of his leash, and keep him from roaming the van now. I didn't dare do that while I had him collared, or on a front-harness because neither was secure enough on his body to make any difference to his safety, and both could hurt if pulled on.

I still plan to get the Perfect Fit, but having this means that I can order it after Christmas is over and bills paid up- and not have to worry about Shamas' comfort in the meantime

I'm so glad to have that worry off my plate :)
 
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#13 ·
Agreed! I've taken to wiping him head to tail with a warm cloth when we come in, especially when it's slushy. we're doing many of our walks at Petsmart, and I'm searching out other stores that are welcoming for after Christmas. It looks like we're expecting another Alberta Clipper, so his walks will be limited to inside, and back yard again for a few days. He's OK with cold down to only about -5, then he decides he doesn't want a walk after all. Not that I blame him, as thin as he is....but he's putting on muscle now, so that's good.
 
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