Exercise in winter?

scintillady · 01-27-2008, 01:55 AM

I am wondering how much all of you who have very cold and snowy winters do for exercise? How much is enough? I take Ruby on a couple of 1-2 mile walks a day, but we really don't get to do much more than that because everything is covered with snow. I know a lot of the people in my area don't even do that, they just let their dogs out in the yard to go to the bathroom and then they come right back in. In fact, I have been stared at like I am crazy for taking her out for a walk when it is cold and snowing outside. I figure it does me as much good as it does her. How much exercise do you all give your dogs? Iam trying like crazy to balance the food intake with the exercise, as Ruby was 8 years old when I got her a few months ago, and she is about 88 pounds (Rotti?Lab mix). She loves food more than anything, and I am trying to make sure she doesn't get fat, because I want to make sure her joints and everything else are OK. My previous dog, Susie, was very scrawny when I adopted her, and I kind of went overboard and she ended up heavier than she should have been.

echo8287 · 01-27-2008, 03:32 AM

We don't get much snow, but we still do go out and walk some even if its cold. The bad days are the ones that have rain and we are clammed up in the house. Balancing food intake with exercise is a good idea. One good thing about the winter in the South is that the ticks,mosquito's and snakes aren't out, David

Matte · 01-27-2008, 05:07 AM

We walk. There is a Swedish expression "There is no bad weather, only bad clothes."

trumpetjock · 01-27-2008, 07:35 AM

If you're worried about the duration of your walks, maybe toss a pack on him with a bit of weight? If he's old enough that his growth plates are closed, this would be a really healthy alternative to spending a ton of time out in the cold. Just a little bit of weight really tires them out a lot faster, and for most dogs makes them walk better because they have a "job" to do.

MegaMuttMom · 01-27-2008, 01:46 PM

We do the same exercise no matter the weather. His needs are the same no matter what. I have snow pants and rain pants and special things to put on the bottom of my boots when it's icy. I find the heat more of a problem than the cold. I don't swim in the pond with Cherokee so I get hot and cranky! I can't walk naked

I'm with Matte, the clothes make the difference.

Durbkat · 01-27-2008, 02:18 PM

I hadn't taken Snoopy on a walk since probably late november when it started getting to cold to walk. I don't have a good enough coat to keep me warm and Snoopy gets cold easily. We just got our first walk in a long time since its warmed up. Now Snoopy is sleeping. He was really hyper when we couldn't go for our walks so I had to chase him around the apartment.

AkiraleShiba · 01-27-2008, 03:19 PM

Well we have about 1 - 2 feet of snow and the temperature stays around 8 F to -10 F but we still go outside. I guess most of the time it's the humans that do not want to go outside.

Akira needs his exercise twice a day regardless of the temperature outside, of course if it's -40 F we'll have a shorter walk but at -8 we stay at least an hour outside brisk walking or playing in the dog park.

scintillady · 01-27-2008, 04:52 PM

I agree I would rather be out in the cold weather than the hot. I haven't had Ruby through a summer yet, but I am hoping to take her swimming next summer. I hate the heat, and I always say you can always put on enough clothes to keep warm, but you can't take enough off to keep cool! And even if I took them ALL off I would still be hot and grossing out the neighbors!