Tips to Help Your Dog Through the Winter

This is nothing new, we live in Montana, and it gets cold during our winter months. Here are a few tips to help your dogs stay comfortable through the cold winter months we are going to have.

1. Bring them inside more. If your dog is normally an outside dog, especially if there is snow on the ground, bring them inside. Just think of yourself, you wouldn't want to be stuck outside in the cold weather. Your dog should have to deal with that either.

2. Buy them a coat. This past weekend we took our dog Gypsy to get a coat. Our other dog Koda has thicker fur so we didn't get him one yet, but we will be getting him one in the very near future.

3. Give your dog more food than normal. If your dogs are outside in the cold temperatures, they are burning more calories trying to stay warm. So it's OK to give them a little more food than normal.

4. Make sure they have fresh water. Dogs are going to need more water as they try to stay warm in the winter months. The last thing you want is your dog not able to drink water due to it being an ice cube, make sure you check their water bowl more frequently.

5. Wipe their paws after being outside, or buy doggie boots. Often times after being outside, again especially in the snow there will be snow that gets stuck in my dogs paws. It can really bother the dogs as they are trying to get the snow out. If you help them get the snow out, they will love you forever.

And last but certainly not least, make sure you give them lots of love and belly rubs throughout the winter!