Preparing for Ski Season with Your Dog
Skiing with your canine companion sounds like a dream, but it does come with its own set of new risks and responsibilities that you should be aware of as a pet parent. If not prepared, you and Fido could get yourselves into trouble with miscommunication, cold exposure, and unforeseen injuries. Here are some tips to follow to help you and your pup make the most of a skiing adventure in the safest way possible.
Know You & Your Dog’s Limits
A good skier knows their limits, and a good pet parent knows their dog’s limits. Some breeds just aren’t built to withstand harsh weather, so even if you have a strong-willed pup, you should be sure they’re the type of breed that can handle this kind of adventures, like Labradors, Australian Shepherds, or Golden Retrievers.
Be Confident in Fido’s Obedience Skills
With wildlife, other skiers, snowmobiles, and plenty of other distractions, you need to be confident in your dog’s obedience skills as well as your commands. One of the most important commands your pooch should have down is a solid recall command that will bring them back to you if they end up wandering off to investigate something. The second most important is a heel command that will ensure your pooch stays by your side even with other exciting things happening all around them.
Start Small & Work Your Way Up
Just because you might be an expert skier, that definitely doesn’t mean your pooch is. Because of this, you’ll want to start out small with manageable beginner slopes to work up your canine’s trust and confidence. After running through a well-groomed track for a few weeks, you can gradually start working your way up to more advanced pathways.
Bring the Right Supplies
Although your pooch might not complain (or at least not that much) doesn’t mean they love the brisk cold. Dog’s get cold too, even with their fluffy coat to keep them warm. You’ll want to try to gradually acclimate Fido to the freezing temperatures and also invest in some doggy snow gear. Items like dog boots, coats, or sweaters can make a world of difference for your four-legged friend. You might also want to consider investing in some paw balm to prevent ice from building up as well as a lightweight self-heating pad for your pooch to rest on.
Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios
Accidents happen, and even though we hope they don’t and even try to prepare enough to avoid them – they can still happen. Suppose something happens to your canine companion; you want to be prepared, which is exactly why you should bring a doggy first-aid kit. Also, consider investing your four-legged friend in pet insurance. In case any serious injuries are to happen, pet insurance will help take a lot of the stress away from paying a massive bill.
Most importantly, try to have fun. Please don’t go into this activity with extreme expectations because it will take your pooch a little bit of time to learn and adjust. Be patient with them, and try just to enjoy the overall experience.