We received about two feet of snow last night. We live in an area some like to call the “Snow Belt”. Because of lake effect snow (snow created over Lake Michigan) we really get more than our share each winter. Luckily our dogs love the stuff (especially Scout) and they like to play in the snow. However, we never allow them to stay out longer than 10-15 minutes and we keep an eye on them through the office window.

According to this Port Huron Times-Herald article, Winter Chill Brings Need for Pet Protection. The article posts many good tips on protecting your dog in the winter cold. One tip: Don’t let your dog off its leash on snow or ice. Dogs can lose their scent and become lost. This makes sense to us - dogs that get lost will have a much harder time finding scent if the ground is covered in a foot of snow.

In general, the best tips are: A) Consider Dog Sweaters for smaller breeds, B) Always use a Dog Leash in the winter and C) Never leave your dog outside in the cold for more than 10 minutes. Allow them enough time to relieve themselves, get a little exercise in, and then back inside they go!