Winter is Coming...

We can all feel the changes that come with the seasons shifting over. There are the obvious signs - the wind is picking up, the rain (while present over the summer time too), is colder, and more chilling, the darker mornings and evenings, it's all happening and it’s getting more intense as each week passes.


Winter is looking like it’s going to be even more dramatic than previous years, and while queuing up our favourite shows and preparing the winter warmies is probably at the top of the list - it’s important to realise that our dog’s are experiencing these changes as well. 

Their experience can be completely different to ours - their senses are more acute, their understanding of the changes is not as thorough… so let’s go through what to consider for our dog’s when winter rolls in.


IT’S GETTING DARKER

That much is obvious. But what does that mean for what our dogs perceive?

Going out in the dark means it can be harder to see and determine what is around them.
Human’s start to put headlamps on, or are more like looming shadows when we go out to walk - and that can lead to an increased suspicion about these people. 

Shadows are harder to figure out, so reactions to shadows and people can increase too - even as people we are more on edge when it’s dark, so that’s completely understandable from our pooches point of view!

Remember, alerting (barking), is not something you should reprimand your dog for. They are letting you know how they feel, and strangers in the dark unsettle us too when we are out in the evenings. 

Because of the dark, going out at dawn, dusk, or between, we are all more vigilant than usual to compensate for our wariness. This vigilance means our dogs are utilising their other senses… Which can lead to more predatory behaviour and alertness! That’s right - our dogs will be using their noses to figure out the environment, and prey animals that are crepuscular (meaning active at dawn and dusk) are out doing their thing exactly when we are out doing ours.


IT’S GETTING COLDER

With cold comes a change of wardrobe. Not only do we start putting on headlamps to see when we are out walking - beanies, big jumpers, scarves… these are all getting pulled out of drawers to make sure we don’t freeze! But new clothing means that a person’s outline can change drastically. A person approaching doesn’t look like how they normally would, and a silhouette could increase in size, defining features can be obscured, the list goes on for what may confuse and unnerve an unsuspecting pooch.

Speaking of trying to stay warm… think about how the cooler temperatures affect our dogs as well. Short haired dogs may not feel too keen on getting out in a frost, and older dogs may have flare ups of pain. Some old injuries in younger dogs may be affected as well, so make sure to be aware of what your dog is eager (or not!) to do - because it may be worth investing in a nice warm coat for your pup, or talk to your vet about some pain management strategies for dogs who need it.


IT’S GETTING WETTER

If that isn’t obvious! And even we don’t like getting out in the bad weather, so it may be unrealistic to be asking our dogs to want to go out and get their daily walks - and that may even stretch to not being able to get their regular toileting outings! I know that my dog will hold on all day if that means she can avoid going out in the poor weather.

So not only do you have disruptions to toilet training for younger dogs that can’t hold on all day, you have the stir craziness that comes with being stuck inside!

You can check out our earlier blog post for information on how to handle toilet training in the bad weather (hint: it takes getting out there yourself with your wet weather gear…).

As for boredom, getting creative with what you can do inside is extremely important! Just as we have to create a bit of an entertainment curriculum for children over the school holidays if the weather puts a block on outdoor plans, the same goes for our pooches. 
Luckily, Allsorts has already done some of the thinking for you! We have Canine Enrichment Activities and ideas for you, and there are a range that you can develop to suit what you have available to you.

Teaching a new skill or a new trick also can count as enrichment. There are a whole load of tutorials online about how to train fun new tricks - or if you were wanting something more structured Winter Dog Activities held by your favourite on a weekly basis is a great way to get direction!


So there you have it. Winter is definitely an interesting time for humans and their furry companions. To ensure that everyone feels safe and secure, it’s important to understand how they may experience the changes… Potentially they have doubts and insecurities about the dark and the cold, just like us!

But if you think outside the walk, and realise how much you can actually do from the comfort of your own home - it may be more exciting and rewarding than you ever imagined!

​
Authored by Sarah Endres
Dog Trainer and Behaviour Advisor