It’s cold. Old man winter has made himself known and honestly, I’m not sure I’m a fan. Bailey here, Going Mutts most bestest and goodest mascot, and I have to tell you that being cold is paw-sitively not on my nice list. Less walks, less light for walks and less time rolling in the grass and sunbathing. While I love myself a big ‘ol pile of snow to jump in, I’m here to let you hoomans know that us four-legged friends need some protection when it comes to the cold, snow and slush. Check out 5 winter accessories you should think about getting your furry friend to help them out this winter.

1. Jackets

If you’re planning on taking us four-legged friends out into the elements of winter, think about giving us an extra layer of protection pretty please! Not all of us furry friends are just that, furry; we have different coats and some of us will need more layers to keep the cold from bothering us. Jackets are a great way to let us fur-iends go outside and enjoy time with you hoomans while still being protected from the elements. Some of us can be a little dramatic when it comes to having clothes on us, so make sure you understand that some of us enjoy the clothes and some of us would rather eat cat food than put a jacket on. 

Check out Basset & Lab and Pet Supplies Plus for some fun jackets for us furry friends!

2. Dog Booties

Sure, we have some built-in measures of protection when it comes to our paws but when it comes to walking outside in the snow and ice, some booties would be nice! Frozen puddles, icy sidewalks and even knee-deep snow can make for some uncomfortable bare-paw walking for us; especially when it comes to salt being laid down, which can become stuck in our paw pads and really irritate our skin. A great way to help us out during those winter days are some waterproof, weatherproof booties for our dear old paw pads. This will protect our paws from the elements and let us enjoy some fresh air with our favorite hooman.

Basset & Lab and Amazon have some dog-gone good booties for our furry feet!

3. Moisturizer/Healing Balm

You hoomans aren’t the only ones who get chapped hands during the winter. Our paws have their own experience with winter dryness as well as our own cute button noses! It’s something that may get overlooked during the cold months since you think of us furry friends as being, well, furry. Truth is, some good old butter balsam and healing balms are a great accessory to have for us during the cold months to keep our paws and noses in tip-top shape. 

Basset & Lab, Chewy and Tractor Supply can help keep our feet paw-fect!

4. Snoods

You hoomans have scarves and hats, but us four-legged friends have snoods to keep our ears and necks warm out in the cold. Snoods can actually help prevent frostbite and hypothermia on the really cold days since colder temperatures like to target extremities, especially our floppy ‘lil ears. This cold-canceling winter gear can come in cutesy patterns, but make sure you’re checking the quality of materials used to help keep us the warmest when we’re out in winter conditions. 

For the most comfort with protection dog snoods, check out Euro Dog Designs for one of the warmest dog snoods you can find and Canada Pooch for a thermal snood that is lightweight with heat retention fabric.

5. Fleece Blankets

Blankets are a comfort thing for some people, which can be true as well for us four-legged friends. Sure, we love a good cuddle with our two-legged friends but we sure wouldn’t give up a nice fleece blanket that had our name on it. Those winter days and nights can get cold, so if we’re stuck waiting for you to come home, we could use a nice fleece blanket to cuddle with. A blanket can provide us warmth, comfort and a nice place to take a nap. We’re not too picky when it comes to patterns, just make sure it’s fluffy and big enough for us to burrow in!

Check out Chewy and Tractor Supply in Lititz for some pretty paw-fect selections of blankets!

Us dogs can still be fashionable during those winter walks, but make sure the quality of those accessories beats out the patterns. We are simple creatures that just want to be comfortable, warm and given lots of belly rubs, but we also want to be where you are. Keeping us warm and comfortable while adventuring out into winter conditions can make our outings more enjoyable for all of us if us four-legged fur-iends have some accessories on. And don’t forget those couch cuddles after a hard day's work of being in the snow!

Woof. Bark. Love.

Bailey

Looking for that special something for that special furry friends this holiday season? (Or really any season!) How about a good ‘ol local dog walker! Going Mutts Pet Services would love to help get your dog out for daily walks during the winter so you don’t have to. Keeping up with daily exercise is still important during those cold months, so contact us today to see how we can help you with your pet care needs.