My guys love winter walks. Here's more than you'll ever want to know and video to prove it works!
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* Booties. For longer walks on snow, these are even more important than coats. Your pooch will probably hate them at first, but be consistent. Once you get them on, coax him to walk in them by holding a treat in front of his nose. Eventually, he'll forget he has them on.
* Coats: I prefer the kind without leg holes for walks. It's important to keep your dog moving in the cold so they generate their own warmth, and coats without leg holes allow extra freedom of movement.
* Start slow. Start out with a 10-minute walk. When he starts balking at returning home after 10 minutes, you know you're ready to extend the time outside.
* Common sense: Watch your dog carefully. He's likely to shiver when you first go outside, but the shivering should stop immediately when you start walking and exercising. If it doesn't, you either have to increase the pace of the exercise or quit. My 8-pound Yorkie 2-year-old goes on a 30-minute walk in temperatures down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit and fights me when it's time to go back into the house. But my 10-year-old 4-pounder, even bootied and with a coat, only makes it 5 minutes or so before he's ready to go back in my coat and warm up. But in a 30-minute walk, I will pull him out for at least three 5-minute walks. That's a heck of a lot better than the alternative: no exercise.
Trail grooming: Whether you're just letting your little dog out to relieve himself or taking him on a longer walk, take the time to pack down any fresh snow. An inexpensive pair of aluminum showshoes can do the trick. Stomping down a path to a potty area in the backyard can take just minutes. For longer walks, wear the snowshoes and let your dog follow around behind you on a longer leash.
Most important tip: Take pictures and vids of your dog in the snow and post them here!