For those who have really cold winter, I have a question..

[Darlene68]

Do you walk your yorkie in the winter? It gets very cold in my neck of the woods, we have loooong winters and it can get down to below -50 with the windchill on some days, but the average is -20. I can't imagine having Bailey outside in those temps. Anyone else have frigid winters?

[RachelandSadie]

it's not quite that bad but with windchill factor it can be 10 below easily!!

i think double training for both outside and pee pads is a good investment...can you retrain to use a pee pad in your kitchen, bathroom, or garage area??? or you can scoop some of the snow off the ground in a little pen area for pottying outside...i wouldn't walk the dog i'd go to an indoor dog park or play really vigourously inside the house...if you must go out at all i'd put on a full length long john outfit and a heavy winter coat over it...


good luck, i'm not looking forward to our cold cold winters but yours sound awful!!

[ARCHIE]

I will admit our winter's are not as cold, or even close to being cold, as yours.
However to me our winter's seem to be getting colder. Lot's of ice too
because of it. I have to walk Buddy 4x daily. Rain, snow, sleet and ice.
I should have been a mailman He's on the larger size for a Yorkie
so I really have no choice. He's been trained to potty outdoors only.
Next time around I will be smarter. Pee pad trained when I can't get
her outdoors in bad weather. Walking one is enough for me. I have
to also chase him to get a coat and sweater on him. He hates clothes
and cowers like he's being beaten. LOL If your little one is small
pad training would be the route I would take without question.
I envy anyone who can do that in cold weather. It's truly a blessing.

[susiemelindy]

I have a hooded sweatshirt for my babies but really, I don't think I'd take them out for a walk. This is just between the house and car.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

We're fortunate that we've got a garage as well as a sunroom that we use with pads. Another reason we kept them using pads.

[Darlene68]

I'm not worried about taking him outside to pee..he inside trained on a pad, it's walks that concern me, I just can't see walking him in the winter.

[BonBon]

We don't get temps nearly that cold here in Oklahoma so I can't imagine what -50 would even feel like. This is just my opinion, but I think that's much to cold to have him out in for a walk. I don't let mine out for more than a couple of minutes when the temps get down in to the teens. Their little bodies just don't have enough insulation, even if you do have them all layered up.

I know he'll need exercise but I'd recommend you find a way to keep him indoors. Can you play fetch or chase or something inside to keep him active?

[MI Yorkielover]

It can get fairly cold here in Michigan, sometimes single digits or lower. I hear you regarding Archie . Sophie's not crazy about me pulling her hoodie over her head either. She's only about 4 pounds so I alway win . Still, I can't imagine trying to get boots on her, lol! I don't walk her in the winter but my husband always makes sure the back patio and driveway are shoveled clean no matter how many inches of snow we get. We take her out to the patio on regular potty breaks and put a pad down by the slider for good measure. Gee, I hate to even think about winter coming !

[chachi]

We dont get that cold here. It got to -20 for a couple of days here and my yorkies arent outside on those days

[Darlene68]

Yes I agree, that is way to cold for my little guy, I will make sure he gets his exercise inside!

[ARCHIE]

Originally Posted by MI Yorkielover

It can get fairly cold here in Michigan, sometimes single digits or lower. I hear you regarding Archie . Sophie's not crazy about me pulling her hoodie over her head either. She's only about 4 pounds so I alway win . Still, I can't imagine trying to get boots on her, lol! I don't walk her in the winter but my husband always makes sure the back patio and driveway are shoveled clean no matter how many inches of snow we get. We take her out to the patio on regular potty breaks and put a pad down by the slider for good measure. Gee, I hate to even think about winter coming !

Boots! I tried that too. He always managed to loose one and I had to
go backtracking in the snow to find it. I finally got rid of them, they
were more trouble then they were worth. I carry him when the salt
hurts his feet. It's really hard in the snow and ice. With his added
weight in my arms and my down coat and boots we're lucky we make it home!
Oh did I mention I live up on a mountain so your either going up or going
down when you walk. It's not fun on ice. Don't ask me how many times
I have fallen. One of these times Buddy's going to be carrying me home.
I hate winter's!

[RachelandSadie]

good plan...really check into an indoor dog park or doggie day care in your area...there are some nice facilities around that you might be able to find something that you can both go play in!!

[RachelandSadie]

this needs to become a chain all over the USA and Canada!!

Unleashed Indoor Dog Parks

[BellaJoi]

It gets quite cold here in PA too, so I trained Bella Joi to go both inside on her pee pee pads and outside for warmer days. But as far as exercising goes she doesn't go out in the winter for walks. We play more inside and I also set up play dates for her once a week so she can have time to run around with another pup. A friend and I take turns each week for a few hours watching each others furbaby so they can run around together.

[Izzy Princess]

It gets so cold, snowy and windy here too so no walks but we have a fenced in yard so when it gets bad with the snow we shovel a path off our deck into the drive for Izzy and she's a 3# peanut!! She's a trooper man she goes out in anything except heavy rain then I have an issue.

This will be Cosmo's first winter so this should be interesting though he is not afraid of the rain whatsoever.

When it gets really bad I do put on sweaters for the gang.

I wish mine would wear boots like Eddie and now I'm sure Jillie will be wearing them too (AlaskaMike). Eddie and Rusty are fearless in the snow and they live in Alaska.