By Ben Francis, Manager, Guide Dog Training
Living in Canada during the winter months can pose limitations to what you can expect of a guide dog in extremely cold, icy, and snowy conditions.
Making some basic accommodations for your dog to help them feel more comfortable can increase their motivation and enable them to perform at their best, even in harsh conditions.
It’s always a good idea to arrange transportation to your destination in advance, if you’re aware that the conditions outside will be uncomfortable or unsafe. However, this is not always possible for everyone.
The typical breeds used by CNIB Guide Dogs are able to withstand cold conditions; Labradors and golden retrievers have double layer coats that are effective for keeping warm during cold weather. The soft undercoat is weather-resistant and acts as an insulating layer in the cold. The outer coat is dense and coarse, and longer hairs provide water resistance as well as additional insulation.
Unlike people and horses, dogs don’t sweat over their whole bodies, so they are less likely to become chilled following exercise.
However, dogs are susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite on their ears, tail, and foot pads in extreme circumstances. So, as handlers, we must be vigilant of the dog's needs and be sensible about what we’re exposing the dog to.
Hypothermia can be avoided by not allowing your dog to be exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time, and by keeping your dog as dry as possible when in cold weather.
Here are some considerations to ensure you and your dog are safe and comfortable:
- There is no specific temperature that constitutes “too cold” for your dog. Wind chill and dampness in the air will affect your dog as much as it does you, and should be considered when deciding to go out. If it feels too uncomfortable for you to be out, you could be putting your dog at risk with any prolonged exposure.
- Your dogs’ willingness to go out and work for you will easily be affected by the weather conditions, and you may need to be extra enthusiastic on days that are particularly messy. When your dogs’ willingness drops, it’s up to you to keep the dog motivated and encouraged to keep focused.
- Your dogs’ ability to concentrate in poor conditions will also be affected. Being extra encouraging and positive will not only get the best performance from your dog, but it will also help reduce the stress that the dog may be feeling.
- Be aware of your own dogs’ tolerance for the cold. Some dogs are more resilient while others feel the effects of the cold sooner.
Here are some ways to plan ahead:
- Limit being outside as much as possible during very cold temperatures. Don’t go out if you don’t need to, and keep an eye on weekly forecasts, so you can plan outings and avoid times when harsh conditions are expected.
- If you do need to go out, try to plan the route so that you can take a moment inside somewhere to warm up along the way.
- If using public transit, familiarize yourself with the schedule, so you’re not left waiting outside for extensive periods of time.
- Wearing clothing that makes you easily visible to vehicle drivers is very important.
- Good footwear for yourself is important. Warm, non-slip boots or pull-on trax are great for walking in icy/cold conditions. If your footing and balance is better, your dog will be able to walk more confidently.
- Having boots for your dog is nearly a necessity if salt is being used on the sidewalks in your area. The salt can sting your dog's feet when it reacts with any dampness that is present. Any type of boot is fine, although some dogs will not like thicker, more cumbersome boots. These can take a while for the dogs to get used to, and some may refuse to walk altogether.
- There is a thinner, balloon type of boot that most dogs become accustomed to quickly. They are considered disposable (although generally good for many uses) and more cost effective than most durable, longer-lasting boots. They allow the dogs to feel the ground underneath their feet which enables them to quickly become accustomed to the boots. This type of boot also stays on well.
- Some dogs with thinner coats can benefit from wearing a coat underneath their harness. This will add a layer of insulation from the cold, which some dogs will absolutely love. Be familiar with your dog's level of body sensitivity; certain dogs may be quite uncomfortable having a coat put on them and may be better off without.
- Bring a small towel to dry your dog off once you get to your destination, or leave one by your entranceway. This will help your dog warm up faster and will leave less mess on the floors.
Snow accumulation is another barrier to mobility in the winter. Snow-covered sidewalks can make it impossible to walk, and snowbanks can completely block access to certain areas.
- Because of snow-covered sidewalks, hidden curb edges, and snowbanks blocking the way, the guiding work can be more challenging for dogs. Knowing where to stop at intersections and negotiating the most appropriate line of travel when crossing is more challenging, but with practice and reinforcement, the dogs can negotiate these situations quite effectively.
- Sometimes walking along the side of the road is the only option. In this case, extra caution needs to be taken since you will be walking with the traffic on a slippery surface! If deciding to walk along a road edge that is unfamiliar, you must consider the traffic speed and volume, and your own orientation of the area. However, it is best to reroute yourself to an area where traffic is lighter, or where sidewalks are plowed.
Dogs that are well-established in the area they are working can generally perform quite well, even if changes need to be made to the normal route because of snow blocking the way. If the area is unfamiliar to your dog, they can get confused as to where they should be. This can potentially put the team in danger.
If you’re coming home from training with a new dog into snowy conditions, extra time with the help of a sighted person may be necessary to get the dog established in the area.
Having good speed control is important to steady your dog and have better balance when encountering slick surfaces.
Relieving your dog in the wintertime is usually not a problem, as most dogs are happy to do their business anywhere there is fresh snow. Use an area that can be kept shovelled-off regularly so that pickup is easy and you’re not left with a mess to clean up when the snow thaws.
Canada faces all the extremes of weather that Mother Nature has to offer. A little bit of planning can go a long way to ensure that you and your dog stay as safe and comfortable as possible during the more severe weather periods of the year.