Navigating Winter with Your Working Dog

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As the temperature drops and winter is upon us, it is essential to ensure that your working dog is well-prepared for the harsh weather conditions. The winter season can be harsh on dogs, especially for those that work outside. To keep your dog comfortable, safe, and healthy during the winter season, here are some of the best winter products for working dogs.

Winter Coats and Jackets

Winter coats and jackets are essential for working dogs during the winter season. These coats help to keep your dog warm, dry, and protected from the cold and wet weather. They are especially useful for dogs that work outdoors in harsh conditions such as snow, rain, and strong winds. When choosing a winter coat or jacket, it's important to consider the size, breed, and activity level of your dog to ensure that the coat provides the necessary warmth and protection. These are our favorite:

• Extra Warm Dog Coat Reflective Adjustable Dog Jacket Dog Winter Coat with Buckle

• Winter Jacket Cozy Reflective Waterproof, Windproof Dog Coat

• Carhartt Firm Duck Insulated Dog Chore Coat

Insulated Boots

Insulated boots are another important winter product for working dogs. They help to protect your dog's paws from the cold, snow, ice, and salt on the roads. Insulated boots also help to prevent ice balls from forming between the toes, which can cause discomfort and injury. When choosing insulated boots for your dog, look for ones that have a non-slip sole, are waterproof, and provide good insulation to keep your dog's paws warm and dry. Be sure you follow the instruction on how to get the measurements. Size matters for comfort and utility on the dogs feet. Getting dogs to wear boots takes a training process. Be patient with your dog as they adjust to the boots. Here are some of the brands we like:

• Muttluks Original Fleece-Lined Dog Boots

• Dog Boots & Paw Protectors

Dog Beds

Dog beds are great winter products for working dogs. They help to provide your dog with a warm and comfortable place to rest and sleep during the cold winter months. Dog blankets and beds come in a variety of materials, including fleece, wool, and faux fur. When choosing a blanket or bed, consider the size and breed of your dog, as well as the type of material that will provide the most warmth and comfort. Remember, that a bed or even a dog house is not sufficient to keep them warm outside in snow. Whenever the weather is severe, they should be inside when not working. These are our favorites:

• K9 Ballistics Tough Rectangle Pillow

• The Original Calming Donut

• Orthopedic Pet Sofa Bed

Paw Balm and Moisturizers

Paw balm and moisturizers are important winter products for working dogs. They help to protect your dog's paws from dryness, cracking, and irritation caused by the cold and dry winter air. Paw balm and moisturizers can also help to soothe and heal existing paw injuries. When choosing a paw balm or moisturizer, look for ones that are made with natural ingredients such as beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil. These are our top picks:

• Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Stick

• Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Tin

• Burt's Bees for Dogs Care Plus+ Natural Sea Buckthorn & Kelp Restoring Nose & Paw Lotion

Towels

We have found that having dedicated towels for the dogs is a must. You can use them to dry them off and more importantly to get the debris, snow and salt off their feet. Be sure to get the paw and gentle between the toes. If you are worried about salt residue you can soak the foot in lukewarm water to get any remnants off. Be sure to dry the foot and keep them inside after. Here are some of the towels that we like best:

• Shop Towels 25 Pack Shop Rags 100% Cotton Size 14"x14"

• The Rag Company - All-Purpose Microfiber Terry Towels

• Soggy Doggy Super Shammy Dog Towel

Winter can be one of the most fun seasons with your dog. We hope that these tips and resources help you and your dog navigate the cold together comfortably.