Winter Vacations With Dogs – Winter hiking is a real adventure and requires gear you never need for a three-season hike. However, the investment is worth it to isolate Snow Peaks that cannot be found at other sites. That’s not to say there aren’t rocks and roots to travel over, with the added bonus of being able to slide down many peaks.
Last winter, I posted a guide to human gear lists and tiers, but what about the gear your dog needs? Some people choose to leave their puppies indoors when the weather is cold, but I find that Lucy is a better traveler in the winter. In the snow, they don’t have to deal with the rough and rocky terrain that white teams know, but winter hiking brings its own challenges.
Winter Vacations With Dogs
Before you take your dog to the playground to play in the snow, read my post on what not to bring your dog. These are the conditions to avoid when you are out with your puppy and recognize the signs of being too cold or tired on the road. Keep in mind that winter hiking is different for them than summer hiking, so they can cover greater or lesser distances accordingly. The mountains are always there, so there’s nothing wrong with staying home or coming back before the summit!
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First I want to emphasize that not all dogs need insulating layers and accessories in the cold. If you’re someone who lives in the far north with a thick-coated puppy, many of the equipment recommendations won’t work for you. The vast majority of stray dogs I know need some form of insulation because they are not used to the extreme cold of white people.
Lucy has very short and fluffy fur, so she feels cold when the temperature is below 40 degrees. We’ve put together the perfect layering system for your winter adventures. Here’s an overview of all the dog gear we use on the trail. It took a lot of trial and error to find something that fit his small but muscular frame, but thankfully we now have a great system to use on every winter trip.
This hard shell keeps the ice in and ensures that Lucy doesn’t get wet. It’s also a great windbreaker, and the bright color ensures everyone can see it in the snow. Not to mention, it’s so cute! This is great for all dogs, especially those with snow-covered skin. It stretches over your leg with buttons to make sure it stays in place. It has a lot of editing space and is easy to navigate. This might just be our favorite winter hiking accessory!
We put this insulating layer under the rain barrier. It ran up to her legs and neck to keep her warm. The waistband is flattering and stretchy, allowing for full range of motion while covering your sensitive tummy. Fits under a Slush suit to keep you dry and warm. Plus, they’re easy to put on and take off, keeping us nice and warm down to sub-zero degrees. It’s warm here even below zero, but we don’t travel long in this temperature because it’s too cold for the feet.
Winter Sports With A Dog
In theory, this lightweight jacket bridges the gap between body warmth and wetsuits in very cold weather. We haven’t used it with Hurtta suits, but I always keep it in my bag just in case. We’ve found that Lucy’s feet are a limiting factor in temperature, so we need a better solution for this before we head out in sub-zero weather.
This is the jacket we wear outside on the ice or for a short nature walk. It’s very warm but doesn’t cover your legs, so it’s not our favorite travel outfit. A lot of people use the overheat system for hiking, but we don’t use it often because we have another system. Almost any Hurtta jacket or expedition parka jacket like this one is great for hiking, just keep in mind that they’re more exposed to the elements, so they may not be suitable for very cold or windy conditions. The new version of the “Extreme Warmer” is made from recycled materials and is more environmentally friendly thanks to the company’s efforts.
We only had to take it apart a few times due to the cold and windy weather. One of those times came on Jackson Hill, the last quarter mile from tree line. It protects the eyes and face from frost and improves your vision like wearing glasses while walking. Your dog may get used to using them, so check out this guide and train him to tolerate them. Lucy had gotten more comfortable with them over the last year or two, so she didn’t pull them off after a few minutes.
Lucy’s legs were the ultimate winter hiking challenge. He often finds snowballs between his toes, causing disfigurement. We tried the mosher secret that helped, but her feet were still cold. The boots are a good solution, but they make her feet mushy, so I think I’ll try matching them with socks next winter. They also freeze his feet after a while so I had to remove them after a while. He mostly needs his back legs, so I usually start on his back and only switch when it’s too cold. We haven’t found the perfect solution yet, but we’ll keep trying. I’ve heard good things about the Ruffwear PolarTrex for winter hiking, so if we have room in the budget, we may try it soon. It’s all a learning process, take care!
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I like to take long winter walks so that snowballs don’t get on my dog’s feet. I use this all the time because we’ve had a hard time finding tights that fit. It’s also a great balm to use on your nose to prevent cracking caused by dry, cold air.
This is our most important safety device. Pack-a-Paw harnesses are used if your dog is injured and unable to walk. Lucy and I had an accident when another crab hiker kicked one of her hind legs and cut her leg to the bone. We were lucky because it was about a quarter of a mile down the road and I could have gotten out, but it would have been really bad if it had happened any further from the car. I’ve heard horror stories of people abandoning their injured dogs to the wild because they couldn’t take them. Injuries to the CCL are common in dog walking, so it is important to use this as a backup. They’re also a New Hampshire business run by local travelers, so we love to support them.
Of course, this list can be a little overwhelming at first. We’ve collected this material over the years, and I often buy old publications when new editions come out. Check out our list of more general dog walking gear for a list of things to bring Lucy every time we walk. I hope this gives you a good starting point when it comes to winter dog gear.
Hello! I’m Leslie, a cheerleader born and raised in the hills of New Hampshire. I enjoy traveling, country music and spending time with my sweet baby Lucy.
Sno Much Fun, On A Shoestring Budget
Hello! I’m Leshi and this is my little dog Lucy. This is our hiking blog where I write about our adventures! Our goal is to provide you with the tools and tips you need to make the most of your time. Lucy and I have tested a lot of gear, hiked a lot of trails around the world, and learned more about ourselves than we ever thought possible. Join us as we continue to explore the country and beyond!
. Before: Unless you’re bringing your dog for a winter walk, you might think it’s vacation time in New Hampshire, the easiest 4,000-mile road trip to start your NH 48 road trip. Why leave your pup behind when you can pack his bag and bring him along in this doggie bag?
