For a dog owner, every day is “Walk Your Dog Day”, but there’s a reason why January is Walk Your Dog Month. The days are cold, the nights are long, it’s often rainy or even snowing, and sometimes it can feel like a chore to get your cuddly canine companions out of the house. That’s why it’s the best time of year to remind people how important it is!
Daily dog walking offers countless physical and mental health benefits for both people and their pooches – what better way to keep smashing your New Year’s resolutions by making sure you both get the exercise you need? If the January Blues are getting you down and you need some walking ins-paw-ration, look no further. We’ve got everything you need to take the difficulty out of wintery walks.
1. Wrap your dog up warm with a cosy coat.
Dogs are pretty good at regulating their body temperature, so not all breeds will need a coat to keep warm, but some dogs, especially shorter-haired and skinnier breeds, will need a bit of help when it gets tough outside. If you’re unsure about whether your dog would benefit from an extra layer, keep an eye out for any signs of discomfort from them, such as shivering and reluctance to walk. Waterproof coats are also a good idea for a lot of dog breeds – the last thing you want is to bring home a soggy doggy on a rainy day!
Our Monster Picks
Danish Design’s 2-in-1 Orange Dog Raincoat. Suitable for warm or cold weather conditions, this coat is waterproof, windproof, breathable and features both light-reflective beading and a light-reflective fastening strap.
For a touch of class, treat your four-legged friend to a quilted Barbour Dog Coat to keep them extra snug and safe from the elements.
2. Consider reflective or light-up accessories for this time of year, even on daytime walks.
Winter weather can often be grey and bleak, causing reduced visibility at any time of day. Whether you’re walking them along a busy road or exploring in open spaces, ensure that your dog can always be seen on evening and night-time walks with our range of reflective and light-up collars, leads and harnesses.
Our Monster Picks
Both stylish and sturdy, the luxury Barbour Reflective Tartan Dog Collar features Barbour’s classic tartan design with a reflective trim for walks on darker days.
After something bold and bright? The light-up Ancol USB Rechargable Dog Band makes it easy for owners to ensure their pooches are seen and safe anywhere! The water-resistant band can be resized to fit your dog comfortably and has a range of light settings to immediately alert drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and runners to your dog’s whereabouts.
3. Look after their paws, skin and coat when facing a muddy trek outdoors.
A rainy or snowy walk often means a muddy walk, so make sure you can keep them as clean and comfortable as possible. If your dog gets uncomfortable from walking on any ground covered with grit, ice and snow, clean off the pads of their paws with a wipe or towel along the way. After a particularly muddy walk, cleanse their coat and soothe their skin with a special pet shampoo.
Our Monster Picks
Petkin’s PetWipes are infused with a skin-friendly cleansing lotion and gentle fragrance, perfect for muddy paws or a dirty face.
Barbour’s Micro Fibre Dog Towel is super-lightweight and dries quickly – great for drying and removing dirt from your canine companions when you’re out and about!
4. Don’t forget to bring poo bags…
Although it’s now as much of a dog-walking essential as a lead, it’s easy to forget to bring a bag when you and your dog are bundled up, battling the pouring rain and just trying to get through to the end of the walk. However, not only is it unpleasant and even dangerous to leave your dog’s mess lying around, it can also see you issued with a fine of up to £1000 if you’re caught not cleaning up!
Our Monster Pick
BecoBags Eco Friendly Poo Bags can be used in poo bag dispensers or on their own. They won’t split, will break down naturally when disposed of, and are extra large to handle dogs of all sizes!
5. Make sure they’ve got a cosy bed to come home to!
After braving the cold outdoors, the first thing lots of dogs (and their owners!) want to do after a big wintery walk is get all snuggled up and go for a nap. From beds to blankets, we’ve got a range of styles, designs and sizes to keep your pup warm and toasty until it’s time for their next walk!
Our Monster Picks
The Danish Design Arctic Snuggle Dog Bed offers your pooch the perfect place to snuggle down, get cosy and snooze the day away.
Barbour’s Classic Tartan Dog Blanket is luxurious, comfortable and crafted here in the UK. You’ll be wanting to climb under it with your paw-some pal!
