cold morning walks for a puppy

[rsjenni]

Since I am up here in New England and it is now November... it's getting a little colder. We just picked up our little pup last friday and love him to pieces! However, when we take him out to go potty at night,... in the middle of the night... morning.... and throughout the day, he shivers and shakes and doesn't want to be outside. I have a feeling it is affecting his potty training b/c he just wants to stay inside in the warmth. So he holds his....#2's in and waits until he is inside then when I am not looking for 2 seconds...drops bombs. Do any of you have any suggestions? I was told not to get a winter jacket for him so that it will give his fur coat a chance to winterize. Any help?

 

[sydneysmom]

cold weather

We had the same problem last year. We got her in December and she always shivered outside. I bought her a fleece jacket and it helped. I don't know what they mean by not winterizing her coat but they have very short fur and aren't meant to be outside dogs. I say stay with your idea of a jacket.

good luck with the potty training..

sydneysmom

 

[rsjenni]

thanks for the help... yeah since winters are so long I think it would be good to get him a coat of some sort. Any suggestions on size since he is a growing puppy, i wouldn't get something too expensive I be I could pick up a childrens sweater or something cheap at walmart... or somewhere so that I can just throw it away when I am done... any other suggestions sor getting a size for him.. he is a big pup... almost 9 weeks and weighs 11 pounds already!

 

[Maggie's Mommy]

I got my puppy the last week of August and the Indiana fall/winter temps are also making Zinser shiver when we're outside taking a potty break. I had read last winter in one of the BW posts, that some boxer mommies and daddies have gotten toddler sized, zipper hooded sweatshirts to help fend off the cold temps. I stopped by a local discount store on my lunch break on Monday and picked one up for Zinser. I got a 3T size (Zin is almost 17 weeks and weighs almost 29 pounds.) He's got plenty of room to grow into the sweatshirt and he's actually doing great now going outside at 3:30 in the morning when it is brrrr cold out. Now, if I could just get him used to the frosty grass, we'll master the housebreaking. Oh yeah, I tried the doggie booties, but he wants no part of them - when they are on his feet, he steps high like a Lipizan stallion (LOL).
Good luck!

 

[Kosmo's Mom]

I empathize with you. We too are in New England. We got Kosmo in February & the poor guy shivered everytime we took him outside.
We did have a tough time potty training in the cold months but once it got warmer and he got the hang of it he now understands that outside is where he does his potty so this winter should be easier.
I can tell he notices the temp change because when I take him out he looks at me like "what the heck mom it is cold out here". The good part of the cold weather is that he does his business pretty quick and wants to go back in.
I decided to get him a jacket, just bought it yesterday.
He isn't too thrilled about wearing it but he looks so darned cute

Good Luck with the new puppy!

 

[rsjenni]

haha i can picture those high steps in my mind!! hilarious! good so I will hit up some store today and get a couple of different sizes so that when he grows I can have a little warm outfit ready for him. Thanks for the help!!

 

[Jade010103]

I got my Jade in the middle of Feb. and here in Minnesota it's VERY cold that time of the year. She had one fleece jacket that I put on her everytime I brought her out and luckily she was easily potty trained because she knew that the faster she went the faster we went back in to the warm house. Of course she still shivered but the coat had to help, I'd definately get yours one and to help find a size I always brought Jade with to Petsmart and tried them on her before buying them.

 

[Melissa18]

I can't say it is quite as cold here as it is in New England! But, I bought Otis a few sweatshirts from Wal-mart. They are only $6 or $7 each so very inexpensive! I got hoodie zip up sweatshirts, two are fleece. I cut the sleeves off and widened the openings for him as he did not like to walk with the sleeves and it made it easier to take it on and off without them. I bought him a size 3T and a 4T, which fit him pretty snug. He is 6.5 months old and weighs 47 pounds. I got him a boys size 4/5 and it is a little loose. So, just so you have an idea on sizes. I say get it a little bit loose as he will grow into them pretty fast at that age!

The only downside is since he is a boy, I have to roll the sweatshirt up a little when he is out, so he doesn't pee on it! So, only half of him ends up being covered up while he's outside.

Also, if you have an Old Navy near you, you should check them out. I got OTis a jacket from there that covers his entire back and since it is made for a dog, I don't have to worry about him peeing on material underneat him. It was only $12.50 and they had sweaters too. They came in sizes S, M, and L. I got Otis a M and it is roomy, so he can grow into it.

Anyway, you may have found something by now, but thought I'd share!