frankgrimes

It's getting down below -20C now and I'm starting to worry about my poor Ralph. I am trying to grow out his hair, it's about 1.5cm now which isn't really long so I make him wear a nice warm jacket. I worry about his feet though. We've been keeping our walks to a minimum (maybe 15-20 minutes at most) he seems to understand when we go out and circle the block and come in that it's just too darn cold to continue on (He will NOT tolerate skipping a walk though, he has to go out and check for himself-to make sure I'm not telling lies). I wonder if I should invest in some boots for him. How do your Poodles tolerate winter? Often Ralph will be out playing and I have to tell him to come in because I can see him shivering and rotating his paws off the ground. Silly boy, doesn't know his own limitations. I'm pretty sure he thinks he's a Husky.

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sweetheartsrodeo

I am sure it gets much colder there than it does here... The first year I had Remington within a week of getting him it snowed... I felt awful, as I had shaved him down naked to treat the sores on his skin...
Since he is with me all the time, I have thought about getting little boots, not only for the winter, but for the summer when the asphalt is burning hot. IF you find some great ones will you share? I am wondering what keeps the boots on...

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"I know that dogs are pack animals, but it is difficult to imagine a pack of standard poodles ... and if there was such a thing as a pack of standard poodles, where would they rove to? Bloomingdale's? "
--Yvonne Clifford, American actress

liljaker

This is an interesting thread especially since I see changes. When I got Sunny last September (2011) I made sure I ordered the best (Hurtta, of course) cold weather duds for him. When chatting with his breeder before the coat came (I told her how I searched hi and low for the perfect coat) I thought she would be delighted that I was so concerned about keeping him warm with the nasty Chicago winters.......but, since she is in Canada (Saskatchewan) her comment was more along the lines, "good luck with that.....I never put clothes on my dogs". Well, she said it very offhandedly.......and I figured well, it's mighty cold up there, so she must know her dogs. However, I am a block off Lake Michigan and with the wind, humidity, and lots of sidewalks which get real cold (he was on acreage before) ........ he was not cold at all last year and I tried to put his coat on once and well, he woudl not move!!! So I took it off and he was happy again. He was fine all last winter. It's not even that cold yet and I notice if we are on a walk and I stop to chat with another neighbor, he starts shivering a bit -- I do think it's the cold cement though. As long as we move he is fine. I do think he has "softened up" a bit....could it be the goose down duvet, and warm fleece blankets, carpeting, etc.? I think it's funny. He has definitely "softened up" and I do believe that Hurtta coat which still has the tags on it, will be used this winter!

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frankgrimes

I've heard good things about the Muttluk brand of boots. I guess they have several adjustable straps to hold them on the legs. I think this would be the best way to go since Ralph has such long slender super model legs

Awww, Sunny is used to the "good life" now, hee hee. Ralph enjoys his coat. He has a soft feathery poodle suit that I Think the cold air blows right through his fur/hair. I've seen many other Poodles at the dog park that have a wiry, tighter poodle suit and it must be better at blocking the wind. Perhaps Ralph's coat will change, he's still pretty young (not quite 17 months).

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poo lover

We have had good luck with neopaws and ruff wear Kruz has dew claws so for him can only use neopaws but they do not come off if put on right even swimming/biking/hiking great boots and they have summer boots as well as winter.muttlucks twist and dont stay on in deep snow and are to hot for summer

Indiana

Yeah last year our dogs had very long coats (ahhh, the life before coat change!) but this year it's about 3/4" (Maddy) and 1" (Indy) long. Last year they didn't mind the cold at all! But I got jackets for them this year, unused as yet. I didn't worry about their feet because they're so fast and I figure their feet will stay warm as long as we move. My old pittie used to HATE the cold, but the poodles seem tougher

frankgrimes

hmmm good to know, thank you!

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frankgrimes

Tough? Ha ha, not my Ralphie. I swear if he could talk he'd ask to be carried when his feet get too cold!

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lily cd re

I do have muttluks for Lily and a muttluks snow suit for her too. I always felt really bad for her the first year when she would come in from playing in the snow (which she loves) all full of little ice balls. As for the boots, they tell you put them on and put a leash on the dog and make them walk. You do have to do that or they just stand there horrified. It took her a bit of doing to decide she didn't mind the snow suit either, but now I think she really is better off, despite how silly some people may think it to be.

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Catherine
Lily AKC: CGC CD HIT CDX RN RA RE RAE NAJ; APDT: RL-1; CPE: CL1-R, CL1-H
Peeves AKC: CGC BN

PoodlePowerBC

Wow! This would definitely make it easier to keep the snow-balls away! Pretty sure DH would veto it though!

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"There is nothing that any breed can add to a poodle to improve it"