How to Walk a Small Dog in Deep Snow

It's wintertime and the weather outside is frightful. You wake up in the morning and the ground is covered in beautiful, white snow. Unfortunately, there's nothing more labor intensive for a small dog owner than those massive snowstorms leaving a wall of snow outside your door. A little dog has can't bound out into the snow like a bigger dog, who takes advantage of those long legs. A little dog will teeter on top of icy snow and then fall directly through the snow into his own little claustrophobic funnel. No wonder he doesn't want to go out. Here are a few tips for helping your dog maintain his bathroom dignity while the snow season hits your neighborhood.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

How to Walk a Small Dog in Deep Snow

1. Before you take your dog out, you have to carve a path for him. Put on some snow boots and first trudge roughly as far out into the snow as you can. You want to walk as far out and to the side of your door as possible, otherwise you're going to be having a very close bathroom for your dog by your door, and nobody likes the look or smell of that area.

2. Walk back through your rough path, stamping down the snow with your feet to smooth it out as best you can.

3. Do this again in an opposite direction, making another rough path, and coming back, stomping down the snow to make the path. This will give your dog two options, and dogs like a choice.

4. Get your snow shovel and widen the path slightly on either side. At the end of each path, widen the end to a little circle, giving the dog some extra room for his bathroom area.

5. Let your dog out to investigate. Most likely he will demand to be carried into the tunnel-path the first time, since snow over his head might feel daunting to the little guy. You'll be sweaty and irritated, but once he's on the ground and sniffing around, you can enjoy the winter wonderland around you.Go inside and congratulate yourself with some hot chocolate. If it snows again, you'll have to re-dig your trench.