Just need to vent for a second. I have a 5mo Bernese mountain mix and I currently live in Alaska. He LOVES being outside in the snow and we've had about a foot of it so far, but today was the first day it got down to 0°F. He's constantly wanting to go outside cause he wants to eat snow and dig, but his boots won't stay on. If he just steps on his other paw they come off and I had to chase him through the yard earlier cause he grabbed it in his mouth and tried playing with it.
Earlier he stood by the door wanting to go outside and so I put his collar and leash on and took him out. Since I was going out with him on his leash I figured it was gonna be a quick trip, so I skipped the boots. He peed and then started trying to eat snow and I was trying to redirect him to come back inside but he wasn't listening. I was cold, getting frustrated and he just wouldn't move. He started lifting his paws off the ground like he was uncomfortable, and I tried enticing him to follow me but he just wouldn't. I tried picking him up and he kept backing away and getting stressed out (he hates being picked up.) I have stairs and a deck so I'm standing on the stairs while he's at the bottom refusing to come up. I got so frustrated I started crying. He finally followed me inside and I just sat on the floor crying. I think he knew cause he just calmly sat on my lap and let me love on him for a while. I felt so bad. Like what am I gonna do when his boots won't stay on and it's -20°F to -40°F outside?
If anyone has any tips for pottying in super cold temps or winter dog gear please let me know. We've shoveled areas in the yard as much as possible but he doesn't use those areas
Earlier he stood by the door wanting to go outside and so I put his collar and leash on and took him out. Since I was going out with him on his leash I figured it was gonna be a quick trip, so I skipped the boots. He peed and then started trying to eat snow and I was trying to redirect him to come back inside but he wasn't listening. I was cold, getting frustrated and he just wouldn't move. He started lifting his paws off the ground like he was uncomfortable, and I tried enticing him to follow me but he just wouldn't. I tried picking him up and he kept backing away and getting stressed out (he hates being picked up.) I have stairs and a deck so I'm standing on the stairs while he's at the bottom refusing to come up. I got so frustrated I started crying. He finally followed me inside and I just sat on the floor crying. I think he knew cause he just calmly sat on my lap and let me love on him for a while. I felt so bad. Like what am I gonna do when his boots won't stay on and it's -20°F to -40°F outside?
If anyone has any tips for pottying in super cold temps or winter dog gear please let me know. We've shoveled areas in the yard as much as possible but he doesn't use those areas