[nagdu] Three questions about "winterizing" a guide dog

[Bryan Jones]

Greetings  All,

I'd be interested to hear what folks in cold climes do to help ensure that your dogs remain safe, healthy and comfortable indoors and out during the Winter months. My dog Marqi and I will be doing much more walking this Winter as I transition from a part-time to a full-time student at my college, which is a 20 or 30 minute walk each way. This region of Southeast Pennsylvania tends to experience a lot of what we call a "Wintry Mix" meaning cold rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow and wind all thrown together in the same storm.

The three main questions I have are:
1. Have you used a raincoat for your dog to wear while he / she is working? If you answered yes, were you and the dog happy with the raincoat? If yes, what was or is the make and  model and where did you purchase it?
2. Marqi is a Black Lab / Golden cross with a propensity to shed even while I brush her multiple times a day. A family member gave me a special brush called "The Furminator," and while this brush does seem to help cut down on her shedding, I'm concerned that it might also be removing the layer of fur that exists naturally to help keep her warm in cooler weather. Thoughts?
3.  I have a set of boots given to me by TSE. Marqi tolerates them but I do recall many of my veteran TSE classmates panning the boots, saying they were more trouble than they're worth and suggesting that wiping the dog's paws with a damp towel after each walk is sufficient. THoughts from experience?

Thank you in advance,
Bryan