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

[Natalie]

Hi Bryan,
I've never used a winter coat or furminator, but I do use Paw Tekker dog 
shoes.  They do have a learning curve and Liam tolerates them, but I think 
he's more appreciative of the shoes than he is of getting ice and salt on 
his feet.  With practice, they're easy.  You can get them at Pet Smart or 
Petco for about $35.  Hope that helps, and happy winter travels.
Best,
Nat and Liam Joshua

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Jones" <opensesame at me.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 8:53 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Three questions about "winterizing" a guide dog


> 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
>
>
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