Winter Dog Walking Tips

Nick de moraes
Nov 7
4 min read

Walking is a challenge when the road becomes a winter wonderland. Because of the snow-covered sidewalks, the ice patches, the early dark, and the unpredictable weather, your dog will encounter new challenges during the winter that it does not encounter during the spring and summer. In addition to encountering snowplows and salt trucks rumbling down the sidewalk, your dog will also have to adapt to the changing layout of the street due to snow removal and decreased visibility.

Most dog owners are challenged in the winter because they do not have a genuine connection with their dog. When the going gets tough, the true nature of the dog/handler relationship comes to light. The dog pulls harder, reacts more, and loses its focus sooner. At Equilibrium Canine, we help dogs overcome the challenges of winter by mastering lead work, which helps to create a real communication channel between the dog and its owner.

Calmly Navigating Slippery Surfaces

The way your dog navigates its surroundings changes dramatically in the winter due to the ice and packed snow. Many dogs become apprehensive, nervous, or fearful when navigating slippery surfaces. These behaviors result in pulling, anxiety, or an unwillingness to walk properly.

Your dog needs to learn to navigate slippery surfaces calmly. The use of slip leads and long lines allow for clear communication through the lead without using harnesses that encourage pulling. We teach dogs to slow down, thin,k and trust their handlers when navigating slippery surfaces. Rather than creating a dependence on equipment, this builds confidence in the dog.

Focusing On Distracting Winter Scenes

In the winter, there are many distractions that your dog has never experienced before, such as snowplows scraping against the pavement, salt trucks beeping behind your dog, or simply the decreased visibility that causes unexpected encounters with other dogs. All of these distractions provide challenges that were not present during the warmer months.

To eliminate your dog's reaction to distracting winter scenes, you need to create strong focus. By developing focus that can withstand challenging conditions through balanced training methods, we are able to create focus that can withstand the distractions of winter.

Walking In The Dark

Because of the shorter days, your dog will have to walk in the dark more frequently. The reduced visibility, shadows that may look ominous, and increased volume of ambient noises caused by the stillness of the air make walking in the dark a challenging time for many dogs.

Lead work becomes a critical skill when walking in the dark, when you cannot depend on the visual cues from your dog as much. Your dog must be able to respond to pressure and communication through the lead, not just verbal cues that may not be heard over the wind or traffic noise. We develop this connection during our day time training programs when your dog practices walking under conditions of low light.

Group Winter Training Provides Real-World Experience

Our monthly group classes are held at different locations and take place in real-world winter conditions rather than avoiding them altogether. Your dog will practice walking next to a snow bank that may force him to walk through a tight space. Your dog will learn to remain composed when another dog appears unexpectedly around a corner blocked by a snow pile.

The group training sessions offer a means of connecting with other local dog owners while providing socialization experiences that your dog will require for real-world experiences. One month, the training program will focus on proper behavior when approaching busy street corners that have been narrowed by snow. The following month, the training program will focus on proper behavior when walking through residential neighborhoods where winter challenges are unique.

Developing Practical Skills

At Equilibrium Canine, we believe in a practical approach to developing the skills that your dog requires in order to safely and confidently walk through winter conditions.

Creating Connection Matters

The winter season reveals the weaknesses in your relationship with your dog. When the walks become more difficult, dogs that have not developed a solid foundation of learning will struggle. When owners rely on treats to motivate their dogs, they will soon find themselves carrying frozen food in their pocket that their dog ignores in favor of more stimulating distractions.

At Equilibrium Canine, we create connections using slip leads and long lines to teach you and your dog to communicate through movement and pressure. No gimmicks. Only a genuine understanding between the handler and dog. This foundation will serve you well throughout the winter and all of the other challenging times that lie ahead in your dog's life.

Are you ready to master walking in the winter? Call us today at (617) 501-3243 to review your dog's current challenges, or check our Services page to view our lead work programs and group training options.