Fasb's Owner
Forums Enthusiast
So it looks like tomorrow will be the first extremely cold day in my part of the Mid-Atlantic. Morning temps will be in the single digits, highs in the 10-12 (degrees) range. Wind chills could be around 0. As usual, I'm a little nervous about taking Fasb outside, though he'll probably want to go out for bathroom.
Just curious, what do the rest of you do when it gets really cold? I'm always a little concerned when it gets usually cold. Fasb generally doesn't seem bothered by the cold (during the winter, it's typically 18-28 degrees during walks), but I don't want to do something foolish. In past years, we've walked him in near zero temps, particularly in the early mornings, but I'm always a little concerned it's not a good idea. Additionally, Fasb's almost 10 now, so he's getting to be a senior dog (the vet saw him a month ago and thinks his heart and lungs are in good shape, fwiw).
A little backround: Fasb is a 9 1/2 yr. old male Sheltie. No particular health problems. He's mostly an indoor dog. In warm weather, he spends a fair amount of time in a fenced in yard. In cold weather or rain, he mostly just goes out on the leash for walks/bathroom breaks. When it's too cold to linger outside, it usually takes him 10-20 minutes to do his business and get back to the house.
There is an alternative: We have a fenced in area under the porch that connects to the basement via a doggy door. We used to have an elderly Border Collie that used that area for bathroom breaks (we had to keep her in full-time in the last years of her life due to health problems). Fasb will go out there when he needs to, if we're not handy, but mostly prefers for me to take him for a walk (except for the small area mentioned above, he doesn't go on our property, for whatever reason. I have to walk him through the neighborhood).
Just curious what other people do. He's never had a problem with the cold (thick undercoat). How cold is too cold?
Just curious, what do the rest of you do when it gets really cold? I'm always a little concerned when it gets usually cold. Fasb generally doesn't seem bothered by the cold (during the winter, it's typically 18-28 degrees during walks), but I don't want to do something foolish. In past years, we've walked him in near zero temps, particularly in the early mornings, but I'm always a little concerned it's not a good idea. Additionally, Fasb's almost 10 now, so he's getting to be a senior dog (the vet saw him a month ago and thinks his heart and lungs are in good shape, fwiw).
A little backround: Fasb is a 9 1/2 yr. old male Sheltie. No particular health problems. He's mostly an indoor dog. In warm weather, he spends a fair amount of time in a fenced in yard. In cold weather or rain, he mostly just goes out on the leash for walks/bathroom breaks. When it's too cold to linger outside, it usually takes him 10-20 minutes to do his business and get back to the house.
There is an alternative: We have a fenced in area under the porch that connects to the basement via a doggy door. We used to have an elderly Border Collie that used that area for bathroom breaks (we had to keep her in full-time in the last years of her life due to health problems). Fasb will go out there when he needs to, if we're not handy, but mostly prefers for me to take him for a walk (except for the small area mentioned above, he doesn't go on our property, for whatever reason. I have to walk him through the neighborhood).
Just curious what other people do. He's never had a problem with the cold (thick undercoat). How cold is too cold?
