Your Pets Daily - Winter dog walks

10 expert tips to improve you and your pets wellbeing on walks

Tom Stone — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

It can often be easy to forget about all the health and social benefits dog owners reap from walking their furry companions regularly. A regular walk is not only vitally important for your pet's health but is also a great opportunity for the owner to clear their head and get in some steps too!

To mark the end of Walk your Dog month, Bella & Duke's Natural Canine Behaviourist, Caroline Spencer, lists her top 10 tips for making your walks one of the most beneficial parts of the day:

1. Remove distractions – put away your mobile phone when out walking and make it about you and your dog. You get the best connection and fun when you are not distracted.

2. Try different locations – variety is truly the spice of life. It can be mentally draining doing the same walk day in, day out so let your dog decide whether to go left or right, live in the moment.

3. Keep yourself and your furry friend active and warm when out and about – nothing makes you want to get inside quicker than a cold frosty day, so wrap up and ensure your dog is on the move. If they have less hair, like Whippets and Grey Hounds, then it may be beneficial to pop a coat on them if they accept clothing or make their walk shorter.

4. Opportunities for sniffing & enrichment – engage your dog's brain by encouraging them to sniff or play with toys on your walk. It's also a fun way for the owner to keep engaged and feel connected with their pet.

5. Get plenty of rest – if you and your pet are feeling particularly tired and can't bear the thought of stepping out into the cold, that's absolutely fine. Have a rest day with short trips out to do the necessaries.

6. Influencing your dog – your body language influences your dog, if you find yourself often worrying about crossing paths with other dogs that could aggravate your own pet. Try looking for a different route where you are sure to have more control over.

7. Taking care of your dog post-walkies – paws can often get clogged up with snow and grit during the winter months, so regularly check when you are out and about as they will become sore if left. Your dog will also get colder quicker.

8. Take in your surroundings – enjoy the quieter hours of the day and take in your surroundings. Start foraging for wild foods such as raspberries to share with your dog. Get them back to nature and help them do what comes naturally to them. Soon you'll find your dog plucking berries off the branches themselves!

9. Keeping stimulated - similar to humans, when dogs don't get enough mental and physical stimulation they will get bored or even depressed. It's important you're engaging with your pet and exploring new places for them to smell.

10. Picking walking times – if possible, leave your walks until a little later when hopefully the sun is up or at least the temperature has gone up a notch or two. To keep spirits high, try take the opportunity when there is a break in the weather.

Caroline Spencer, Natural Canine Behaviourist at Bella & Duke, added: "Walking your pet should be fun for both you and your dog. It's how we often start and finish our days and can have a positive impact on the direction of our day. It has long been proven that walking has a number of benefits for wellbeing and it needn't be monotonous, take time to enjoy yourself and your dog will thank you for it!"

The five best Twixmas dog walks in the UK

Jessica Curtis — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 20:00:00 +0000

After Christmas is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a good old-fashioned dog walk with the family to walk off some of the Christmas dinners, just remember to wrap up warm and bring some delicious hot chocolate.

There are so many amazing dog walks available right on our doorstep, and below, Shannon Keary, Digital PR Manager at Canine Cottages, reveals the five best dog walks in the UK to enjoy with your pooch this Christmas.

1. Cheddar Gorge cliff walk, Somerset

England's largest gorge, Cheddar Gorge is one of the UK's finest natural landscapes – and our best dog walking location in the country. Cheddar Gorge Cliff walk is the perfect place to walk your four-legged friend. This four-mile cliff trail allows you to take in all the stunning sights of the gorge, as well as encounter some of the area's unique wildlife. Your dog is sure to love it too!

2. Llyn Padarn Circular, Llanberis, Wales

Llyn Padarn is a glacially formed lake set against some of Snowdonia's most spectacular scenery and is a fantastic place to walk your pooch, even in wintertime. The five-mile circular trail is relatively easy and suitable for all the family, allowing you to walk through the Country park, Coed Dinorwig (an ancient woodland of rare oak trees), Vivian Quarry and the lake itself. You're sure to spot lots of birds and rare flora too – what's not to love?

3. Staithes and Port Mulgrave, North Yorkshire

Staithes is a quaint fishing village near Whitby, and this walk that takes you around Cleveland Way National Trail and across the cliffs to Port Mulgrave harbour is one of the best in the UK. With stunning views of the sea, quiet lanes, paths, and fields for your pooch and the opportunity to amble through the village too, this is a great walk for a full day out. Just make sure to check the forecast before venturing towards the sea!

4. Hastings Country Park, East Sussex

Hastings Country park covers 600 acres of nature trails, wooded valleys, cliffs, and glens, and is a great place for your dog to explore all day long. The views from the clifftop are second to none, reaching across the English Channel – you can even see France on a clear winter day! It's a great wildlife spotting route too, with Peregrines and Yellowhammers roaming the park. There's no shortage of things to explore at Hastings Country Park.

5. Castle Fraser, Aberdeenshire

There are plenty of trails to explore in the grounds of this fairy-tale castle in Aberdeenshire. There are marked trails, but feel free to go off the path and explore the area for yourself. The one-and-a-half-mile Alton Brae Trail is perfect for dogs of all shapes and sizes, allowing you to take in the stunning views of the castle and beyond.

Commenting, Shannon says: "With Christmas coming up and people spending some extra time with friends and family over Twixmas, now is the perfect time to enjoy the wintery scenes and walk the UK has to offer, whether it's exploring the British woodlands, or ambling along the sea on a beach! We only ask that you and your pooch wrap up warm!"

"Our list of the best dog walks in the UK will hopefully help inspire you to take a trip to one of these amazing areas with your dog on a wintery day, or if you're local to the area to go out and explore the beauty that's right on your doorstep!"

PDSA vets rank England’s best winter dog walks

Katie Court — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Enjoying the Great British countryside with your dog is a wonderful experience but often walking them in the cold winter months can seem a chore. PDSA vets together with PDSA Pet Insurance are reminding pet owners of the importance of getting out and about with your dog despite the colder weather by sharing their favourite winter walks across England.

“Going for a long country walk is one of the greatest joys of having a dog,” explains PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh. “Not only does exercise help keep you and your dog physically healthy, getting outdoors in different environments with different smells will help keep your four-legged friend’s brain active, too.

“Like humans, dogs need the mental stimulation that new sights and experiences bring so we’ve pulled together a list of our favourite winter walks you could try with your pooch this year.”

“For some dogs, walks in new places can be incredibly exciting. A variety of new sights, smells, and locations to explore can offer wide sensory experience that stimulates their minds and keeps them engaged. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite winter walks you could try with your pooch this year.”

Top 7 winter walks from PDSA Pet Insurance:

Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales

Aysgarth Falls is a beauty spot which only gets better in the winter - especially after a period of lots of rain. There are three flights of waterfalls to experience, and with both off lead areas, as well as pathed routes, there are plenty of options to choose from. Make sure to keep your dog on the lead close to water. For dogs who don’t mind a climb, the total elevation to the top of the waterfalls is about 215 metres, and will take about 1.5 to 2 hours. And because it’s rather sheltered, it’s a good choice for rainy days, too.

Bushy Park, London

Potentially one of the lesser known of the capital’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park is actually the second largest. Close to Hampton Court Palace, the stunning landscape is a fabulous spot for a winter walk with your pooch. With a mix of grass, ponds and gardens, it’s a perfect place for your dog to explore. There’s only one area where dogs aren’t allowed and that’s The Woodlands Gardens, other than that, dogs are free to explore during the winter months. If you visit in the deer birthing season (May to July) dogs must be kept on leads throughout the park.

Cleeve Common, Gloucestershire

Home to the highest point in the Cotswolds (330 metres), and 1,000 acres of land, Cleeve Common is a brilliant option for walking your dog in winter. With stunning views over Cheltenham, the Vale of Evesham, the Malvern Hills, and as far as the Black Mountains in Wales and the Shropshire Hills to the north, there’s lots to see for both you and your pooch. There are plenty of walks to enjoy but make sure you check ahead of time whether sheep and lambs are on the common (usually April – November) as you’ll need to keep your dog on a lead.

Godrevy, Cornwall

Beaches aren’t just for summer – in fact, with less restrictions on four-legged friends on beaches during the winter months, it’s sometimes better to head to the beach in winter for a walk with your pooch. Godrevy boasts miles and miles of smooth sand for your dog to enjoy. Its prime positioning within St Ives Bay means you’ll see spectacular views right out to St Ives one way and to Godrevy Lighthouse the other. If the weather isn’t on your side, it’s not far to wander through the Towans just behind the beach and discover all the WWII ruins.

Devil’s Dyke, Brighton

With its panoramic views across the South Downs, Devil’s Dyke is a fantastic spot to enjoy with your four-legged friend. At nearly a mile long, the Dyke valley is the longest, deepest and widest 'dry valley' in Britain but there are plenty of walks to choose from. While dogs are welcome everywhere on the South Downs, you’ll need to keep them close to you at all times and stick to main pathways and tracks. There’s even a dog-friendly pub which provides treats and water at the end of your walk!

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Holkham beach is stunning no matter what time of year but beach walks in the winter are often less busy and more enjoyable for our pooches as they have more freedom to run around. Boasting a huge, largely flat beach area stretching four miles as well as forest areas, Holkham really is the best of both worlds for your dog. If you’re keen to extend your walk, Holkham Hall welcomes dogs into the grounds and has a dog-friendly café too!

Hamsterley Forest, Newcastle

Hamsterley Forest is County Durham’s largest forest, and at 5,000-acres, it’s sure to give your dog a good walk. There’s a number of trails to choose from depending on your preferences. The 2.5-mile Bedburn Valley walk goes through an ancient woodland trail, whereas the 4.5-mile walk through Spurls Valley passes beautiful waterfalls. There’s also the Three Becks option which takes you through 4.5 miles of waterside beech trees that are especially stunning in winter months.

Staying safe on winter walks:

“While many dogs still love the chance to go out on adventures during the colder months, the winter season does require a little more thought and preparation to keep your dog safe.” adds Shauna. “You’ll need to take extra care when outdoors and watch out for these common winter hazards.”

Salt and grit. Often used on roads in winter, salt and grit can irritate our pet’s paws. If you end up walking on salt and grit, be sure to wash your pet’s paws upon returning home. You could apply a thin layer of paw butter or other pet-safe skin cream to your dog’s pads which may protect them from cracking.
Snowy paws. If it’s a white Christmas, the snow can build up on dogs’ paws and cause them discomfort, so prepare paws by keeping hair between pads trimmed, so there’s less hair for snow to gather on. When you get home from your snowy walk, check your dog’s paws and soak off any snow in warm water.
Antifreeze and de-icer. Great to stop cars icing up in winter but actually incredibly toxic for animals and can be fatal if ingested. If you suspect your pet may have licked some antifreeze, contact your vet and get them to your vet for treatment straight away, so they can start treatment immediately. Never wait for symptoms to appear. Keep antifreeze out of the reach of pets and clean up any spills really thoroughly – so no one is put at risk.
Storms and floods. Heavy rain can cause havoc, so it’s best to be prepared for bad weather over winter. If there is a storm or flood warning, consider exercising your pooch inside instead.
Extreme temperatures. If it’s an extremely cold winter’s day, beware of icy surfaces – they can be just as slippery for our pets. Look out for frozen ponds, too. They may be enticing for curious canines, but are as dangerous to our pets as they are us. To keep your dog safe around bodies of water, keep them on a lead.
Dark nights. Take extra precautions during walks when the sun goes down - LED collars and hi-vis leads for your pooch, as well as a torch and brightly coloured coat for you, are great for lighting the way and being visible.
Wrap up warm. Most dogs grow thick furry coats all year round, so aren’t bothered by the chilly weather, but some thinner-haired breeds, puppies and older dogs may need extra help staying warm and can benefit from wearing a coat in colder weather (make sure it’s a hi-vis one for extra safety!).

PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity providing a vital service for pets across the UK whose owners struggle to afford treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.

The charity’s insurance partner, PDSA Pet Insurance, offers a range of policies to cover cats and dogs for accidents and illness, as well as providing access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline. Every policy sold raises funds for the charity’s life-saving veterinary work.

To find out more visit pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-petinsurance

Your Pets Daily - Winter dog walks

10 expert tips to improve you and your pets wellbeing on walks

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The five best Twixmas dog walks in the UK

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PDSA vets rank England’s best winter dog walks

Top 7 winter walks from PDSA Pet Insurance:

Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales

Bushy Park, London

Cleeve Common, Gloucestershire

Godrevy, Cornwall

Devil’s Dyke, Brighton

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Hamsterley Forest, Newcastle

Staying safe on winter walks:

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