Winter Yard Survival: Keeping Your Dog Safe, Clean, and Happy

Winter in Maryland can be beautiful, but it can also be a real challenge when it comes to keeping our dogs comfortable. We know that dogs love to sniff, explore, and find the perfect spot to do their business, but that’s not easy when the yard is buried under snow and ice.

​Here are a few Just Making Smiles tips to ensure your yard stays accessible and safe all season long:

​Create a Path, Not Just a Yard: Don't wait for the sun to melt the snow! We often use our snow thrower to carve out actual walking paths throughout the yard to give the dogs a clear, safe route to explore. If you don't have a snow thrower, try the "tarp trick": before a storm hits, lay a large tarp down on the grass. Be sure to clear the snow off periodically throughout the storm—if you wait until the end and the snow is deep, it becomes incredibly heavy and difficult to manage. By emptying it a few times, you’ll keep that perfect, snow-free patch of grass ready for those potty breaks.

​Traction is Key: Icy steps are a recipe for trouble. If you find your steps getting slick, don’t reach for harsh chemicals. Placing old, beat-up towels down across the steps provides excellent traction for the dogs' paws. It’s an easy, non-toxic way to keep them steady as they head out for their morning walk. We’ve even been known to run them down the sidewalk when we’re out of pet-safe ice melt!

​Stick to Pet-Safe Products: When the weather gets really tough, keep an eye on what you’re putting down. Always look for pet-safe ice melt to protect your dog’s sensitive paws from irritation and keep them safe if they happen to lick their feet later.

​Protect Those Sensitive Paws: If you aren't using booties, your dog’s paws are going to come into contact with cold, wet snow and potential ice melt. Always make sure to wipe their paws off thoroughly as soon as they come inside from a walk or even just a quick trip into the yard. Keep a close eye on their paws while they are outside, too; they can easily develop painful little icicles between their pads, which can make walking very uncomfortable. A quick check and a gentle towel-off goes a long way in keeping them happy and protected! ​

Winter might make yard maintenance a bit more work, but seeing our dogs happy and confident as they explore their snow-covered yard is always worth the effort. Do you have any go-to winter hacks for your yard? Let us know in the comments below