Excerpted and adapted from Happy Dog, Caring For Your Dog’s Body, Mind and Spirit by Billy Rafferty and Jill Cahr. We’ll be giving an autographed copy of HAPPY DOG to all of our March portrait clients.

Happy Dog, by Billy Rafferty and Jill Cahr

Cold temperatures, snow and ice can be challenging for our four-legged pals—especially when winter can last well into May. For that reason, proper winter care is critical to your dog’s health, safety and comfort, not to mention the cleanliness of your home. Keep your precious pooch safe, comfortable and warm during the winter months by following these proven tips.

INSPECT

Your dog can’t tell you if he’s under the weather or uncomfortably dirty. Therefore, you must inspect him often. Inspecting your dog allows you to track, monitor and assess the state of your dog’s health and wellbeing in a systematic and thorough manner. Inspections uncover injuries, abnormalities and subtle clues about underlying medical conditions. Moreover, inspections reveal grooming troubles before they become big, painful, complicated, traumatic and expensive problems.

Routine inspections also encourage you to spend quality time with your dog. This quiet time together has the added benefit of relaxing your dog and teaching her that grooming and the associated handling are pleasant. She’ll quickly learn that cooperation brings positive attention, praise and treats.

At least once a week, inspect your dog from snout to tail. The inspection takes only a few minutes and your dog will relish the personalized attention.

Use all your senses: methodically peruse your pooch, rub your hands over his entire body (including his private parts), look at the skin, lift ears, check under his tail, and smell his mouth. In the winter, check for chapped skin, especially on the nose, lips and undercarriage. If you find anything unusual or troubling, call your veterinarian and discuss what you’ve discovered.

Detailed paw inspections are critical in winter due to weather-related dangers, such as salt and anti-freeze. So, be sure to check Fido’s paws each time you return from a walk. Many dogs are not used to having their paws handled and may try to pull away. Be patient and reward heavily.

illustration by Justin Graham, Clown Monkey Illustrations (click image for link)

Hold the legs and paws in a natural position. A bent leg naturally moves forward or back; never pull it out to the side like you’re yanking on a wishbone. Likewise, do not bend the paws backward or twist them into strange, uncomfortable positions. The idea is to limit movement and preserve Fido’s comfort. To hold the paw, gently grasp the front of the leg directly above the paw with your nondominant hand. You’ll be able to feel Fido’s wrist (this is where the leg naturally bends). Hold the wrist so that it is still, straight and supported while you inspect the paw and pads. If you’re doing this correctly, Fido won’t complain. Many people find that the back paws are most accessible when the dog is lying on his side or back.

Scrutinize the top and bottom of each paw. Gently spread the toes (Fido has four on each foot) to see and feel between the each of the five pads. Search for trapped debris, such as snow and ice balls or salt crystals. Also, check for injuries, masses, dryness and mats. Note whether the paw-pad fur is sticking out and requires a trim. Keeping this fur trimmed is important because snow, ice and salt cling here.

Next, examine each of Fido’s nails to determine if he needs a pet-i-cure or has any broken, splintered, chipped or torn nails. Long nails can easily become caught in the snow or ice and be broken or splintered. Don’t forget to inspect the dewclaws if Fido still has them.

CLEAN

Cleaning your pooch’s paws takes only a few minutes and it’s essential to your dog’s health and well-being. When your dog licks his paws (and he will), he ingests anything that he has walked over. In winter, sidewalks and streets are covered with salt, which can irritate canine stomachs when ingested and dry pads out, causing painful cracks.

Moreover, it’s often difficult to avoid winter chemicals in puddles, on sidewalks and streets, and other places your pooch walks. Many of these chemicals, such as anti-freeze or windshield wiper fluid are extremely dangerous and often toxic when ingested, even in small amounts. If you suspect your dog has ingested antifreeze or any other poison, begin first aid and call the veterinarian IMMEDIATELY!

Whether Fido’s paws need a quick clean up or a shampooing, you don’t need any fancy equipment. To wipe paws clean, use a fresh warm washcloth or wet paper towel. Paw wipes formulated for dogs are also a good choice, but keep an eye out for any reaction to the product. With your fingers, gently remove any snowballs or ice attached to his fur or stuck between his toes or paw pads. Then, wipe the pads and the area in between to remove any chemical residue. Use a clean towel to dry the area thoroughly.

If Fido’s paws are particularly dirty, spot wash them in the tub or sink. To wash the paws one by one and remove grime without wetting down your entire dog, use a small bowl filled with diluted canine shampoo (human products are a serious no-no). Your pooch will keep his paw in the container as you wash if you lift up the opposite paw. While you wash, keep the dog’s leg in natural positions so he’s comfortable. Verify that you’ve rinsed out all the shampoo and conditioner, especially between his toes and pads. Allow the fur to dry thoroughly before your dog goes outside. Be generous with treats and praise to instill canine cooperation.

Shoes please.

PROTECT: IT’S MORE THAN JUST A FASHION STATEMENT

As silly as he may look, your dog requires a winter wardrobe to protect him from the elements, even when he’s just walking around the block. If Fido has a thin or short coat, he definitely requires additional insulation from the cold. Purchase functional coats or sweaters or splurge on designer duds. The choice is yours as long as Fido is warm.

Moreover, don’t forget to protect Fido’s paws from the cold, salt and other winter chemicals. Thankfully, the options for canine footwear are surprisingly vast. Whether you choose waterproof hiking boots or disposable booties, have Fido wear them around the house so he’ll be accustomed to them and more likely to keep them on while outside.

Fido’s clothing and footwear should be snug, but not impede his movement. Dry the gear after each use and wash it regularly.

If Fido won’t wear footwear even for all the dog biscuits in the world, apply a dog-safe protective paw balm before venturing outside and clean immediately when you return.

While outside, avoid salt and puddles as much as possible. It’s better the walk through the snow than through a pile of irritating salt. Remove all canine clothing the minute your pooch is inside your nice warm home. Fido can overheat if he’s dressed in too many layers. Moreover, prolonged exposure to clothing causes mats, which are often painful and expensive to remove!

Thanks, from the bottom of my paws.

Billy Rafferty and Jill Cahr are the co-authors of Happy Dog: Caring For Your Dog’s Body, Mind and Spirit.The book is available on line at amazon.com and in bookstores. Billy and his co-author Chicago writer Jill Cahr are donating $1 from every book sold on their website to the American Humane Association. Barker and Meowsky, a Chicago pet boutique, will also donate a portion of book sales to American Humane.

Billy Rafferty, M.P.S., C.M.G., D.T.S., C.A.H, is a nationally recognized, multi-certified and award-winning pet stylist and dog care expert who has been working with dogs for over 25 years. Billy is also a sanctioned grooming show judge and a highly regarded speaker and lecturer. Billy is the owner and principal stylist at Doggy Dooz Pet Styling Salon in Chicago. His clients include Oprah Winfrey, NBC News’ Tamron Hall and Chef Art Smith.

Jill Cahr is an accomplished writer and has been volunteering with Chicago animal shelters and rescues for over a decade.  Jill serves on the Board of Directors of the Trio Animal Foundation, which helps pay medical bills for homeless pets. In her former life as a litigation and intellectual property attorney, Jill earned a prestigious clerkship for a United States District Court judge.  Jill and her family share their home with Shadow, a rescued Poodle.

And so into March, my favorite month. I like March because it contains the first day of Spring. In this part of the world that auspicious date promises much and delivers little, but at least we can be certain that no matter how cold or wintry it may be, the daylight hours will be getting longer.

This year we’re dedicating all of March to helping our friend Billy Rafferty, who owns the Doggy Dooz grooming salon in Chicago, celebrate the publication of his new book, Happy Dog, which he and co-author Jill Cahr recently released to absolutely stellar reviews. You can learn more at the book’s website, HappyDogLand.

Happy Dog by Billy Rafferty & Jill Cahr

We’ve known Billy for fifteen years, half his thirty year career. We like Billy and Jill’s new book so much we’ll be giving an autographed copy of it to everyone who comes in for a portrait sitting this March. To make sure we give away as many copies of Happy Dog as possible, we’re also extending our phenomenal February sitting fee all the way to the end of March. That means, if you come in for a portrait sitting in March we’ll reduce our sitting fee from $395 to just $150.

Save over $200 and get an autographed copy of Happy Dog. You’ll also come away with some heart-warming images of you and your family, whether you’re a family of one or of ten.

See David HERE!