NFT: Dog Owners: Tips For Getting Dogs To "Go in the Snow"

maybe she'd go on the neighbors cleared off grass area (if they have one)

My dog goes in the path I cleared for her with the snowblower, but if she wouldn't she usually goes while on a walk.

puts on the brakes and gives me the 'are you kidding me?' look.

My sheltie will not piss or shit if on a leash. I just have him go in our backyard. I have had 4 shelties. They all would let me know when it was time for them to go out. The weather was tough because when he feels the wind, hears loud noises, sees the rain coming down heavy, etc. he will just not go out until it is an emergency. But he has never gone in the house.

I know you have a new dog so you are learning his behavior as he is learning yours. Is my advice the best? I don't know but it has always worked for us.

He will stay out. It is like going into a cold pool. The hardest part is the intial part. They also respond much better to positive reinforcement. If you get excited to go out amd get him excited it will increase the chances of getting him outside. If you yell it might always be a problem because they will just lay down or go hide in a corner because they feel like they are in trouble.

area looks like the surface of the moon at this point. As I said, I dug a path for her to her normal spot to go and now have another path from our back door up to our barn and then out to where our cars are so we can get there. :) I have tried walking her through this tunnel maze a few times and then to her spot, but she ain't buyin it. She looked like she was ready to go last night at midnite, but the local plow came through just as she was pulling her hind legs up! Ugh!!!

In comment 13394296 batman11 said:

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area looks like the surface of the moon at this point. As I said, I dug a path for her to her normal spot to go and now have another path from our back door up to our barn and then out to where our cars are so we can get there. :) I have tried walking her through this tunnel maze a few times and then to her spot, but she ain't buyin it. She looked like she was ready to go last night at midnite, but the local plow came through just as she was pulling her hind legs up! Ugh!!!

How long have you had the dog and is this this first real snow storm? I had an older sheltie and we moved. We were living in a trailer in the driveway of the new property while the house was getting finished. When we moved into the house the dog just walked in circles in the driveway of where the trailer used to be. They get in a routine and comfortable with their surroundings. Like I said, they get nervous about certain things and it sounds like this dog has only been living with you a short time and probably hasn't experienced a snowstorm like this while with you so it is all new. There is nothing to worry about. The dog will go to the bathroom when he/she is ready but it may get frustrating for you.

Is it possible to let the dog off the leash and try or no?

no problem going out, even during the height of the storm yesterday. I was freezing my ass off and she was rolling over and playing in the snow. In fact, once she's out she doesn't want to come in. She is just having a hard time sniffing out a good spot to go. I know she will go when she really has to. I have tried her off leash today as well, with no results yet. I know she can hold it for a long time, as she has done this before when we first brought her home.

I really appreciate your feeback as an experienced Sheltie owner. Thanks!

We have had her for about 3 weeks. This is, obviously, her first major snow fall....

She will adapt. They always do. When I was with my parents I always used to shovel an area for our dogs to goto the bathroom. Now, they expect it. Lol. My current dog just knows to go wherever. I would do whatever is easier for you. If you want to shovel an area for her every time it snows then do that but if you cant then let her figure it out.

with her, not so much with the noisy plow guys at midnight!

and let her do her business in the warmth of indoors

In comment 13394320 batman11 said:

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with her, not so much with the noisy plow guys at midnight!

It is the garbage trucks for me. My dog goes into berserker mode. At least I got him to stop barking. He just goes full speed from one room to the next to get a look out the window but looks like scooby doo when he gets started. His paws are moving a million miles an hour but his body takes a couple of seconds to catch up.

she really needs to. My Havanese love the snow but of they have their choice they will play in the snow and come in to poop

Our dog is a very small rescue from North Carolina.

We've had him for 5 years now, and it took him a while to get used to the snow for doing his business.

He still doesn't like it, but he knows the drill.

I just got her to "do both" off-leash in the front gravel driveway, after I shoveled a big section of it!! Thanks to PJ, Robbie and you all for your suggestions.