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Image via iStock.com/Okssi68 By Paula Fitzsimmons You wear a coat when it’s cold outside, so naturally, you may wonder if your pup should wear one, too. While some breeds need dog coats more than others, any dog can benefit from one, depending on the circumstances. When it comes to keeping dogs warm in winter, here’s what veterinarians and experts recommend for finding the ideal dog coat, dog jacket or dog sweater. Are Dog Coats an Absolute Must-Have for Winter? A dog probably doesn’t need a coat if she’s going outside for a short bathroom break, but if the temperatures drop to below zero, it can help, says Dr. Lisa Powell, a veterinarian with BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. “I put something on my dogs then because it’s just so cold.” Watch your dog’s body language to determine if she needs a coat, says Dr. Susan Jeffrey, a veterinarian at Truesdell Animal Care Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. “Some dogs will hold up their paws when they get cold and sometimes even refuse to walk. Other dogs may shiver. Some dogs may need a coat long enough to get ‘warmed up.’ An example of this is a dog who arrives at the dog park initially needing a jacket, but after a few minutes of running or playing, may not need a coat,” she says.   Which Breeds of Dogs Need Coats? For some dog breeds, cold weather can be a challenge. Short-coated dogs, thin-coated dogs and dogs with thin body frames should wear a jacket during colder months, Dr. Jeffrey says. “These include most toy and small breeds such as Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Italian Greyhounds (and Whippets), Yorkshire Terriers, Chinese Cresteds and Havanese.” Another reason why small breed dogs—and dogs with short legs, like Basset Hounds—may also benefit from coats, is “because they are so close to the ground and more likely to have their bellies or bodies in contact with snow and ice,” says Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Insight Animal Behavior Services in Chicago, Illinois. Large, shedding dogs, like Huskies and Malamutes, typically don’t need to wear coats, says Dr. Powell, who is board-certified in veterinary emergency and critical care. A dog’s size isn’t necessarily the determining factor, however. “Some large or giant breeds, such as Great Danes, Greyhounds and even some Pit Bull Terriers, may benefit, as they have very short hair coats that do not provide insulation,” says Dr. Jeffrey. Dog breed, size and fur length should all be considered when deciding whether to buy a dog coat, but there are other considerations as well. “There can be a lot of individual variation in cold tolerance, which can be related to age, underlying health problems and body condition,” says Dr. Ballantyne. Check with your veterinarian for her best recommendation for your pup. What Type of Winter Clothing Does Your Dog Need? It depends on the dog, says Dr. Jeffrey. “For example, I have a very muscular French Bulldog who doesn’t need a thick jacket, but a sweater is perfect for keeping him warm outside. A Chinese Crested, on the other hand, has little to no fur and requires a heavy jacket when going outside in the winter.” Other small breeds, such as Shih Tzus, may only need a sweater, depending on hair length, she adds. Some dog sweater suggestions include the Chilly Dog spencer dog and cat sweater and Chilly Dog grey cable knit dog and cat sweater. If you plan to keep your pup outside for longer periods, Dr. Jeffrey recommends coats or jackets for dogs that are made with waterproof or water-resistant material. “Lightweight insulation, such as fleece, is also helpful to help maintain warmth.” Some to consider are the Pet Life fashion parka dog coat, Frisco reversible dog and cat plaid puffer coat and Canada Pooch Alaskan army premium dog parka. If you pick out coats for dogs that are too bulky, it can make it difficult for a dog to walk, advises Dr. Jeffrey. “Also, avoid jackets with buttons, buckles or other small decorative pieces to avoid the possibility of ingestion and possible gastrointestinal obstruction,” she says. Be Sure to Get the Right Fit Fit is a critical factor for your dog’s comfort and safety.   “It is important to make sure your pet’s sweater or jacket is not too snug or too loose, as it can be dangerous for your furry friend. It is especially important to check the fit around your pet’s neck and armpit area to ensure there isn’t any rubbing or irritation,” says Kelsey Dickerson, spokesperson with the Arizona Humane Society. To find the right fit, you’ll need to know how to measure a dog for a sweater or coat. Use a soft measuring tape (or a piece of string and a ruler) to measure your dog’s neck, chest and body length. Match these up to the size chart for the clothing, and size up if your dog is between sizes. Experts also recommend finding a coat or jacket that’s easy for your dog to get in and out of, like the Frisco dog and cat fleece vest. Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe Even with a dog coat on, dogs can be prone to frostbite. “Pet parents need to take other precautions to protect their pets from the cold weather, such as shortening walks. When the weather is below freezing, dogs are just as susceptible to frostbite as humans, and frostbite typically affects the ears, tail and paws—areas not protected by a coat,” says Dr. Ballantyne. Dickerson also recommends watching for signs of overheating, which include excessive panting, drooling, elevated temperature and red gums. “If this happens, contact your vet immediately, as they may be signs of heatstroke. Never leave your pet unattended while wearing a jacket or coat, and never leave your pet outside during extreme temperatures. It may also be worth looking into protective footwear for your pups for cold or hot weather to keep their sensitive paw pads protected.” Dog boots can provide your pet’s paws with a protective layer from the snow and ice. They are also a great way to protect your pet’s feet from sidewalk salt and other deicers, which can be very harmful to paw pads. Dog booties, like Ethical Fashion extreme all weather boots and My Busy Dog water resistant reflective anti-slip dog boots, are great options for keeping your pet’s paws protected while also providing them a little extra traction in cold weather. When dressing your pet up in their new winter fashions, make sure to keep an eye out for signs of hives or itching. Some dogs can have allergies to certain fabrics or detergents, so you will want to make sure they are comfortable and safe.

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Q: My dog plays reverse fetch where I have to chase after a ball or toy instead of them doing the chasing. It’s hilarious and cute (and definitely helps me get my steps in), but is this normal behavior?   A: Switching up the roles and playing reverse fetch is usually completely normal. It’s often just a fun and creative way for them to engage with you and level up playtime. That said, there are some scenarios where reverse fetch might signal something more.  We spoke to a canine behavior expert and a veterinarian all about reverse fetch.  

First, let’s look at a dog’s basic nutritional needs. They include: Proteins: Protein is essential for muscle development, immune function, and tissue repair. Dogs require adequate high-quality protein from sources such as meat, fish, and eggs. Fats: Fats provide energy and support cell membrane health. Essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6, are also crucial for brain and coat health. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates supply energy and fiber. These aren’t considered essential nutrients—in other words, your dog could be healthy without them—but they are beneficial for promoting gut health and keeping digestion regular. Vitamins: Your dog’s body needs vitamins to carry out various metabolic functions. Some of the most important vitamins are A, D, E, K, and B-complex, but others are also beneficial in appropriate amounts. Minerals: Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium (as well as other trace minerals) are necessary for bone health, nerve function, and various physiological processes. Water: While water is not technically a component of dog food, it’s worth mentioning, because your dog cannot live without it. Water is essential for adequate hydration and to keep your pup’s body functioning properly. While these are general guidelines, nutrition can be complex, and different dog breeds can have varying nutritional needs based on size, life stage, activity level, and health predispositions. Large breeds, for example, need controlled calcium levels during growth to prevent skeletal problems. Small breeds require more calorie-dense food due to their higher metabolic rates. Working dogs and highly active dogs need more calories and protein than less active breeds, according to Joanne Fernandez-Lopez, DVM, a veterinarian in St. Petersburg, Florida. A well-balanced diet for your dog includes appropriate proportions of the essential nutrients listed above, specifically tailored to your dog’s life stage, activity level, health status, and breed characteristics.   So how do you find that balance? One way is through science-based dog foods.,Jump to section What Are the Basic Nutritional Needs for Dogs? What Is Science-Based Dog Food? What Should I Look for in a Science-Based Dog Food? Vet-Recommended, Science-Based Dog Foods Is Science-Based Dog Food Right for My Pet? FAQs About Science-Based Dog Food

Image va iStock.com/debibishop By Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell In 2017, the Springfield, Missouri, city council began discussing new breed-specific legislation (BSL) aimed at Pit Bulls. The proposed new breed restriction had predictable consequences seen in other cities. The number of Pit Bulls abandoned in shelters—and sometimes on the streets because the shelters were full—grew exponentially. “We have a large percentage of people in this city who fall below the poverty level,” says Sue Davis, executive director of the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield. “Unfortunately, when they started talking about more legislation, we just ended up with so many at the shelter.” The voters ultimately rejected the ban on August 7 by 68 percent of the vote. Although this is just one small city in the Midwest, animal welfare organizations see it as an example of a wider rejection of BSL. Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society, located in Kanab, Utah, says that the organization has been keeping records of BSL defeats since 2009. They have been heartened by the number of counties, cities and states rejecting new bans on Pit Bulls and repealing old laws already on the books. “We think the trend is definitely going in the right direction,” says VanKavage. “We now have 21 states that have specific provisions outlawing breed restrictions.” How BSL Impacts Families With Pit Bulls Springfield already had Pit Bull laws in place since 2016, which require Pit Bull owners to spay/neuter their dogs, leash and muzzle them in public, have a microchip implanted under the skin, and post signs at their residence. However, in the summer of 2017, a local mother and two toddlers were attacked by what they described as Pit Bulls. The city council reacted by discussing a law that would grandfather in Pit Bull owners who were following existing law, but would not allow any other Pit Bulls within city limits. “These laws typically do stem from reaction on the local level,” says Kevin O’Neill, vice president of state affairs in the Sacramento, California, office of the American Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals. “Elected officials focus on the breed of the dog involved, as if that will solve the issue, instead of looking at due process.” That due process involves laws that focus on abusive and negligent owners and individual aggressive dogs rather than an entire breed. Groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Bar Association and the ASPCA advocate for these types of laws. “BSL severs the human-animal bond,” says VanKavage. One of the most famous cases of lives being upended due to BSL was when former MLB pitcher Mark Buehrle signed with the Miami Marlins in 2014 and then was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. Buehrle’s family had a Pit Bull mix named Slater. Both Miami and Ontario have a ban on Pit Bulls, so Buehrle and his family made the difficult decision to not move the family to either city. His family stayed with Slater at their St. Louis, Missouri, home.  Misidentification of Pit Bulls One of the problems Pit Bull advocates in Springfield—and in many cities—have with the bans is the broad categorization of Pit Bull or even Pit Bull type dogs in legal descriptions. For example, the Springfield law identifies “Pit Bull dogs” as any dog “that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds.” The problem with this, say advocates, is that it’s difficult for animal control and shelter workers to correctly identify Pit Bulls. A 2012 study conducted by Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida found that of 120 dogs used in the study, only 25 were identified by DNA as Pit Bulls. However, shelter workers labeled 55 of the dogs as Pit Bulls. “The staff missed identifying 20 percent of the dogs who were Pit Bulls by DNA analysis, while only 8 percent of the ‘true’ Pit Bulls were identified by all staff members,” the report reads. The report concluded that this is important because dogs labeled as Pit Bulls are often harder for shelters to adopt or may be euthanized in locations where BSL is on the books. A Grassroots Effort to Reject Breed-Specific Legislation The Springfield city council held a vote in October 2017 and decided on a slim 5-4 margin to enact the ban on Pit Bulls that was supposed to go into effect in January 2018. Instead, a group that encompassed many grassroots volunteers, including students from the Animal Rights Club at the Missouri State University, formed Citizens Against BSL and collected more than 7,800 signatures to get the referendum on the August ballot. Although not a political organization, Davis says the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri also spoke out against the proposed Pit Bull laws. “It was an animal welfare issue,” says Davis. National groups such as the ASPCA and Best Friends lent support to defeat the ban, and O’Neill says it is the efforts of local residents that make the most difference. “When these Pit Bull bans are proposed, or even before, the general public needs to get involved with an advocacy brigade,” says O’Neill. “They need to call their elected officials and tell them they reject this type of law.” That’s exactly what Lori Nanan did when her city of New Hope, Pennsylvania, proposed laws in 2015 about Pit Bulls that targeted homeowners associations, as well as created insurance requirements for Pit Bull owners. Bans on Pit Bulls and other breeds are against Pennsylvania law, but Nanan says some cities enforce laws through homeowners associations about insurance. Nanan spoke on behalf of her then 3-year-old Pit Bull, Hazel. “I was very afraid that my dog would be targeted and that the stigma would worsen,” says Nanan. “I was also afraid that the homeowner’s association would make rulings on their own that would negatively impact our lives and the lives of others with Pit Bulls in the community.” Thankfully, she adds, “Reason won over emotion.”