It is the first decent day in a long time. The temps are in the double digits (barely) and the sun is out making us feel like we are free at last. But before you take your greyhound out lets talk about running in the winter.

Greyhounds in the winter bring two major concerns. The first and most obvious is temperatures. If you bundle up to go out be sure to bundle up your greyhound. This may include boots if you are walking on a lot of ice or in areas strewn with deicer. If your greyhound stops moving for long they will get cold, when you go out keep moving until you head in. So no sitting in the car while you run errands. If it is too cold to leave your 80 year old grandma in the car it is too cold to leave your hound. Greyhound's soft velvet ears are often the first place to get cold and are vulnerable to frost bite. You can use your greyhounds ears to gauge if they are warm enough. If the ears are cold the pup is cold. Lets not forget about your those big old lungs greyhound have. Running and breathing in lots of ice cold air can cause problems that you may not even be aware of. Damaged lungs are more susceptible to diseases like pneumonia, kennel cough and other respiratory problems. This damage can last a lifetime.

The second consideration is ground cover. Ice is slippery, not only can your dog slip but if your dog pulls on the lead you can quickly end up on your can. Ice clumps and lumps can cut paws. Deep snow is a bit like deep sand. It is hard to run in. Greyhounds who are used to getting out and really running can pull muscles or even cause tendon damage. If you are going to run your dog you should warm them up a little with a brisk walk and maybe manually stretch them out for a few minutes. Try to only let one hound run at a time until they run down a little. Turning loose a couple of eager hounds may have you nursing sore muscles for weeks. Today we have crusty snow which in my opinion is the worst. The icy crust holds then collapses making it hard to find your feet. It is a lot more work to pull your feet out of the holes your feet create as you move. Walking turns to lurching. Again there is risk to muscles and tendons but for added fun it can also cut paws. Your best indicator of if it is safe for your dog is if it is safe for you. Remember your greyhound is more like a formula race car then a four wheel drive. They need flat safe surfaces to run on. Snow hides all sorts of dangers from uneven ground to things lurking beneath the snow like sticks, rocks or even a forgotten rake. Finding those things at high speed is dangerous.

The last point I want to bring up is AGE. If your greyhound is older you should be even more aware. A young healthy middle aged dog is going to be able to withstand more exposure and bounce back faster than a senior or otherwise frail dog. Just like us dog lose flexibility with age so falling hurts more. OK now go enjoy the winter wonderland...Be smart and safe.