Each fall, as the warm days become fewer and daylight time shorter, I find winter approaching faster and faster. And if you’re anything like me, you’d like to glide right through the holidays and on to a nice sunny spot to hibernate until spring. But that’s not really fair to our families, friends and co workers, or to our beloved pets.
This is the time of year that the family dog becomes restless and bored. They sleep a little more, eat a little more and quite often, fill out that extra winter coat – and not the one from Nordstrom you’ve been eyeballing for Christmas.
While our holiday plate keeps us running about, it seems only fair to put together a plate of activities to keep our furry friends active and happy as well. In the spirit of doing just that, here are my “top dog” picks:
Fun at the Beach
Not just for summer activities, the moderate Northern California beach climate offers a great winter getaway for people and their pets. If you could ask Mark Twain, he would probably tell you that San Francisco beaches are arguably warmer in the winter than summer months.
Located just north of San Francisco on the Marin coast you’ll find dog paradise – Dillon Beach. Not only is the lovely beach perfect for outdoor excursions with your furry friend, but you’ll come across many others with their furry friends in tow for a day of “fun at the beach”.
Local Petaluma resident Jami Walsh enjoys taking her Australian Shepards, Bondi and Maori to Dillon beach for a weekend stroll and romp in the ocean. “Not only is Dillon Beach absolutely gorgeous, but it’s about the only 1.5 mile stretch of coastline where I feel both myself and my dogs are welcome guests,” says Walsh.
Not just a day trip, Dillon Beach Property Management, who pride themselves on being “one of the last dog-friendly beaches in the bay area” offer many dog-friendly, beachfront vacation rentals. Visit dillonbeach.com and don’t be surprised to find that winter weather and rates are better than summer.
Dashing Through the Snow
Each winter, many dog lovers travel to the sierras to enjoy a day of cross country skiing in our nearby winter wonderland called the sierras. If you’re near Kirkwood, Hope Valley Cross Country Ski Center, located 30 minutes south of South Lake Tahoe, offers over 60 miles of marked trails, many of which are dog-friendly.
On the North Shore, Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area offers 2 dog-friendly trails, totaling 8 km of machine groomed trail, for skiers and their pooches. One big clue to the dog-friendly environment is the free poop bags available at the trailhead. Dogs need to be leashed in the parking lot and trailhead, but once on the trail can be unleashed under direct voice control of their owner. NOTE: Dog trails are open midweek from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on weekends only from 3p.m to 5 p.m.
If hunting down the perfect Christmas tree on a farm is your game – take Fido along. There are dozens of Christmas tree farms located throughout Northern California and most will let you bring a leashed dog on your hunt - though the free hot chocolate is only available for the two-legged customers. If you are farming in the Napa area, stop in at Bistro Don Giovanni (located on Howard Lane, formerly Highway 29, in Napa) for an Italian/Country French lunch or dinner after your outing. Well-behaved dogs are always welcome to join their dining owners on the heated patio and to explore the grounds.
Indoors when the Weather is Frightful
And when the rain won’t stop falling, here are some indoor activities you can do to keep Fido active:
• Purchase a dog-training book and practice some new commands.
• Doggy push-ups involve having your pet sit, lay down and stand- try 3 courses of 10 reps.
• Toss a toy up the stairs repeatedly for fetching fun.
• Curl up with your pooch in a big blanket and watch a Christmas Carol. Wait, that’s not active… but sure sounds fun.
Regardless of what you and your furry companion do this winter, outdoor or in, be safe and have a very merry winter.
Safety considerations when taking your pet out in winter conditions:
• Ice and salt can lead to paw abrasions.
• Pain from arthritis, especially in older dogs, increases in colder temperatures.
• Snow on the ground can hinder a dog from being able to find familiar scents and he may become disoriented or lost if not kept track of or on a leash.
• In winter, a wet pet can be more susceptible to hypothermia or become chilled quickly.
• Additionally, if a dog exercises outdoors, its body temperature may drop rapidly when it stops again, making him susceptible to chill or hypothermia.
These and other safety precautions can be found at doctordog.com.
