Yep—Vizslas really do LOVE the snow.  But, given their thin coats (as compared to a Lab or Golden) and their virtually non-existent body fat, we have to make sure to protect them so they enjoy the snow safely and comfortably.  The length of our snowshoe adventures is based on the temperature/wind-chill, how deep the snow is (or, how packed down it is), and whether the trail is heavily shaded.

Our first rule is we DO NOT take them out if the temperatures are in the teens or when the wind-chill is high.  Perhaps our Vizslas are just too soft but such weather seems to be a little too extreme for them.  Though their hearts are in it—they quickly become very uncomfortable.  If you’ve ever seen an “uncomfortable” Vizsla, it’s a pathetic site.  And, a pathetic looking Vizsla is enough to make you feel guilty for being a bad Vparent.  ;-)  Thankfully, living in Colorado we enjoy over 300 sunshine-filled days.  Our cold snaps are brief.

Because we are such an active family snowshoeing is a perfect sport we can all enjoy.  Again, Colorado is the perfect state to enjoy snowshoeing with our canine (and human!) companions.  There are oodles of trails to choose from.  The general rule is State Parks are off limits because they require dogs to be on leash (except for in designated areas). 

We usually select trails that are less-traveled and in National Forest land (because the dogs can be off leash in National Forest land and BLM property).  Although our crew hikes with us off leash this DOES NOT MEAN they hike without manners.  We are VERY respectful of other hikers as well as any wildlife we might encounter.  We keep our dogs in sight and call them back to us when we see other hikers (believe it or not there are people in this world who don’t like dogs…GASP!).  Not only does this reassure others our Vizslas are well-mannered and under our control, calling them back helps us reinforce the very important ‘here’ command.

We also look for trails that aren’t heavily used for cross-country skiing.  Skiers can get moving pretty fast.  A fast-moving skier + long skis + curious fast-moving Vizslas could=D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R.

A useful tip in selecting a good trail is to call the forest rangers responsible for the area you would like to hike.  They’ll know the conditions of the trails and be able to give you recommendations of the heavily-used ones versus those less-traveled.  Another general rule is pretty much any trails right off major highways or located close to the Denver Metro area will be heavily used.

The only other consideration when snowshoeing with your Vizsla is their attire…er, make that gear.  Dressing them up in coats and booties isn’t just because we think they look cute in their outfits (though they do—just check out the pictures on this page!), but because their gear is functional and offers protection so they can enjoy snowshoeing safely.  Their coats are either the neoprene ones (same ones they wear when hunting) from Cabela’s or the K9 Overcoat and from Ruffwear.  The Cloudchaser model works nicely as well, though the fit can be a bit trickier (around the arms).  The boots they wear are from Ruffwear as well, Bark'n Boots™ Grip Trex™.  Make sure you also get the Bark’n Boot Liners™ to prevent rubbing and sore spots.  Again, the boots aren’t just to make others laugh at our dogs and how exaggerated they walk when we first put their boots on (though it *IS FUNNY* and we *DO* laugh at them... though the directions specifically say not to laugh…it’s impossible not to!).  Instead, the boots protect their feet from freezing and keep ice from forming between their toes/pads.  I had always wondered why our domesticated dogs need boots to and coyotes or wolves don’t.  The answer was delivered to me when I was watching a show on Animal Planet about dogs.  The show specifically addressed the differences between the feet of wolves and dogs.  To paraphrase, wolves feet are webbed and have special blood vessels that keep them from freezing but also allow them to walk in the snow more efficiently.

There is a trick to securing the boots so they: a) stay on, b) don’t get filled with ice, snow, debris.  Notice the duct tape wrapped around our Vizslas' legs?  This is a critical step you shouldn’t skip.  Though these companies that make dog boots promise their boots will stay on, they don’t.  And, as soon as your Vizsla dives into chest-deep snow, his boots will start filling with snow.  The duct tape solves both of these problems. 

To correctly apply the duct tape, you need to wrap your dog’s leg lightly (so you don’t cutoff circulation) in “vet wrap” (http://www.horsetackco.com/vet-wrap.html?currency=USD or http://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com/noname31.html) or athletic/pre wrap.  Then, put the liner and boot on.  Finally, wrap the duct starting over the boot itself then up the dog’s leg.  Voila!  A perfectly protected foot and leg!  Make sure you pack the scissors so you can cut away the tape after the snowshoeing fun has ended. 

Another hint about using boots on your Vizslas (or any other dog) is the boots must fit properly--snug. If they're too loose they're more likely to twist and turn or cause sores. In order to get a comfortable and snug fit, your dog's nails must be neatly trimmed back. You shouldn't only keep your dog's nails trimmed back in order for their boots to fit correctly but because well-trimmed nails help keep your dog's feet healthy. Too long toe nails can make a dog's feet start to spread and splay out. In addition, it's just plain uncomfortable for a dog to walk around with long toe nails. We dremel our Vizslas' nails weekly. Read this article on "How to Dremel a Dog's Nails"--your dog will thank you!

One last thought--don't keep your Vizslas out for too long. If they're bounding through the snow they'll get cold and tired much quicker than you. We usually keep our snowshoe hikes under 2 hours depending, of course, on the weather and how packed the trail is.

Now get off your duff and hit the trails!!  Your Vizslas will love you even more for including them on your snowshoe adventures.  

Silly Vizsla Remus grabs a quick bite of snow

Aaron and Mel with Vizslas Remus and Kosmo -- Snowshoeing in Colorado