Prepare for the Winter Months
It’s a lovely time of year, crisp walks, cosy evenings, and that special quiet magic that winter brings. But as we all know, the colder months also come with a few extra challenges when you have a dog. The days are shorter, everything’s muddier, and our diaries rapidly fill with festive plans and celebrations.
From Halloween and Diwali to Christmas and New Year, it’s a busy season. Combined with the shorter daylight hours, winter illnesses and bad weather this often means shorter walks. Add to this that there are often more people indoors, and louder households, its easy to see that some dogs can find this all tricky.
So this blog is all about finding the balance: how to keep life simple, safe, and enjoyable for you and your dog as we head into the winter months.
Walks: Be Prepared
Winter walks can still be fun , frosty paths, crisp air, quieter parks but they demand a little more thought and clothing!
Dress the part. Theres a saying that says, 'there’s really no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing.'
A good cap or hat, waterproof layers, and warm gloves make all the difference. Our SkooGo® Cap is perfect for winter walks: it has a built-in light to help you see and be seen, the peak keeps rain off your glasses (or face), and it sits neatly under a hood so your hood won’t blow off in a gust of wind.
Pair that up with our SkooGo® Gloves, which have pockets for poo bags, treats or tissues, so everything you need is right at your fingertips. Fingerless so that you can open and tie poo bags, adjust harnesses and leads all without removing your gloves. The grippy palms help with lead confidence, and the long knitted cuffs keep your wrists and hands warm.
Visibility & safety: With longer nights and darker evenings, reflective and light-up items are vital. Use clip-on lights for your dog’s collar or harness, reflective strips on leads, and don’t forget the light on the SkooGo Cap. The more visible you both are, the safer your walks will be.
Enrichment: Because Walks May Be Shorter
As daylight shrinks and schedules get busier, our walks might be shorter , but that doesn’t mean our dogs have to miss out on stimulation. Its during these months that enrichment becomes even more important for your dog.
When your home is full of people, friends, family, neighbours our dogs can feel overwhelmed. Having enrichment ready helps them stay calm and busy.
Preparation is your best friend here. With No Fuss Fill®, you can quickly prep batches of enrichment and have them ready to go.
The No Fuss Fill Toy Filler makes stuffing toys quick, clean, and fuss-free . Keep filled toys in your Prep Rack or Ready Rack so they’re ready for those hectic days.
The No-Fuss Fill approach means less time fiddling with spoons and juggling toys in your fridge and more time enjoying the moments with your dog.
Clean-Up & Comfort Hacks
Winter mud is inevitable, but there are a few clever hacks to keep things under control.
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Towel hack: Cut old, large towels into smaller pieces. Big towels take ages to dry in winter; small ones dry faster, are easier to grab, and are perfect for quick paw clean-ups.
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Paw wash tray: Place a shallow tray (e.g. a wide seed tray or even an IKEA boot tray) by your back door. Fill it with a little warm water and let your dog step in before coming inside. It’s a simple “foot bath” that stops muddy paws from traipsing through your home.
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Damp flannel on the go: Keep a flannel pre-moistened in your Prep & Go Bag . When visiting friends, popping into a café or pub after a walk, or during any outing, you can quickly wipe paws .
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Teach a paw-wipe trick: Over a few sessions, teach your dog to wipe their paws on a towel. It’s fun, practical, and adds a bit of training/enrichment to daily life. Start by folding a towel in half and placing a treat in between the the two halves. As soon as your dog starts ' pawing' at the towel open up the towel and let them eat the treat. Pop another treat in and watch your dog dry their front paws - you can eventually pair this action with a ' wipe' command
Finding the Balance in during the Winter Season
Whether you take the winter months to rest and recover from a busy spring and summer or if you prefer a busy social calendar with a home buzzing with guests, with a little prep, you can make it the best of times for you and your dog.
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Be ready for walks with the right clothing and lighting.
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Keep enrichment toys prepped and stored with No Fuss Fill® so you always have something for your dog to engage with.
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Use simple towel and tray hacks for cleaning up.
At No Fuss Fill, our goal is always to simplify life so you can enjoy more of the good stuff together Happy Dogs & Happy People!
Here’s to crisp winter walks, cosy nights in, calm dogs, and joyful moments all season long.
