What do you think about dogs wearing clothes?

The truth is  - they really do get cold. Depending on the breed, animals sometimes need help from their humans to stay warm.

Keep your dog comfy this New Year. Here are some things to remember:

1.  Keep your dog fed properly and regularly, maybe a little extra in the winter months. It takes extra energy to stay warm.

2.  Wash your dogs paws regualarly. Chemicals from salt and de-icer can get into the pads of an animal's paws. This can be ingested when the dog washes himself. (Or buy rubber balloon boots at Wag Your Tail to protect their feet)

3. Put all chemicals away and out of reach of your pet; anti-freeze tastes good to dogs & cats, so please don't tempt them; it kills.

4.  Give your dog a warm place to sleep.  Sleeping outside is dangerous and just plain cruel to an animal, please think twice about it.

5.  Use common sense: Your small dogs, older dogs and short haired dogs should not be outside in the cold months, unsupervised. Pay attention, watch for frostbite on the paws, ears and nose. (Nose and paws will be pale, hard, and cold, but will then turn red as it thaws.

6.  Last but not least, go shopping for sweaters, coats or boots. It's  not just for show; whether long haired or short, dogs get cold.  There are only a few dogs bred for the cold, Huskies and Samoyeds being two.