How to Walk a Dog on Ice

Train your dog to walk on a leash without pulling. Many people have problems with their dogs pulling or tugging on their leashes during walks, but this can be dangerous on ice. Work with your dog during good weather so that when the snow and ice arrives, you have a dog who won't pull you down.

Buy some boots with good traction or slip on cleats to help you walk more securely on ice. You should not wear shoes with smooth soles when you walk on ice. Slip on cleats will fit over your shoes and are made especially for walking on snow and ice.

Pick up some dog boots for your pet if he has trouble walking on the ice. Although not all dogs like to wear them, dog boots can protect your dog's feet and give her extra traction on the ice. Most pet stores sell them and you can also get some with extra lining for more warmth.

Trim the hair on your dog's paws to give him better traction. Longer hair on the paws can collect snow and ice as well as decrease your dog's stability on the ice. When you trim, be sure that you don't go too short either as you want to provide some protection against the cold weather for your dog.

Wash off your dog's paws with warm water after walking. De-icers and other chemicals used on snow and ice can damage your dog's paws and make her sick if she licks it off her paws later.

Check over your pet's feet daily to make sure that cracks, sores or other injuries are not present. Snow and ice can easily damage paws so you'll want to keep an eye out for problems. You can use petroleum jelly or bag balm on your dog's paws before you go out (remember to wipe it off when you come in) to protect his feet or if a problem develops.