Winter can be a tough season for maintaining your dog’s training regimen. The short days and freezing temperatures can make outdoor sessions downright uncomfortable, and if you’ve ever tried handing out treats with gloved hands, you know the struggle: mistimed rewards, cheese-and-beef-scented gloves, and the sheer frustration of trying to train while staying warm. But fear not—we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves to make cold-weather training more manageable and enjoyable for both you and your dog.
In Praise of Heated Fingerless Gloves
Wow wow this has been a real game changer. Using regular gloves for training feels really unsettling to me - I feel like I can’t get a proper grip on the leash, it is hard for me to pick out treats in a timely manner, AND those damned gloves end up smelling gross and getting covered in dog slobber by the end of a walk. Enter these bad boys – they were a little pricey, but so worth it. These help keep my hands toasty yet dextrous and they get extra points for having grippy material across the palm so I am not worried about my grip slipping if something catches me by surprise. 10/10 would recommend.
Get Your Hands on a Hands-Free Leash
I love a waist leash for all kinds of reasons, but I also consider them a winter essential. Not only do they free up your hands to warm them in your pockets from time to time, but they also reduce the risk of losing your grip when your hands are frozen. I’ve customized my jogging leash with a heavy-duty swivel to attach a second leash, ensuring tangle-free walks when I’m out with both my dogs. Just remember to double-check all connections (make sure the carabiners are securely locked!) and keep at least one hand on the leash for safety during your walk. This setup is especially handy for multi-dog households or long walks on icy terrain.
Use Reusable Squeeze Pouches for Easy Treatin’
These are pretty great for those impossibly cold days when rooting around for teeny treats and having dog slobber freeze on your hands is just not in the cards. Enter the reusable squeeze pouch. These handy little guys let you reinforce behaviors quickly and effectively, even if you’re wearing thick winter gloves. Fill them with high-value treats like wet food mixed with water, peanut butter, or even a yogurt-tuna smoothie. They’re incredibly easy to use, mess-free, and perfect for days when fishing for individual treats just isn’t practical.
Opt for Larger, Less Dense Treats in an Easy to Open Bait Pouch
If you’ve ever worked with me you know how much I love changing up my treat delivery methods during training. This means that sometimes just feeding at your side or from your hand just isn’t going to cut it- so the squeeze pouch may not always fit the bill. For example, Toast (my terrier mix), takes most of her treats outside as “get its” because the movement catches her attention more effectively than me offering food from my hand. For these instances, I like to use larger (but less dense) treats like Fromm’s Crunchy O’s that are easy enough to pick out of my silicone bait pouch and big enough for my dog to track as I am tossing them in the air or on the ground.
Share Your Cold-Weather Training Tips
How do you and your dog tackle the challenges of winter training? Whether it’s gear recommendations, unique tricks, or creative solutions, I’d love to hear your tips! Drop a comment below and let’s keep our pups happy and well-trained, no matter the weather.
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