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I have a question for you guys. Blaise really struggles with the cold he really wishes we lived someplace where snow NEVER happens but we don't so I have to walk him in the cold. Usually he is fine a has a great time playing with Senna in the snow and likes to go for walks as long as he has a coat on but lately he's really been struggling with his feet. I've tried booties that was a joke, so I don't know what else I can do for him. There is no snow build up in pads, I do stop about every .5 mile on our walks to check them, Senna NEVER has issues but Blaise will be the 3 legged dog out of no where and it's not the same foot all the time so it's no an injury. I think most of it is his way of saying "I'd rather be in bed under the covers as I did my business" but I thought I'd reach out for maybe some ideas on how to help him from you all. Thoughts?
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

You could limit his walking to just a block or two durning these cold snaps and wait for the weather to warmup before walking him longer. My best guess would be, he has a touch of frostbite on his pads and when he walks on the frozen sidewalks it begins to burn very quickly. Normally, body parts that have been frostbitten don't ''hurt'' until re-exposed to the cold temps....at least that is how it is with the frostbite I have in all my fingers.....

jodi and the leavenworth 'gang'

I do limit his walking when he begins to show signs of discomfort which sometimes is not until now, January. I don't think it's frostbite because it's not all the time in the snow. EXAMPLE: I had he and Senna out running in the yard Sat during the day which was sunny but cold and snow on the ground, for 2 hrs NOTHING but yet if I walk him in the early morning or early evening he does it which makes me think it more him playing me because he just does not want to be outside..but I don't know. Thanks for your thought on this and I will continue to monitor him and limit his walks I was thinking of wrapping his feet with vet wrap anyone ever try that? He literally will not MOVE when I put boots on him as he is sure it is an attempt to kill him. I've used mushers wax in the past for the ice and traction I don't think it will help with this but again, any thoughts on that?
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

What about the stuff that hardens the pads? I can't remember what any of them are called off the top of my head but maybe they would help.
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Theresa

sharing my home with Cardhu, Allie, and Miss Ruadh (waiting at the bridge: Mirage and Dharma)

yeah T one of them is Mushers Wax it stays on the feet as a coating for up to 3weeks. The stuff works awesome for salt on the sidewalks this time of year. Blaise seems to be cold sensitive. I mean Jodi has a point with frostbite but 1 I have NEVER let them stay out long enough in severe weather for that and 2 it's not the same foot all the time infact the left rear is the only one he has NOT lifted so I don't think that's the issue. Keep em coming guys I am open to anything at this point my poor boy does not even want to walk in the back yard I've been shoveling the grass to make a path so it's easier on him.
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

Happy New Year to you & J.
maybe he walked over that salt stuff or ice melt people throw on snow & ice.
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BORN TO PARTY FORCED TO WORK.... HOME OF MULTI-BIF DC ZABELLE #1 ASFA PHARAOH FOR 2006 #5-2007 MAMA Of Seven 2008 Proud Mama of Best In Show Benu,B.O.B 2009 Region 9

Happy New Year to you too Darlene there seems to be no sores or burns but I can be more observant when it happens it may be that...maybe he just wants to come visit YOU!!!
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

Ah, yes, the 3-legged PH. My first PH, Rufous, used to do this. My observation of him was that it did seem to be situational. When he was engrossed in playing with an Alaskan husky buddy, he could go and go and go in the snow. But sometimes in the open field by our townhouse, he would go 3-legged PH on alternating feet until he got inside in the warm. Likewise, sometimes he was ready to go for walk and sometimes a block away from the house, he'd turn around and look at me with the "I'm a miserable dog who would love not to be out in this stuff" look. I watched to see if salt had something to do with his reaction but it didn't seem to.

I just decided we'd go with his inclinations, not mine, about how long to stay out in the snow. I chalked it up to PH personality--as a newbie owner I certainly hadn't figured out what was going on in that wonderful, exasperating brain all of the time.

Sounds like you're trying all the right remedies. Sorry I don't have any more ideas for you but I did at least want to share that I know what you're going through. Hang in there!
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Ruth
Sharing a home with
Gracie the Greyhound,
Bo, Galadrial's Cuervo Gold,
Harvey, CH. Lileo's Wild Rabbit Pooka, JC, CGC,

At the bridge--
HRH Chantze, Chart Polski, CGC (the most Polish Princess),
Rufous T. Firefly, CGC (my first PH--he knew how and when to beam a grin)

Ruth you had me rolling yep that is the look!!!! I'm so glad you have had the same situation and it really does seem like he just does not want to be outside so he "fakes an injury". My husband and I do indeed heed to his need so to speak, and bring him home. Thing is his little brother Senna looks at you like "aw come on!!!!" so off we go with the wee one on another walk and brother is left just where he wants to be, under the covers in MY bed you know Blaise is my first PH and he sure has an opinion on things but has been the best dog ever and if wants to sleep the winter away so be it!!! If anyone thinks of anything else I'm still open to thoughts ...you guys rock!!
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

Denise, I'd try again with the dog boots. Use all the normal training tools of gradual build-up, lots of treats as you put them on, lots of treats for leaving them along. Those sorts of things. And get a good pair of boots. Happily, I don't have to deal with extreme temperatures, but I like to have good boots on hand for paw injuries and the occasional rough trail hike. My preference is the Ruff Wear brand. They're called Grip Tracks, or something like that. Oh, and I recommend socks under the boots just to pad from the stitching. Soft baby socks work great, or you can buy them from Ruff Wear. You CAN get a dog to wear boots, it just takes a bit of time with these stubborn Pharaohs!
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Carmen Davis, owned by Serra, Glory and Rooney
Naha Pharaoh Hounds - Washington State
www.NahaPharaohs.com

Carmen:

I appreciate your thoughts on this and those are the boots I bought him. I paid 90 dollars for them with liner and have spent 4 years trying to get him to walk with them, no way!!!! Blaise is an odd duck even for a PH according to those that know him best that don't live with him. Blaise is the best dog in world in my opinion BUT he has his quirks and boots, hats and coats fall under "OMG she is trying to kill me", he runs around the house when he sees his coat but eventually understands I am not giving up, if you DARE place anything on his head the only thing that moves are his eyes and sad ones at that. So with that being said, imagine what he does when I go to put boots on him. Again, I really appreciate the words of confidence but at 5.5 yrs old and tremendous obedience training, willingness to please me at every turn, if he won't wear the boots his little brother gets them if needed, as I just won't make him more miserable. He is too good of a dog for me to upset him that much but thanks
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

Maybe his dog pads are thinner then Senna, so more suseptible to the cold. I'd trust Blaise telling me it's time to go in.
Debby

I do Deb you know that boy too sweet not too Senna is a kook so it's no surprise he wants to stay out longer...last night at 10pm Senna and I were tracking squirrels LOL
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

Well, you've certainly done your due diligence!
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Carmen Davis, owned by Serra, Glory and Rooney
Naha Pharaoh Hounds - Washington State
www.NahaPharaohs.com

Denise,
Most of the time our guys just run back to the door when they've had enough...we don't walk them, but here's what we do if the snow gets that harsh icy texture to it and I'm afraid they'll cut their pads...I buy baby socks from the dollar store because they're cheap and the dogs lose a ton of them. I buy this stuff from the craft store that makes the bottoms waterproof (you just spray it on) and put vet wrap at the top of the sock to hold it on (for more than a second or two) and because my dogs run up and down hills in deep snow it has worked for us better than the boots which are a little more cumbersome.
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TiaRa Pharaohs
"Produce quality and present it yourself...that way you know what you've won, when you win"
"Quality isn't expensive, it's priceless."

By the way, it's always fun to "find" the socks everywhere in the Spring. It's like an Easter egg hunt.
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TiaRa Pharaohs
"Produce quality and present it yourself...that way you know what you've won, when you win"
"Quality isn't expensive, it's priceless."

Well that is interesting Kim I wonder if he'll try and walk with them? He does not mind,in the past, when I've used vet tape for racing but I wonder how he'll be with no bunny. He's just been so miserable since all the snow yesterday he just does not understand what happened, then ofcourse there is the nutty one who love it
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

Denise, I have had my guys to this, too. I have also not been able to see that any snow has gathered between pads, no salt burn or frost bite. I have figured it is a PH way of saying, look, I've given you all the pitiful disgusted looks I can, maybe you'll figure out I want to go inside if I act broken!!!
I love Kim's suggestion when they just have to go outside for a bit (luckily we don't have that big of cold weather in TN).

Sheila are they his kin? I know the boy I met at the National looks just like him so maybe it's in the genes...
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein

It gets REALLY cold here. So far this year, the lowest temp we have had was -17 degrees...last year it went down to -32 degrees. I make them all wear heavy coats (thanks Jodi!) and just leave them outside long enough to potty. If they don't come in fast enough, I yell "cookie". They all come in hopping on three legs, so I wrap them in throws until they warm up. Loyd uses a snow blower to make dog trails,and sweeps trails on the deck. I've never tried boots. We never use anything to melt snow.
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Winona

Home of Asher, Bari, and Ginger (waiting at the bridge: Caspar, Karma, Greedy, and sweet Tifla)

J is out there Winona making paths for them but I like them to get some exercise, these days I just let Blaise do what he wants which is lay by the sliders on his beds and sleep away winter Kisses to your kids Winona!!!
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Denise
"I am I because my little dog knows me"
- Gertrude Stein