Now that winter is almost officially here, we have started to break out all of our cold weather gear. The boots have come out of the closet, the heavy down jacket gets dusted off, and gloves and hats are found once again. But what about our pets? Even the most rugged of house pets can benefit from a little cold weather preparations by their owners.

As an owner I admittedly often find myself hoping that our dogs will not want to go outside and play in the freshly fallen snow. However I also no otherwise. No sooner does the snow hit the ground then our German shepherds are glued to the windows waiting for playtime outside. Like many dogs they simply love the snow. They will let me throw snowballs for them to chase all afternoon. The only problem is that after a few minutes both my hands and myself are pretty cold.

So how do they stand being outside in the bitter cold? For our two German shepherds it's a matter of having a thick coat of fur. Thick coats of fur are quite common in many larger breeds, but not all breeds are going to be as warm as others. Many small breed dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers, have fine hair instead, and will not like being out in the cold for long.

For dogs that do not have thick coats of fur, consider getting your pet a winter sweater or doggy coat. These will help your pet enjoy the outside weather with you for a while longer.

You also have to be aware of other factors regarding cold weather issues for your pets, and one pretty important health concern is you pets paws. The pads on your dogs feet are often overlooked by many pet owners when it comes to health problems, but there are a couple of common items to keep an eye on.

First you must know that your pets pads and toes are susceptible to cold damage. Snow gets in between the toes, or they are standing directly on the snow for an extended period of time. Try taking your own hand and placing it in the snow to see how long it take before you pull it out. Trust me it won't be long. While your pets pads are tougher then your hand at dealing with the cold, they are not as good as your own boots. So keep an eye on your pet's feet, their behavior, and use judgment to determine if your pet's feet are getting too cold.

Another major concern for your pet in the winter is the salt used to clear ice from your steps or walkways. This material, generally either salt or a chemical melting agent, can burn your pets feet if not removed. Since your pet is likely to walk on this stuff, you should use a warm wet washcloth to clean your pets feet when you bring them into the house. Make sure to wipe off all excess salt from the pads and in between the toes. This will also give you a chance to check your pets toes for sensitivity, damage, or potential injuries.

Next time your taking out your winter gear, remember that your four-legged friends will appreciate you taking care of their cold weather needs as well.