Winter dog walking tips for the UK

British winter walks are mostly grey, damp and necessary. Dogs still need outings when the sun clocks off at 4pm.

See and be seen

Lights on you and the dog. Pale coats disappear against wet tarmac. Evening safety tips apply from late afternoon.

Cold and coats

Short-haired, small and elderly dogs often appreciate a coat. Watch for ice balls between pads.

Chemicals

Antifreeze tastes sweet and is dangerous. Wipe paws after gritted pavements if your dog licks them raw.

Motivation

Dark does not cancel the walk. A game layer like Patch helps some people leave the sofa when Netflix is warmer.

Try it on your next walk

Download Patch free on iOS or Android. Tap once when you leave, walk as normal, and see what ground your dog claims.

There's unclaimed ground outside right now.

Download the free dog walking game on iOS and Android. Your first patch takes about four minutes.