Snow balls on newfs

[BaileyBear]

We had a great storm today and the boys had a lot of fun. When it was time to come in, not so much fun. Murphy has really long fur and had balls of snow covering his whole underside. Any tricks for minimizing this or getting them off easier. I tried combing, pulling with bare hands, and using a towel. Finally just threw towels on the kitchen floor and let it melt.

 

[MsHarrysMom]

I don't know what else to do either. On Saturday when there was only a foot out there, they weren't as bad, I just used the blow dryer and brush. This time after another 2 feet of snow they were covered. I put them in the shower and washed them off with warm water. Figured it would be easier to clean up in there. My golden was so upset, she was trying to rip them out with her teeth and in the process was pulling her hair out. I heard you can spray them with Pam. I may try that tomorrow before they go out to play.

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

We had the same problem - I'd try to pull the ice balls off but it hurt him too much. I asked on here and some one suggested warm water. A total common sense suggestion, but for some reason I never thought of it! He gets ice balls between his toes so we just soak his feet in a shallow pan of warm water and they melt right off. Maybe you could use a spray bottle to mist his belly with warm water so they melt faster?

 

[BluwaterNewfs]

These are ssnowberries and used to make snowberry jam. Sometimes we make snowberry sauce for our ice cream with them also. In my house we only have black snowberries but in some house they have black and white or even golden.

 

[jaxson]

We just recently got our very first jar of Musher's Secret, a wax you apply to their feet before going out in the snow. My wife took Sophie out once so far for a cross country ski and she reported that it totally prevented snow ball build-up.

 

[2Paws]

I would be very very careful about using Pam on your dog. Those fumes can be very irritating to their lungs.

 

[Thule's Mom]

I let Thule in, put down a couple of layers of flannel and blanket and let her chew them off while they melt. Not much else to do --- at least it's clean snow!

edited to add.... if however, there's salt mixed in with the snow, i.e. we've been walking the sidewalks, I try to get them off... a grooming rake helps.

 

[BlackLightning]

We just recently got our very first jar of Musher's Secret, a wax you apply to their feet before going out in the snow. My wife took Sophie out once so far for a cross country ski and she reported that it totally prevented snow ball build-up.

Our two are a total mess in this weather too.... LOTS of snowballs even with the hair between their paws kept short - I'm curious, does this Musher's Secret leave any kind of residue on your floors when they come in? I am worried that if we put something on them it will transfer to the hardwood floors or carpet when they come back inside....

 

[NewfLove]

I let Thule in, put down a couple of layers of flannel and blanket and let her chew them off while they melt. Not much else to do --- at least it's clean snow!

edited to add.... if however, there's salt mixed in with the snow, i.e. we've been walking the sidewalks, I try to get them off... a grooming rake helps.

This is what we had to do. Just bring her inside and let them melt. ugh.

 

[MsHarrysMom]

ok no pam (I don't think I really would have tried this, I have no need for greasy butts anyway). i have a tub of mushers secret here. My floors are in need of a wash anyway. I'll put the MS on them before they go out again and see what happens to the floors. I have a mix of wood, laminate, carpet runners, and tile. I'll report in later.

 

[BlackLightning]

ok no pam (I don't think I really would have tried this, I have no need for greasy butts anyway). i have a tub of mushers secret here. My floors are in need of a wash anyway. I'll put the MS on them before they go out again and see what happens to the floors. I have a mix of wood, laminate, carpet runners, and tile. I'll report in later.

I look forward to your report!

 

[MsHarrysMom]

I don't know how much of the mushers secret you are supposed to put on them. I did a nice layer on their whole foot, in between their toes and everything. I took them on a short romp in our 3 feet of snow. They were running and playing, but when they came in they still had snowballs on their feet and in between their toes!!!!!! I guess you are supposed to use a lot?? Does anyone know about this stuff??

Edited to add that even though they did get snowballs, they came off really easy. Their feet feel really soft now and my hands didn't get a greasy residue.

 

[Cascadians]

I found this article about Musher's Secret that explains a lot:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10352/1111611-30.stm
Pet Tales: A brief 'paws' for winter walking tips

and here's their web site:

http://musherssecret.net/index.html
Musher's Secret

Excellent product!

 

[Crosslake25]

I just called the local dog supply shop, and the manager told me that the main complaint he gets from his customers is that when they put the wax on inside the house, the residue gets everywhere. So the tip was to put the wax on outside, as the excess wears off in the snow and whatever is left once the dogs come back in doesn't seem to be as big of a deal to clean up.

 

[MsHarrysMom]

Well I noticed a couple slick places on the floor, especially where I first applied the Mushers Secret. No other residue though. I think it would be a good idea to apply outside or right by the door.

 

[BlackLightning]

I guess I could always give their feet a wipe when they come inside...

 

[Thule's Mom]

I just melted snowballs off Thule with the blow dryer... from her paws all the way up to her chest!

 

[jaxson]

We've only done it once so far. My wife said she put it on Sophie while she was in the back of the car. It must have worn off during their time out. No residue on the floor, but in full disclosure, given the state of our floors, I'm not sure we would notice!

 

[Bär]

I have been using mushers secret for a couple of years now & use it daily. I put it on just before we go outside.
I love this product, never leaves a residue, & is good for the pads too.
The only time I do not use it is when it is cold enough [-30 C or lower] to wear his muck lucks.

 

[Ren]

I use Invisible Boot, it is Canadian made in Kitchener Ontario, and I found it at Global Pets. It is a mixture of some oils (soybean, cottonseed & teatree) and beeswax. You could probably do something with beeswax in it, and would work fine.

They have some neat cold weather products, check out their site: http://www.natural4pets.com/