Snowy fur

[blaue_augen]

This is such a stupid question, but ... We're on to our 3rd snow this season, and I've noticed that little snow balls get stuck in Suki's fur when we go out. When we come back inside, I can't get the snow balls out of her fur. It doesn't help that Suki thinks it's game time & she tries to eat my towel. We're in Colorado, so our snow is dry and not really packable. Also, Suki is still sporting puppy fluff at 5 months, so maybe that fur is stickier to snow. So my question is is this normal? I can certainly deal with it, but was just wondering. I think of Newfs as snow dogs (maybe because the cold weather suits them more than hot). But if they have snow collecting coats, maybe they aren't snow dogs.

 

[Newfs Forever]

I don't have any knowledge of show dogs and snow. But, believe me, you will have forever snow collecting in their feathers and pants. Literally, snow balls. At least that has been my experience.

 

[Clifford the big dog]

Clifford gets them all the time. I get out what I can when he comes in, the rest melt in to the carpeting, tile, or my pants when he lays on my lap. I call them snow turds:goofy:

 

[Bucephalus]

These are Bo's snowball feet from last week's snow. We just leave them on to melt. If he's bored and lying around the house, he likes to eat them off, otherwise they don't bother him. We just towel him off when he comes inside.

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Elvis seems to be bothered by the ones on his feet and between his toes. I asked last year about an easy way to help get them off, and someone suggested something so simple I couldn't believe I didn't think of it - a foot bath! We simply put some lukewarm water in a shallow pan and dip his foot in it. The ice balls melt right off and he's comfy in a matter of seconds.

 

[Thehallk]

This used to happen to our Golden and she would just sit by the fireplace on her towel while they melted off. We haven't had a snow with Gilly yet, but I've heard that if you spray/mist a bit of food oil on their legs/feet it helps keep the snow off (ex. olive oil, almond oil, cooking oil, etc.) Not enough to make them slimy or greasy, just a misting to give a bit of sheen and the snow doesn't stick. I haven't tried it yet, but it might help.

 

[marylouz]

Spray their feathers, etc. with Pam before they go out in the snow- it keeps the snowballs from building up.

 

[hemingway]

Spray their feathers, etc. with Pam before they go out in the snow- it keeps the snowballs from building up.

brilliant!!!

 

[PaperbackWriter]

This is awesome. I'll try the Pam this year! Also, the term "snow turds" will henceforth be used in this house

 

[lauren]

It's totally normal. We have used them all, Pam, fireplace, do nothing and sometimes they like to lick/eat them. It's nothing to worry about. Newfs are built for this.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

You can also use Musher's Secret or any variety of paw wax to prevent the snow ball build-up.

No, Newfs aren't snow dogs. If you think of St. Bernards, the quintessential snow-rescue dog, I'm sure you think of the long-haired type. In reality, the long hair is actually relatively new to the breed (due to a massive die-off of in the Alps, they were cross-bred to Newfs to save St. Bernards from extinction) and the "new" long-haired types are completely unsuited to snow rescue work because of the difficulty the long hair presents with snow build-up. Smooth coated St. Bernards are actually correct for rescue work. Think of Siberian Huskies, Malamutes, etc. They don't have the massive amount of coat that Newfs do and also tend to have very minimal coat on their legs and between their toes. If they did, they wouldn't be able to perform as well as they do in the snow

 

[Jeannie]

Interesting Kristen. I read a book on Saints and it said the Newf was bred into the Saint as an experiment by the monks at the St Bernard Monistary. They wanted to give the Saint a warmer coat. Because it caused snow build up it was a complete failure.

If you keep the hair trimmed out of the paws that will help. Also as stated before Pam, crisco or Musher's Secret all work well.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Ah Jeannie, you may be right...a quick Google search reveals a lot of confusion over how this outcross came to be; to save the breed from extinction due to a massive die-off from 1816-1818 or to give them a heavy coat during (failed) experimental breedings in the 1830's. Since the Smithsonian seems to back up the latter story, I'll trust the veracity of that account

From the St. Bernard Club:

Three experimental breedings with Newfoundlands were done at the hospice beginning in 1830. Why were these crossings made 160 years after the breed's origin and after so many years of success using only the shorthaired dogs? Because many dogs perished during the more severe winters, the monks reasoned that the long hair of the Newfoundland would better protect the shorthaired Saint Bernard against the cold. This idea was disastrous. Ice formed on the long hair during the lengthy circuits through the high snow, and the weight of accumulated ice and snow very quickly incapacitated the dogs. Consequently, they could not use longhaired dogs for rescue work. Almost immediately, the monks returned to the exclusive use of shorthaired dogs for mountain work and began to give away all longhaired puppies. The Swiss recipients of these puppies used them for breeding with their own dogs, also resulting in litters containing both longhaired and shorthaired puppies. Selective breeding done by the most dedicated Swiss fanciers resulted in the return to the original hospice type dog with only the length of hair differentiating the shorthaired and longhaired varieties.

 

[padkins]

This happens to all of ours and they all enjoy chewing them off of themselves and the others. They usually take care of it pretty quickly and we don't even have to help! :goofy:

 

[blaue_augen]

Thanks everyone! I'm glad to know Suki is normal. Now, I hope she decides she likes to eat off her little snowballs so I can stop stepping in little puddles! lol I would have never thought of using olive oil or Pam or that there was such a thing as mushers magic!

Kristen & Jeannie, I had read about the St. Bernards before being crossed with Newfs, but I had only heard about one of the possible reasons it happened. And I knew I wasn't right thinking they were snow dogs ... but gee, Suki loves the snow so much! She must be part husky in there somewhere! lol.

 

[Erika]

snow turds.........lol

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Invest in good slippers I think the last time I forgot to wear them I ended up on the floor. (ps....I HATE WET SOCKS!)

 

[blaue_augen]

Invest in good slippers I think the last time I forgot to wear them I ended up on the floor. (ps....I HATE WET SOCKS!)

This is a VERY good idea! Thank you!!!