Jack Haskins: Old dogs deserve special treatment

DEAR OLD TRAINER: Annie, our Australian Shepherd, is 12 and is a wonderful dog. Lately, my husband has been giving her treats and letting her get on the couch and other things we never allowed before. He says she deserves it because she has been a good dog for so long. I don’t mind, but will relaxing discipline have adverse effects on her behavior?

A: No. I do the same thing with all my dogs when they get old and never have a problem. Old dogs do not lose discipline merely because you reward their lifelong excellence.

I don’t recommend allowing a youngster to break the rules, but when a dog gives you unconditional love for 12 years she deserves special treatment.

Sometimes you adjust according to circumstances.

The Fontana del Nettuno in Bologna, Italy, was commissioned in 1563 by a local bishop as part of an urban beautification program to please the pope. As it neared completion the bishop became concerned about the rampant nudity of the figures in the fountain and sent a drawing to the Vatican to see if it might cause a problem. The pope wrote back, “For Bologna, it’s OK.”

For Annie, it’s OK.

DEAR OLD TRAINER: We are going to Lake Tahoe to ski during spring break. We have two dogs, Rook, a male bichon/King Charles mix, and Lady, a Weimaraner. They like to play outside in the winter, even in the rain, and never seem to get cold, but are not used to snow. Will the snow give them frostbite on their feet?

A: No, but I understand your concern. If you look at a dog’s feet you see bare skin on the pads. Even dogs bred for winter have bare skin on the pads, although they have thick hair on top of their paws.

It might seem logical that a dog could suffer frostbite on that bare skin, but I have lived in the mountains for decades and never heard of a dog suffering frostbite on the paws. Even my dogs who sleep outside all night in the snow never have a problem.

The reason is another of the many gifts dogs got in the genetics sweepstakes. Canine paws contain networks of veins that, because they are located so close to arteries, create an intricate – and rapid – heat transfer system that constantly warms cold blood and protects the pads.

Add concentrations of cold-resistant tissue and fat located in the pads, and a dog’s paw is as effective as a snow boot.

Frostbite is unlikely, but keep an eye on your dogs. Snow can be deep at Tahoe and a little guy like Rook might sink without a trace. Also, it is common for dogs to develop snow balls on the hair between the pads. If you see a dog limping or chewing on the foot, check the paws. You will usually find small snow balls, which can be hard as ice. Break them with your fingers and brush them out of the paws.

Dogs love snow, so as long as you use common sense Rook and Lady will be fine. If you see one shivering or acting cold, take the dog inside at once. Otherwise, let them enjoy the snow and don’t worry.

This story was originally published January 1, 2016 at 9:27 AM with the headline "Jack Haskins: Old dogs deserve special treatment."