4 Cold Weather Safety Tips for Dog Walkers & Pet Sitters

Winter means icy sidewalks, slushy streets, and frigid mornings—and if you’re a pet sitter, you’ve seen your fair share of all of them. After all, dogs still need their walks, and cats still need their care.

To help you prepare for cold-weather pet sitting, we’ve rounded up our best strategies for staying warm, keeping pets comfortable, and preventing stressful winter surprises.

1. What To Offer When It’s Too Risky To Walk

Temperature	Safe to walk?
Below 20ºF/-7ºC	No. Stick to potty breaks only.
20-32ºF/-7-0ºC	Maybe. Limit walks to 15 minutes.
32-45ºF/0-7ºC	Yes. Consider limiting walks to 30 minutes for vulnerable pups.

Cold weather can be risky for pets, and sometimes the safest choice is skipping the walk altogether. As a rule of thumb, avoid walks if the temperature drops below 20ºF. That’s potty-break-only territory.

Between 20–32ºF, walks should be kept very short (about 15 minutes max). Once temps rise above freezing (32–45ºF), most dogs can handle 20–30 minutes outside. Consider keeping exercise indoors, however, for extra vulnerable dogs, including:

• Tiny breeds like Chihuahuas or Yorkies
• Short-haired, thin-coated dogs like Greyhounds, Whippets, and Dobermans
• Flat-faced dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs
• Seniors, puppies, and pets with health conditions

What can you do about exercise?

If you’re boarding a pet or house sitting, swap outdoor for indoor enrichment and let the pet parent know your plan for keeping their pet active inside.

For dog walkers, if it’s safe to get to your Rover pet’s home, consider proposing a drop-in visit with indoor activities instead. You can try:

• Playing tug-of-war or fetch in a hallway
• Setting up a short obstacle course with cushions or boxes
• Offering puzzle toys or food-dispensing games
• Practicing some training cues for mental stimulation

Not sure how to message the change in plans to the owner? Consider sending a note like this one: “It’s too icy for a safe walk today, but I’ll spend extra time playing with Bella indoors and make sure she gets a potty break outside.” Most owners will appreciate your proactivity—and a follow-up picture of a pet having fun indoors can offer reassurance.

2. Prioritize Paw Protection

Winter sidewalks don’t always look dangerous, but they can expose paws to ice, salt, and toxic de-icers.

Chemical de-icers (salts and other ice-melting agents) can burn or irritate paw pads, and when a pet licks off residue, gastrointestinal upset or more serious toxicity can follow.

Antifreeze is another hazard—it drips from car radiators and collects on sidewalks and driveways. Pets can be tempted to lick it, either from paws or the road itself, thanks to the sweet taste of its main ingredient, ethylene glycol.

Cold exposure itself is also a risk to paws. Prolonged time on freezing ground can cause chapping, cracking, or in severe cases, frostbite on paw pads.

Here are some proactive steps you can take to protect a dog’s paws for winter walks:

• Use booties or paw wax (like Musher’s Secret). If your Rover dog is used to and equipped with booties, great! If not, consider asking the owner about using wax or balm to help repel snow and salt safely.
• Rinse or wash paws thoroughly after walks in snow or on treated surfaces. Use gentle, pet-safe cleaners (mild soap + warm water or pet-safe wipes) and carefully remove crusted ice between toes.
• Carry fresh water during walks. A water bottle makes it easy to flush salt or chemicals from a dog’s mouth if they nibble on snow.
• Watch for broken nails. Snowy romps are ideal conditions for nail tears and breaks—and immediate care can keep the injury from worsening.
• If you board dogs, consider pet-safe de-icing techniques. De-icers that use urea or magnesium chloride as the main ingredients are often much safer for pets—though they can still cause stomach upset, so it’s important to clean paws and monitor licking.

If a Rover pet has ingested de-icer, may have frostbite, or is showing signs of distress, don’t wait to get help. Call Rover Support to get connected with an emergency vet and learn next steps, whether that’s waiting and monitoring or a trip to the emergency room. Rover Support is here to help, available 24/7 at 888-727-1140.

3. Stay Warm

One of winter’s biggest challenges for pets and pet sitters alike is staying warm. Here’s what you can do to keep everyone comfortable.

Avoid cold or frozen water

One of most common ways dogs catch hypothermia is cold water. Avoid splashing in rivers or streams, and remember that frozen ponds or lakes are never safe to cross, even if the ice looks solid. Stick to well-cleared, familiar walking routes, and keep dogs leashed to prevent risky detours.

Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite

It doesn’t take long for a pet to get dangerously cold. Watch carefully for the following signs:

• Shivering or seeking heat sources
• Difficulty walking or moving stiffly
• Acting confused, sluggish, or unusually quiet
• Slow or labored breathing
• For cats: hiding more often, laying on heat vents or radiators, constant cuddling or clinging

Dry pets thoroughly

After every trip outside, use a towel to dry off paws, legs, and bellies, and remove any ice clumps stuck in a dog’s fur. Drying prevents chapping, irritation, and lingering cold that can make pets uncomfortable indoors.

Offer a warm place to curl up

Help pets warm up by providing a cozy spot for them to rest. A freshly warmed towel or blanket from the dryer or a safe heated pet bed can make a big difference in comfort.

4. Do Some Extra Winter Pet-Proofing

Winter adds a few unique hazards around the home and yard for pets. Consider dedicating some extra pet-proofing to specific areas during colder months.

• Keep pets away from pools and hot tubs. Even when covered, water can freeze beneath pool covers, creating a drowning hazard if pets try to walk across.
• Watch where cats might hide. Cats love warmth and may crawl into engine compartments, dryers, or other tight spaces. Always double-check before starting appliances or cars.
• Boost visibility outdoors. Shorter days mean more dark walks. Reflective gear, outdoor lights, or light-up collars make both you and a dog easier to see.
• Monitor heat sources indoors. Fireplaces, radiators, and space heaters can cause burns, so consider using baby gates to keep pets from getting too close.