Taking a walk to view the ice conditions along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Hosah Park in Zion, I never expected Cassie to start walking into the ice cold water. She’s usually cautious, but since we come here often in the summer, I think she was surprised at the cold water. She quickly backed out once I yelled at her.
It’s always a good idea to keep your eye on your dog near water, especially when there is ice. My last springer, Kaylee was a real water dog, swimming in any open water, no matter what the temperature. Sometimes when I took her to the beach in the winter, she would jump in and get thoroughly soaked. On the walk back to the car icicles formed on her fur.
Often the ice conditions along the lakefront are unsafe, with ice flows near shore. Once I watched a deer swimming in the lake, desperately trying to grab onto an ice flow, until it lost its strength and drown. Not something I like to think about. So keep your dog on a leash near ice! I’ve even seen my dogs walk on half inch thin ice. They can’t tell when the ice is too thin.
How does your dog act around cold water?
