How to Keep Your Hands Warm Walking the Dog in Winter
, by Panther Vision, 3 min reading time
Simple ways to keep your hands warm on winter dog walks, safe leash habits for ice and snow, and how a heated dog leash fits in.
Your dog still needs a walk when the temperature drops, and the part of you that usually feels it first is the hand holding the leash. Here is how to keep your hands warm on winter dog walks, plus a few cold-weather habits that help keep your dog comfortable too.
Start warm and stay warm
It is much easier to keep warm hands warm than to rewarm cold ones. Put gloves or mittens on before you head out, keep your core warm so your body keeps sending heat to your fingers, stay dry, and block the wind. Mittens are generally warmer than gloves, while gloves give you more dexterity for clips and bags.
Dress in layers, including your hands
In extreme cold, a hat, face covering, mittens or gloves, a water-resistant coat and boots, and loose layers help. For dog walks, a thin liner glove under a warmer mitten works well: slip the outer layer off for a few seconds to clip the leash or pick up after your dog, and the liner keeps your skin out of the wind.
Hold the leash the safe way
- Use a handle you can grip with gloves on. Bulky gloves make thin or slick handles harder to hold, especially if your dog pulls.
- Never wrap the leash around your fingers or hand. Loop the handle over your wrist and hold the leash across your palm so a sudden pull does not injure your fingers.
- Shorten the leash on icy patches. Keeping your dog closer gives you more control on slippery sidewalks.
- Pick a practical length. A leash between 4 and 6 feet works for most urban and suburban walks.
Add heat where your hand actually is
Disposable warmer packets tucked in a pocket help between walks, but your leash hand is out of your pocket the whole time. That is the idea behind the POWERPAW Heated Dog Leash: warmth is built into the handle you are already holding.
From the product listing, the leash includes:
- Rechargeable heated handle with up to 7 hours of warmth on a full charge
- Four heat settings at 100/110/115/125°F
- IP67 waterproof rating for rain, snow, and slush
- USB-C charging in about 4.5 hours (no wall adapter included; does not heat while charging)
- 6-ft nylon leash with a tangle-free swivel clip, for dogs up to 250 lbs
If you also want pocket heat before or after the walk, the same POWERPAW line includes the POWERPAW 501 and POWERPAW 801 IP67 rechargeable hand warmers. The 501 runs at 100/110/120/125°F for up to 4.6 hours, and the whole unit heats. The 801 runs at 100/110/120/125°F for up to 7.5 hours and charges in about 4.5 hours.
Don't forget your dog
Cold weather is hard on paws too. Wash and dry your dog's feet and stomach after each walk to remove ice, salt, and chemicals, check paw pads for cracks, and use pet-friendly ice melts when you can. While you are rinsing paws, rinse road salt off the leash clip as well.
Plan for short winter days
Winter means more walks before sunrise and after sunset. Wear something reflective or lighted so drivers can see you. Our guide on how to safely walk your dog at night covers visibility tips, and a POWERCAP LED beanie keeps your hands free while lighting the path. For help choosing one, see our LED beanie gift guide.
Quick winter dog walk checklist
- Gloves or liner-plus-mitten on before you open the door
- Warm core layers, hat, and face covering
- A dog leash you can grip securely with gloves on, charged if it is heated
- Poop bags opened in advance and stashed in an easy pocket
- Something reflective or lighted for low light
- A towel by the door to wipe paws when you get home
Ready for colder mornings? See the POWERPAW Heated Dog Leash and browse POWERPAW rechargeable hand warmers.