Basset Hound's Happy Frolicking in Deep Snow Really Is Enough to Make Anyone Smile

My dog used to love the snow. She was a Canadian breed, a Nova Scotia duck Tolling Retriever, and she’d happily stay outside in the snow all day long. We’d beg and beg her to come inside as she took naps in the sunlight on iced-over porches. But you don’t have to a dog breed from a famously northern climb to like playing in a drift of freshly-fallen snow. After all, look at this Basset Hound, who doesn’t let his short, stubby legs keep him from a good wintertime frolic.

In this video, we see a Basset Hound who is enjoying a nice run in the deep winter snow. Actually, maybe it’s not that deep. After all, it doesn’t take much to bury a dog as short as a Basset Hound.

Related: Basset Hound Figuring Out How To Jump Is Too Cute for Words

Basset Hounds: Big Personalities in a Petite Package

Basset Hounds are familiar the world over for their stubby legs, floppy ears, and hangdog appearance. They were first developed as scent hounds for hare hunting, where their low profile made it easy for them to follow prey into their warrens in the ground.

However, this signature development can also cause genetic difficulties. All Basset Hounds have a type of genetic dwarfism called osteochondrodysplasia, which causes an extremely short legs and also somewhat fragile skeletons. Because of this, Basset Hounds have delicate spines and it can be painful, difficult, and even dangerous for the animal to jump up and down on furniture or even go down stairs.

It’s probably okay to frolic in the snow, though.

Snow Safety for Dogs

Though it’s completely safe to let your pet play in the snow, it’s best not to keep your animal outside during the winter months for long periods of time. The good rule of thumb is: if you’re cold, they are cold. (I was always cold, but my dog never cared about that.)

But although your dogs and children may wish to remain outside frolicking in the snow long after adults are ready to hit the cocoa, it’s not okay to leave animals outside with no warmth or shelter. They are not wild animals who are accustomed to outdoor temperatures and should be given real shelter from frigid and inclement weather.

It’s especially important to watch for signs of hypothermia and discomfort in dogs who you take them out on walks or to play in winter weather. It may appear in your canine as anxiety, whining, becoming very still, and seeking to burrow down in one place and go to sleep.

If your dog has a short coat, this may be the time to invest in a quilted jacket or sweater for them to help them stay warm. Also, dogs should be kept away from chemicals like road salt, antifreeze, de-icers, and chemical melts use to clean streets and sidewalks. After walks in the snow and ice, check your dog’s paws for trapped ice because frostbite can be extremely painful and harmful to their extremities.

When you do bring your dog inside after a period of snowy play, make sure they are given adequate chances to warm themselves, including warm blankets, a place by a fire or the heater, or other cozy resting spots.

But first you have to convince them to come inside.

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