A Canadian year asks quite a lot of a dog. Here is what changes with the weather, and what to do about it.
Spring
Melting snow uncovers a winter’s worth of road salt, grit and the occasional discarded chicken bone. Rinse paws after walks — salt burns pads and causes far more limping than people realise. This is also when ticks wake up, so start prevention before you think you need it.
Summer
Press the back of your hand to the pavement for seven seconds. If you cannot hold it there, neither can your dog. Walk early and late, carry water on anything over twenty minutes, and learn what heatstroke looks like: frantic panting, thick drool, unsteady legs, gums that are brick red rather than pink.
Flat-faced breeds have very little margin here. A pug in 30°C is in genuine danger in a way a husky in the same heat is not — and the husky is not comfortable either.
Autumn
The best walking season and the easiest to get complacent about. Days shorten quickly, so a reflective leash or collar earns its keep by mid-October. Watch for mushrooms on damp trails — a handful of species are seriously toxic and dogs are not selective.
Winter
Short-coated dogs need a coat and are not being precious about it. Check between the toes after every walk for compacted ice balls, which are painful and easy to miss. Salted sidewalks warrant either boots or a rinse at the door.
Frozen lakes are the one genuine hazard worth being dogmatic about: keep dogs leashed near any ice you would not personally walk on. Most winter drownings start with a dog going out after a bird.
Year-round
A recall that works under distraction is worth more than any piece of equipment you can buy. Practise it in the garden with something better than kibble, every week, forever.