Should You Play With A Dog In The Snow?

It’s a classic of many movies and TV commercials, a gorgeous dog wrestling with his owner in freshly fallen white snow.  It’s an idyllic picture of life with a dog during the winter, but real life isn’t always the same as a fully produced TV commercial or movie.  Wrestling in the snow with your dog could be something that leads to a New Haven dog bite injury.

There are several times where this opportunity might arise for you to play in the snow with a dog, either your own or a strangers dog.  While it may seem fun, and in many cases it is fun, you should be aware that some dogs find the snow to be agitating and can lead them to be more aggressive then they otherwise would be.

The question remains, should you or should you not play with a dog in the snow?  The simple and safest answer is no.  Dogs are unpredictable, especially when they get uncomfortable and snow and cold can make many dogs feel uncomfortable.

What can you do instead?

Rather then wrestle with a dog in the snow like the commercials and movies make to look like it is harmful fun, take a more hands off approach with dogs who are unfamiliar to you.  If you’re in the park with dogs and want to play with them in the snow, try a simple game of fetch or even something like “hide and seek” where the dog tries to find you hiding behind nearby trees.  This is a way to give the dog a good workout and have a little fun with the pooch without coming in contact with the animal and opening yourself up to a potential New Haven dog bite injury.

Please also remember that anytime you are interacting with a dog that is unfamiliar to you you should do so only with the permission of the dog’s owner and if the dog’s owner is unable to be found you should walk away from the animal and move on with the rest of your day.  Interacting with a strange dog without the permission and oversight of the dog’s owner can be dangerous and can cause serious injury.

In the event that you do get injured from an interaction with a dog you may need an attorney to review your case.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your case and work with you to protect your long-term interests.