How to keep your pup comfortable during winter in Japan

Recently here on City-Cost, I wrote about some considerations people may want to think about before moving their families to snowy areas of Japan. One thing I didn't mention though was the impact it can have on your furry friends! We have a shih tzu that was part of our family before moving to Niigata, and I'm sure it was as much of an adjustment for him as it was for us. Here are some of the things I recommend for keeping your pup comfortable if you live in a colder region of Japan. 

Jackets, jackets, jackets

When we lived in Tokyo, I didn't really put sweaters or jackets on my dog, but out here it's a lot colder, and much snowier. Our Niigata house is also much less insulated than other places we've lived in Japan (a cruel irony, perhaps!), so our dog has a rotation of sweaters and waterproof jackets for snowy days. It's really a case of function over fashion to keep our little guy snug, but I do love that they look adorable, too. You can find cute ones everywhere, from department stores like AEON, through to dedicated pet stores, and even Amazon. I usually opt for the latter so I can conveniently just browse options from home.

Try boots - but don't sweat it if your dog hates them

We also researched how our pup would handle going outside in the snow, and we bought dog boots to try and protect his paws. To cut a long story short, he hated them, and no amount of positive reinforcement would have him keep them on. Apparently this is fairly normal - some dogs just don't like the sensation of them, and it can limit their free range of movement. It's recommended to just keep an eye on your furry friend's paws if that's the case, and apply things like balms to make sure they're not getting cracked or damaged. When it's snowy out, our walks are short, sweet, and to the point!

Heated carpets are life

A couple of years back we bought a heated carpet for our tatami-floored living room, and it has become one of our favorite areas of the house to just sit and hang out. The family member who loves it the most though is probably our pup! He spends big portions of his day just laying on it, cozy and warm -- I don't think our household will ever go without one again!