January in Illinois is no joke. We had two weeks where the temperature never climbed above fifteen degrees, and watching Cooper refuse to go outside because the snow was taller than his leg was both hilarious and problematic. This month’s picks focus on what actually helped us survive the deep freeze.
The Standout: Hurtta Extreme Warmer Dog Coat
Price point: $95-125 depending on size at Chewy and local pet stores
Let me start by saying I resisted buying expensive dog coats for years. My argument was always that dogs have fur, they were bred for this, stop anthropomorphizing your pets. Then we got Cooper, and watching an Old English Sheepdog refuse to pee because the wind chill was negative twenty changed my perspective.
The Hurtta Extreme Warmer is the real deal. We have used it for three winters now. The interior lining actually stays warm without getting that weird wet-dog smell after an hour. The fit works with the Collie chest shape, which is something I struggled with on other brands. Most coats either ride up in the back or squeeze awkwardly around the front legs. This one stays put during our walks, even when Cooper decides to dramatically flop in the snow.
I tested four coats before landing on this one. The Ruffwear Cloud Chaser was a close second, but the sizing ran small for Cooper and the return process was annoying. The Hurtta has held up beautifully. The seams are still solid after three years of regular use, multiple washes, and Cooper’s general tendency to treat his clothing like personal obstacles.
Budget Alternative: Carhartt Dog Chore Coat
Price point: $35-50 at farm supply stores, Amazon
If ninety dollars for a dog coat makes you want to close this browser tab, I get it. The Carhartt chore coat is legitimately good for about a third of the price. It is not as warm as the Hurtta, so this is better for those thirty-degree days rather than the truly brutal stretches. But the quality is solid, the fit is decent for most Collies, and it has that practical farm-dog aesthetic that somehow makes me feel less ridiculous walking through suburbia with a dog in a coat.
Tractor Supply usually has the best prices on these. I have seen them at Rural King too.
Paw Protection: Musher’s Secret Paw Wax
Price point: $15-20 for a 200g jar that lasts months
Salt on sidewalks is the enemy. Every January, we deal with the post-walk paw licking marathon because someone decided road salt should be spread liberally across every surface in a five-mile radius. Musher’s Secret has been our go-to for four years now.
I apply it before walks, focusing on the pads and the spaces between toes. It creates a barrier that genuinely works. Rosie used to come home from walks and immediately start chewing her paws. Since we started using this stuff, that behavior dropped by probably ninety percent.
The jar lasts forever. I bought one in October and we are maybe a quarter of the way through it despite using it almost daily. You can find it at PetSmart, Petco, or Amazon. The price seems to fluctuate, so I usually wait for a sale. This pairs well with regular grooming to keep paws healthy through winter.
What Did Not Make the Cut: Dog Boots
I know, I know. Dog boots seem like the obvious solution. We have tried three different brands over the years. Every single time, it turns into a comedy routine where Rosie walks like she is navigating a minefield and Cooper just stands there looking betrayed. The Pawz rubber booties stayed on better than others, but Rosie chewed through two pairs in a week.
If your dog tolerates boots, wonderful. Mine do not. Paw wax it is.
Indoor Entertainment: West Paw Toppl Treat Toy
Price point: $15-20 depending on size at most pet stores
Winter means more indoor time, which means bored herding dogs trying to reorganize the household. The West Paw Toppl has become our daily sanity saver.
I fill it with plain yogurt and frozen blueberries, then stick it in the freezer overnight. That buys me about twenty minutes of peace in the morning while the kids are getting ready for school. The design is better than a classic Kong because the wider opening makes it easier to clean and harder for dogs to get frustrated with. Rosie figured out how to empty a regular Kong in about four minutes. The Toppl keeps her engaged longer because she cannot quite figure out the angles.
These things are nearly indestructible. Ours have been through the dishwasher probably a hundred times. The only complaint is that the small size is too easy for adult Collies. Get the large even for medium-sized dogs.
Reader Favorite: Snuffle Mats
Several readers have written in about snuffle mats for winter enrichment. I finally tried one in December after years of thinking they looked gimmicky. The verdict: surprisingly effective. We bought a basic one from Amazon for about fifteen dollars. Rosie treats it like a puzzle she needs to solve, which is exactly the kind of mental work that keeps herding breeds from destroying your furniture out of boredom.
The downside is cleaning. Ours collects crumbs like nothing I have ever seen, and it needs to be hand washed. Worth it for the entertainment value, but know what you are signing up for.
Seasonal Grooming: FURminator Deshedding Treatment
Price point: $12-18 at pet stores
Winter coat blowout is real. Around late January, Cooper starts shedding his undercoat in quantities that genuinely alarmed me the first year. The FURminator brand makes a deshedding shampoo and conditioner that I use every few weeks during this period. It does not eliminate shedding, because nothing eliminates shedding with these breeds, but it reduces the tumbleweeds rolling through my living room by a noticeable amount.
I buy this at Petco usually. Target sometimes has it cheaper. The conditioner matters more than the shampoo in my experience, so if you are only buying one, get the conditioner.
What I Am Testing for February
Next month I will have results on three car seat covers I have been rotating through. Cooper’s winter coat combined with wet snow has created some situations in my back seat. I am also testing two different snow-melting paw cleaners that claim to remove salt residue. Stay tuned.
Want to see more winter product recommendations? Check out my guide to grooming tools that are particularly helpful during shedding season. For indoor entertainment during cold days, my training aids review covers mental stimulation products that help burn energy without going outside. For keeping your dog healthy through winter, see my health and wellness products guide.
For general herding breed care information, the Herding Gene site has excellent resources on breed-specific health considerations.