It’s tough out there for dogs in winter.

Even though they have fur coats, with temperatures plunging to below zero in some parts of the country, they need to wear sweaters and jackets to stay warm on their walks.

And then there is footwear. You may notice that dogs in snowy climates often wear little snowshoes, and you may also notice the shoes can cause them to walk a little funny as they aren’t so used to wearing footwear on their paws.

We have the perfect example here with an adorable Longhaired Dachshund named Pickle.

In addition to his fetching sweater, his parents have decided the weather requires snowshoes for their little boy.

But Pickle is not so sure about these shoes.

At first, he tries walking backward, then lifting up various legs to understand the weight on his feet.

And now come the perplexed looks of, “Mom and Dad, what are you trying to do to me?”

He continues to do some leg extensions, either in an attempt to repel the shoes and kick them off, or he just doesn’t know what to do.

His parents wrote as a caption for the video, “Me thinks my hoomans should just carry me.”

And, well, sometimes that’s just the easier thing to do, right?

Well, we’re sorry Pickle had a tough time with his shoes, but if you want to see some stunning winter ensembles for little dogs, this is the account for you: @theminipickle.

Pickle, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, makes the most of the cold with some stunning layers, like in this chic look in the video below.

And here he is again, looking quite elegant in a blue cape-like coat.

Do Dogs Have To Wear Boots in the Winter?

As for whether dogs need to absolutely wear snowshoes in the winter, well, that depends.

The shoes can be beneficial to protect their paws from frostbite and cuts. They can also shield their feet from de-icing chemicals and give them better traction in inclement conditions.

However, not all pups necessarily need boots. Many dogs who are used to cold conditions have resilient paws and should be fine throughout snowy seasons.

You may also have a pooch who really hates wearing them and may find it just isn’t worth putting them on. In that case, you can just try to avoid areas with salt and just go on quick walks in the snow and sleet.

You can also wipe their paws down after every walk to help prevent injury and check for cuts.

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Jan 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.