I decided to get a new puppy in August, when the threat of winter was still far away. It seemed I had plenty of time to get him housebroken before the snow started to fall. I brought him home on the first of September and all through the month the evenings remained warm enough that I could step out onto the patio at midnight (and at 2am and again at 4am) with bare feet while I coaxed him to do his business. It wasn’t until October, when we had a series of damp chilly days that it occurred to me that snowfall wasn’t the start of winter and I had a few hurdles to get through already! Since he was born in July he hadn’t experienced unpleasant weather at all yet. I felt terrible as I herded him across the soggy yard. He looked at me with his big brown eyes as if pleading not to be forced out there. Then came the shockingly cold nights and mornings, when he would pause at the open door as if he had gotten slapped in the face. I think it’s important to mention here that my puppy isn’t a large breed dog, covered in shaggy fur who bounds through snow drifts chasing sticks. I have a Boston Terrier pup who, at five months old weighs right around fifteen pounds. His coat is short and thin, his sweet little belly is pink and exposed to the elements. I made him his first sweater in October by cutting the sleeve off an old sweater and making holes for his legs.

It’s been eight years since I’ve had a puppy and even though I thought I was completely prepared, he has certainly been able to test me at times. Like when he pooped in the heating vent or dragged one of my bras down the stairs while we had company! I’ve never had a small breed dog before so this guy is able to sneak into places my big dogs couldn’t fit even when they were young, like behind the couch and inside the cat box! There was one time I couldn’t find him in the back yard and was becoming frantic. He finally responded to my calls by crawling under the fence to get back into the yard! I realize all of these behaviors are to be expected from a puppy and would be experienced by dog owners anywhere, but I think there are different challenges that come with raising a puppy in Montana during winter.

Each time the weather progressed toward winter, house breaking would take a step backward. There were some days I wondered if he managed to go outside at all! His first experience with snow was fun to watch, as he wandered around the yard slowly looking up as if he were trying to figure out where that stuff was coming from. After each foot hit the ground, it would get picked up and shaken off. Then he began eating the snow and everything seemed to be okay! During the bout of sub zero temperatures that we experienced in December, he did better than I expected. However he couldn’t manage to stay outside long enough to do all he business so we reached a compromise. He’d run out onto the icy patio, pee and run right back in. We’d wait and I’d pet him for a couple minutes before sending him right back out to do number two. There were a few days when I put sweaters and booties on both the dogs to go outside because even my big stoic pooch was hesitant to go out and limping when he did. Before I moved to Montana, I would have never imagined I’d be sitting on my living room floor putting shoes on my dogs but I suppose these are just the things we do to take care of the creatures we love! It’s amazing to me how well the dogs tolerate them. I guess it’s similar to how I hate wearing a balaclava but I’ll do it if it means preventing the tip of my nose from breaking off from frost bite.

I have several friends in the Bozeman area who got puppies around the same time as I did. We’ve become a bit of a “support group” for puppy owners. We share our woes and compare progress reports since we’re all in the same boat. We ask each other how the pups have responded to the latest snow storm (by pooping under the coffee table) or share tips on combating cabin fever when it’s twenty below zero. It’s been helpful, if for nothing else than as a reminder that the things we’re experiencing (and that make us want to tear our hair out) are entirely age appropriate and to be expected. I’m slightly embarrassed to admit I’ve been the only one to cave so far and allow the puppy to sleep in my bed. My friends scolded me properly!

Training a puppy, and housebreaking in particular, truly is about the humans being trained just as much as the dogs. On a mild sunny day I’m much more likely to open the door and encourage them to go out then on a frigid snowy day when even I don’t want to be in front of that open door, let alone go outside. Although it’s been frustrating at times, I think we’re getting the hang of life with a Montana puppy in our house. For each of the moments that are difficult, there are a dozen that are joyful. I’ve been pretty impressed with how this little guy has adjusted to each phase of winter we’ve seen so far. We haven’t gotten a snowfall taller than he is yet so I’m curious to see how he responds and I have myself fully prepared to be shoveling some doggy paths through the yard!

Ramona Graziul is an animal lover whose life has been greatly enriched by all the pets she has loved over the years. She enjoys taking her dogs on adventures in our beautiful Gallatin Valley.