Author: Lisa Maria Stöbich
In a natural Arctic environment, huskies would dig a hole in the snow and lie down to protect themselves from the cold. The snow insulates and ensures that body heat does not escape from the shelter.
As nice as it is to have fun with your four-legged friend in the snow, sometimes it can get really cold outside. But when do dogs actually get cold and what can you do about it?
Here you can find out when dogs start getting cold, how you can keep them warm in winter with our tips and if and when dog clothing can make sense.
How Much Cold Can My Dog Take?
The good news is: Our fluffy friends have natural weather protection with their fur. The top coat acts as a protective barrier against environmental influences and the undercoat as a fluffy heat pad that keeps your nose warm.
However, since it can get pretty cold in winter and it takes a lot of energy for your furry friend to keep warm, you should protect it from excessive cold. But how much cold can dogs tolerate?
Bundle of energy or retirees?
In winter, your four-legged friend has to maintain his body temperature and, despite all his motivation, he probably also wants to romp in the snow. That costs a lot of energy. If your fluffy darling is still very young, he needs a lot of sleep to recharge his batteries. Older women or senior dogs are generally no longer bursting with energy, and health-impaired sleuths in particular should not exert themselves too much.
Fur ball or hairless dog?
Does your Chihuahua tremble at the sight of snowflakes? Many dog breeds were simply not bred for cold regions and are not adapted to it. These include boxers, dobermans, greyhounds and chihuahuas. Bernese mountain dogs, St. Bernards, huskies and Newfoundland dogs brave the cold and love to romp around in the snow.
But why does race make such a big difference? This is often due to the body fat percentage. Greyhounds, for example, lack a protective layer of fat on their ribs, which makes them more susceptible to cold. With many breeds, however, it is mainly the fur that causes them to run away from the cold.
David or Goliath?
The size of the dogs also plays a major role. If your four-legged friend weighs less than 10 kg, he may already feel uncomfortable at 5°C. It gets really cold for your nose from -5°C. Then it's time to get into the good room. If your nose weighs between 10 and 25 kg, you can use it in somewhat challenging temperatures down to -10°C. The right winter sports enthusiasts are then large dogs from 25 kg. They still feel great at 0°C and even face temperatures down to -15°C.
They are at home where it is cold: huskies love to romp around in the snow.
Ultimately, every four-legged friend is unique and you should observe which temperatures are okay for your nose. If your fluffy companion is playing happily in the snow and is enthusiastically looking for new tracks, then you probably don't have to worry yet. However, if he starts to walk slowly, pulls in his tail and generally no longer makes an enthusiastic impression, he may already be too cold. Dogs also show this by snuggling up against your legs to warm themselves. At the latest when your fur nose starts to tremble, it's time to go home.
Can my dog get sick?
Do not expose your four-legged friend to the cold for long if he is already freezing. Because not only you, but also your fluffy companion can catch a cold. Then he starts coughing or sneezing, appears listless and unmotivated or has watery eyes. Fever and a runny or stuffy nose are also warning signs.
A harmless cold is usually behind the symptoms, but other illnesses such as dog flu, bronchitis or pneumonia can also torment your nose. If the cold-like symptoms worsen or don't go away on their own after a short time, you should go to the veterinarian's office.
Because of the cold, your fluffy darling can also catch an unpleasant bladder infection. You can tell by the fact that he urinates more often than usual and less all at once, does so in unfamiliar places, suddenly forgets that he has been housebroken before or has blood in his urine. In this case, too, the motto is: Off to the veterinary practice.
Tips against freezing - How to protect your four-legged friend from the cold
However, horror scenarios such as cystitis or pneumonia can be avoided. Protect your nose from extreme cold by keeping walks shorter. If your dog likes to frolic in the snow, you can use this to keep him moving. This allows him to warm up with his own body energy and protects himself from hypothermia. Don't let your furry friend settle down on a cold or wet surface, because that way it will cool down quickly.
With style through the winter
If your darling belongs to the somewhat more delicate variety or is poorly protected against the cold due to short or not too dense fur, you can also help a little. Because there is practical clothing for the winter not only for humans, but also for dogs.
You can decide whether dog clothing makes sense for your sniffing nose based on breed, age, state of health and size. A Bernese Mountain Dog is already wearing its own chic fur coat, while your Chihuahua will surely appreciate some warm support in the cold.
Practical and convenient
Pleasant material and good Fitting always come before style, because your dog doesn't really care what he looks like. The outfit of your four-legged friend should fit well and not disturb him or restrict his freedom of movement. Depending on the weather, there is a large selection of clothing:
- a raincoat: It's not just uncomfortable for us when we walk through the streets soaked to the skin, dogs don't enjoy it either. If your nose does not have enough protective top hair, a raincoat can sweeten its day.
- Dog pullover: They are perfect for dry weather and protect your fluffy companion from the cold. In fog and rain, on the other hand, they are counterproductive, as they soak up water and cool your dog down even more.
- winter coat: If it is particularly cold, or if your nose is particularly sensitive, you can equip it with a winter coat. These are made of warm materials such as fleece and often even have a warming collar for your darling.
- Overall: You can also use this to protect your dog's legs. But pay particular attention to the freedom of movement with the overall and only use it if you are sure that your nose really needs it and feels comfortable with it.
- dog shoes: You don't need to protect your dog's paws from the cold. They do this themselves with a sophisticated blood circulation system, through which our best friends do not lose as much heat through their bare paws as we do through our feet. You can protect the paws of your nose from harmful road salt in winter with shoes and also prevent ice from accumulating on the fur between the toes. But if your nose doesn't want to wear shoes, you can dog paws also protect in other ways: trim the fur between the toes and gently clean the paws with warm water after the walk.
You can combine your four-legged friend's outfit with one of ours dog walking bags or Bumbags Hanover for you, in which you can store treats and valuables.
Armed through the cold season
Don't be afraid of the cold: With the perfect outfit you are well prepared.
Whether with thick fur or dog clothes, you can confidently take it a little easier in winter. Keep the walks shorter and pass the time with some of our indoor games from our blog post Tips and tricks for rainy days - How to keep your dog busy at home. Your nose will definitely have a lot of fun with it and won't have to dig a hole in the snow.
Cover photo by Mikhail Nilov. More pictures from monicore and Erik Mclean.
About inara writes
Hatice Kücükhüseyin is a content expert at inara writes. Words are her favorite tool. With them she brings color and life into every text. When she's not writing, she watches French cinema.
