Staying Warm With Your Dog in the Winter

With Winter in full effect, it’s that time of year to start thinking about how to keep your dog
extra warm during the cold months. Of course, not everyone lives in a cold weather environment, but even sunny places can get cold enough in the early morning or late at night for your dog to need some extra protection. That being said, not every dog is built the same. Some breeds can handle the cold with little to no extra protection, while others would benefit from a coat on even a slightly chilly day.

The first thing you’ll need to be aware of is your particular dog’s needs compared to the place where you live, or plan on visiting. Breeds like the Husky, Newfoundland, and Saint Bernard are built for cold weather. Generally, most cold-weather dogs tend to be bigger because they can retain heat easier. If you have a small dog, or one with short fur or hair, odds are they will get cold much more easily. Just because your dog does well in cold weather does not mean that you should leave him or her out in the cold for long periods of time. Even the hardiest of cold-weather dogs can get frostbite and injure their paws specifically if they are left out in the cold alone for a long time.

Many of the most popular breeds are ones that could use a little help during the Winter. Chihuahuas and Pit Bulls, two breeds that can be found in large numbers all over America, especially dislike cold weather. In both cases, their fur simply doesn’t insulate them enough. For breeds like these two, there are two basic things you’ll want to do to keep them safe and comfortable. First, limit their time outdoors. If you live in a cold environment but have a high energy dog like a pit bull, this can be challenging. This is one of the reasons we always encourage people to consider everything about their lifestyle before picking a dog that matches their needs. Of course, for smaller indoor friendly dogs, this might not mean much of a change to their routine at all.

Every dog needs to go out sometimes though, and for that reason it is imperative that you invest in some
cold-weather clothing for your furry friend. There are a number of great cold-weather coats for dogs to choose from, and after a little research you should be able to find the right one for your pet. Two things that are not recommended is covering their head and paws. If it’s so cold outside that your dog can’t be out, even for a few moments, without his head and paws covered it’s probably too cold for you to bring him out at all! When you do come back inside with your pet, make sure to wipe down the ears and paws – getting the cold off of these areas will help warm up your friend a lot faster.

One final important note is to make sure your home is cold-proof, but also pet-proof. Having a lot of electric space heaters and blankets near each other with a dog around is not a good idea. Keep them away from heated blankets too. Although this seems like it’s a good idea, they can easily burn themselves. With these tips in mind you should be able to get through even the toughest winter intact, and ready for Spring!