Do you often get too warm while other people in the same area are still freezing? Dogs are as different as humans are. Some dogs freeze very quickly. Other four-legged friends, on the other hand, don’t mind the cold at all.
Maybe your dog is one of the cold-sensitive specimens. Then there are various ways to make him comfortably warm.
When do dogs get cold?
Even dogs within the same breed freeze at different rates. One dog trembles even when the temperature is slightly above zero in autumn. The next jumps around at -10 degrees still lively.
There are several reasons for that. On the one hand, of course, it depends on your dog’s coat. Dogs with short, thin fur and a bare belly usually freeze faster. Their long-haired counterparts are not as sensitive.
Of course, the breed of the dog also plays a role. A husky is naturally much better equipped for cold temperatures than a greyhound.
The size of your animal plays another role. A small dog cools down in a much shorter time. A large dog will take longer to do this. If your dog has short legs, his body will be closer to the cold ground. So he freezes faster.
Does your dog have something more on his ribs? Then he probably won’t freeze as easily as a very thin dog. The body fat percentage is also important.
The following dogs freeze faster on average than others:
- puppies
- older dogs
- small dogs
- sick dogs
- dogs not used to the cold
Does your dog spend most of its time indoors in front of the warm heater? Then he’s probably more likely to freeze outside than a kennel dog. If your dog is almost always outdoors, he will be less sensitive to low temperatures. He’s better used to it.
It also depends on how active your dog is. If he trots along slowly next to you on a winter walk, he will quickly get cold. Because he hardly moves.
Some dogs are less agile due to illness. For example with joint problems. Does your dog run and play outside a lot? Then it won’t cool down as quickly.
Can my dog sleep outside in winter?
We would advise against letting your dog sleep outside in the kennel in winter. Dogs can freeze to death in winter. During sleep, the body temperature drops because the dog hardly moves. This increases the risk of frostbite, hypothermia, and cold death.
How do I know if the dog is too cold?
Shivering is the most obvious sign that your dog is cold. Maybe your dog will pull in his tail at the same time. He arches his back up.
If your dog suddenly runs very slowly, this is also a sign of freezing. Just like a weird attitude. Especially if he moves strangely.
What can I do against freezing?
If your dog tends to freeze, you have to think of a solution. It is often not enough for your dog to simply move around more. Before you buy a dog coat or a winter jacket for your four-legged friend, you can try the following tip:
Shorten your walks in the winter. Go for walks more often during the day.
So your dog is not exposed to the cold temperatures for too long at a time. It then cools down less. You can use the time of the short walks for ball games where your dog moves a lot.
What temperature is dangerous for dogs?
The risk of hypothermia increases as soon as your dog is wet or unable to exercise for a long time. Then low temperatures become dangerous for dogs. The worst-case scenario would be fatal hypothermia.
How much your dog is at risk depends on several factors. Even if your dog has a thick winter coat with a thick undercoat, freezing temperatures can cause frostbite on its nose, ears, paws, tail tip, and testicles.
Almost all dog breeds find temperatures below zero uncomfortable. From a temperature around freezing point, it can be life-threatening for especially small dogs.
Small and medium-sized dogs are at risk from minus 5 degrees. Temperatures from minus 10° C are dangerous for large dogs.
Winter clothes for dogs
There is a wide range of winter clothes for your dog. When buying, you should pay attention to functionality and a good fit. To determine the correct size, follow the specifications of the various manufacturers.
For the winter jacket that fits perfectly, you should measure the back length of your four-legged friend. Do you know your dog’s chest and neck measurements? Then you can choose the right piece of clothing even more precisely. Use the size chart to choose the right size for your dog.
This is what distinguishes good winter clothing
A winter jacket or coat is practical for you. You can wash both in the washing machine. Especially in wet and cold weather, your dog can easily get dirty. Especially in autumn and winter. It is also important that the coat is adequately lined. At the same time, it should be wind- and water-repellent.
Reflective elements on the dog clothes are also useful. This is how you ensure more safety in the dark. Your pet’s dog coat should fit well. And it should not cut into the base of the tail, neck, or chest.
Ease of application is important
Make sure that you can easily put the garment on your dog. This is easiest with coats and jackets. You can simply place this on your dog’s back.
You can then close the jacket on his stomach. Usually with Velcro or with a snap fastener. In any case, you should be able to put the item of clothing on your darling quickly and easily. This is stress-free for your four-legged friend and you.
Do dogs freeze at night while sleeping?
Like us humans, your dog can get cold at night. It is therefore advisable to put a warm blanket in the basket during the cold season.
However, you do not necessarily have to cover your dog. Dogs are quite good at snuggling themselves into the blanket.
The smaller the dog and the shorter the coat, the more likely it will benefit from a blanket.
What is the ideal bedroom temperature for dogs?
The right bedroom temperature depends on your temperature sensitivity, as well as on your dog.
Some dogs sleep all night on the floor at 16 degrees. Again, other dogs crawl under the covers to owners as soon as the temperature falls below 20 degrees. So there is no general answer.
In winter, however, three simple measures help to ensure that your dog is always pleasantly warm:
- Make sure that the basket or dog bed does not get drafts.
- In addition, place a warm blanket in the dog bed.
- A slightly raised sleeping area protects against the cold of the floor. A bed that is a few centimeters off the ground is particularly suitable for young, old, sick, and small dogs. Of course, if you have underfloor heating, this does not apply.
If your dog is still too cold, you can provide additional warmth with special thermal blankets, heat pillows, and heat beds. Heating pads can be warmed up electrically or in the microwave.
This creates a cozy and safe sleeping environment, even in the coldest winter months. If your dog doesn’t take these offers and prefers to sleep on the floor, you know he prefers it cooler.
At what temperature do dogs freeze?
As discussed above, factors such as coat, body fat percentage, activity level, and health all play a major role in determining when a dog becomes cold. The following guideline can be applied:
- large dogs, from 25 kilograms: freeze when the temperature falls below 4 to 5 degrees Celsius
- medium-sized dogs, 10-24 kg: freezing when the thermometer reads less than 5-7 °C
- small dogs, up to 10 kilograms: cold if the temperature is below 7 to 10 degrees
Temperatures between 0 and minus 7 degrees are uncomfortable for almost all dogs. Only a few dogs breeds such as Eurasier or Husky are exempt. These are specially bred for the cold.
Below zero temperatures are particularly critical for small dog breeds such as the Affenpinscher, Chihuahua, or Miniature Spaniel.
Dogs weighing more than 10 kilograms tolerate temperatures down to around minus 7 degrees better. Nevertheless, they can suffer health damage. Usually, they don’t like to be outside when it’s cold.
The felt temperature is decisive. This is known as wind chill. This effect describes the wind-related difference between the measured air temperature and the felt temperature.
Even a comfortable 24°C can seem cold when you’re sitting on the beach with a lot of wind blowing in your face. And 4°C in winter can feel much colder in humid conditions and strong winds than on a calm, sub-zero day.
How long can a dog stay in the car when it’s cold?
Surely you know that dogs are not allowed to stay alone in the car in summer. The risk of heat stroke is too great here.
The same applies to cold weather. Because cars can cool down considerably in winter. Depending on the weather, the inside temperature can quickly drop to a critical value that is uncomfortable or dangerous for dogs.
If unavoidable, five minutes would be the absolute maximum. If the temperature is below zero, it can already get very cold in the vehicle within this time.
Keep in mind that a howling dog in a cold car can attract the attention of passers-by. If a dog-friendly fellow human being then reports you to the authorities, fines of up to 25,000 euros may be imposed.
Of course, it’s easier to park the car quickly and jump to the bakery. But do you want to risk your four-legged friend’s health?
Protect paws from moisture and road salt
Don’t just protect your dog from the cold and wind in winter. Protection against aggressive road salt is just as important. You should rinse his paws briefly with water after every walk. This washes away any salt residue.
This will prevent your furry friend’s paws from drying out. And your dog cannot ingest the salt by licking it.
Is it true that dogs don’t get cold paws?
Indeed, dogs’ paws don’t get as cold on their paws as we would think.
Japanese researchers have found that dog paws have a sophisticated heat transfer system. This means that cold blood is immediately warmed up again.
In addition, there is a large amount of frost-resistant connective tissue and fat in the paws. This keeps dog paws warm in the cold. However, extreme cold and prolonged exposure to the outdoors can lead to frostbite on the toes and paws.
The fur between the toes in winter is a particular problem here. Snow, ice, and road salt can get caught in it. And the resulting lumps of ice sometimes take a very long time to thaw again.
This can lead to cold injuries and frostbite on the paws. Road salt lowers the freezing point of water to minus 10 degrees.
You can simply take precautions by trimming the fur on the paws accordingly.
You should also dry it off as quickly as possible after a walk in winter. If your dog gets wet, he doesn’t have the opportunity to freeze.
The body reacts to the outside temperature is too low by freezing. The other extreme of the body’s reaction is heat stroke, a reaction to excessive temperatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is it too cold for a dog?
From a temperature of 7° C, most people start to feel uncomfortable. When temperatures drop below 0°C, owners of small breed dogs, dogs with thin coats, and/or very young, old, or sick dogs should take care of their animal’s well-being.
How quickly do dogs freeze?
Do dogs freeze? Larger four-legged friends usually don’t have that many problems with the cold, at least when the temperature is above -7°C. Small dog breeds freeze at temperatures just above zero degrees. But it’s not just the size that matters.
How do you know if the dog is cold?
Some certain behaviors and postures indicate that your dog is freezing. These include the following symptoms in particular: Cramped posture; Your dog pulls his back up and tucks the tail in. Trembling: Your dog ruffles its fur and starts to tremble.
Can dogs get cold at night?
This is not to say that all other dogs are impervious to the cold, however, as all dogs freeze at some point. The paws, nose, ears, and stomach area are usually unprotected and therefore particularly exposed to the icy weather.
How cold can a dog sleep?
The right bedroom temperature depends on your temperature sensitivity, as well as on your dog. Some dogs sleep all night on the floor at 16 degrees. Again, other dogs crawl under the covers to the owners as soon as the temperature falls below 20 degrees.
Can I cover my dog?
Absolutely yes! Firstly, there is no need to worry about your dog not getting enough air while sleeping under blankets. Dogs follow their instincts and would therefore come out from under the covers if they couldn’t get enough air.
Can dogs go outside when it’s cold?
Small breeds freeze even at temperatures just above zero degrees. That’s why many dogs don’t want to go outside in winter when it’s cold and wet. Some fur noses even defend themselves with all four paws and only use the corridor in front of the front door for their business.
When does a dog need a jacket?
For healthy dogs, a coat is usually not required for walks outside. For old or sick animals, breeds with short fur and no undercoat, a dog coat can be useful in exceptional cases. When buying, you should pay attention to light, skin-friendly, and breathable material.