This time of year, we’re constantly bombarded with images and reminders to bring our dogs in from the cold. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “If you’re cold, they’re cold. Bring them inside”.
Most of the time, this is absolutely true.
I lose my mind when I see dogs outside with hardly any fur and holding their freezing paws in the air. Those dogs need to be brought inside.
What if they’re not cold?
I have to chuckle when I see a double-coated breed on one of those images. I imagine the countless number of times the owners tried to bring their pup inside until they finally gave up.
I often hear the same comment from many other owners of double-coated dog breeds: “Someone lectured me for letting my dog outside in the cold weather.”
Double-coated breeds have the thick, double coat for a reason. For example, the Great Pyrenees was bred as a livestock guardian. The livestock guardian breeds never leave their flock, so they remain outside year round. These dogs have shelter, but often they chose not to use it.
Why?
They really don’t need it.
As the weather turns colder, pyrs blow their light, summer undercoat for a thick, winter undercoat. Pyrs also have very thick fur between their paw pads to protect against frostbite. When I can actually force them inside, they chose to relax on the cold floor by the drafty door to keep cool. We even keep the house a bit on the chilly side to ensure their comfort!
Next time you see a double-coated breed outside in this freezing weather, remember this video. Then chuckle at the poor owner that has probably been doing this every 10 minutes for the entire day until finally having to force their fluffies inside 😉
My friend has a double coated mix, he thrives in the cold weather like they all do. Bain will run around when its minus zero, but on our last walk back in that weather we could feel him shivering.
I knew someone with an American Bulldog as their outside “guard dog”, he’d be let in on some cold nights, but not every cold night. He only had some blankets and a bed, I could not imagine leaving Bain out in that ever. Hated seeing that.
Wow. An American Bulldog does not have the coat for cold weather. Stuff like that makes me so angry.
On the other hand my guys hate the cold so much that they would rather wait til spring to pee and poop.
Haha that is too funny! I don’t blame them as I’m the same way 😉
This is so true! My Akita had a double coat and she loved the snow and never wanted to come in, but she hated the rain. Lol Your dogs look very comfortable in the snow!
I love when they’re completely covered in snow and just as happy as can be 🙂
LOL! Love that you keep your house a little on the cool side in winter for your dogs. You’re a very, very good human. 😉
Haha, aww thanks! 😉
Hahaha! So funny- it’s true though. The video was hilarious….they had no intentions of coming inside!!!
Scooter our pomeranian (also has a double coat) but we groom him in a way that we often strip out the under coat to avoid tangles etc. so he has jackets etc. to wear if it’s windy or rainy as that fuzzy coat sure gets outta control when wet 😉
They just looked at me like I had three heads!
Yes!! I get that EXACT same look from my Pyr. He looks at me like ….”Why? Why in the world would I want to come inside? It’s glorious out here!” 😂😂
I love you blog!! Such beautiful fluffies you have! 🙂
Dante and Ziva love to play in the snow, but they can’t stay out long because they’d freeze! We’re big advocated for keeping short haired pups inside.
Aww, thanks for the compliment! Those short-haired dogs don’t have enough fur to keep warm in this weather. Maybe you should get them a sweater knitted from pyr fur 😉 Apparently, it’s pretty toasty!
We have neighbors who would keep their Boxer outdoors all the time (he died a few months ago, I don’t know the cause). Granted it doesn’t get that cold here but it still can get miserable at night!
I do get yelled at sometimes for walking Mr. N in the rain.
A boxer definitely doesn’t have the coat to be outside in the cold 🙁
LOL….the looks they’re giving you!! “Why the heck would we want to come inside?” Some of the pictures I’ve seen are of a golden retriever and I have to chuckle, because I don’t think anyone was abusing that dog. Our golden Sheba loves nothing more than to lie outside on the deck no matter the temp and no matter if it’s snowing or not. I’m not sure if goldens are technically double coated? But they do have a thick undercoat and shed like crazy both spring and fall. I do have to eventually make her come inside!
It’s a tough battle! They always look at me like I’m crazy 😉
I think it’s funny when I see coats on fluffy dogs. I used to have two double-coated dogs and am new to the world of dog outerwear, which Ruby and Boca absolutely need. Ruby has acclimated pretty well to winter weather but Boca is not a fan at all. I used to have to force my Chow/GSD mix, Lasya, to come in from the cold. She would have slept on the porch in blizzard if she had her way.
Ruby and Boca definitely need it! I’ve seen a few people put sweaters on their pyrs. I have to imagine the poor dog is so hot!
The only time I get upset with people who have double coated dogs is when the weather is very serious and there’s no shelter for them. I know they probably don’t need it but at least have the option for them. We used to live by someone who was like this, the dog was an outside dog, got no interaction from his family at all and was basically a yard ornament. He had no job or anything and was just laying around in a small yard and he’d run the fence and bark at everyone as they passed. It was very sad. That’s really the only time I get mad. I know you take excellent care of the fluffies!! 😀
That is really sad 🙁 I force Mauja and Atka inside more often than they’d like 😉
Wow, they sound a lot like huskies!!!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Definitely! What pains they all are, haha 😉
LOL I posted an almost identical video of Storm last week. She absolutely did not want to come in and wanted to spend the day in her outside kennel. It was too cold that day so she had to come in. Our rule of thumb is under 20 with wind chill they come in. Over 20 with wind depends. 30’s they are out. They have an insulated dog house with straw but sub zero it really is too cold in our kennel because they don’t get much sun.
I don’t have a hard and fast rule like that, but I definitely limit their time outside as it gets below zero. Their looks assure me they’d be just fine (and they’ll come in when they’re good and ready), but I’m selfish and want the extra cuddles 😉
Bentley is definitely not a fan of really cold weather. My Golden used to enjoy the colder weather. I can’t imagine having a Pyr here in the south. They would be soooo hot.
You’d actually be surprised at how well they are able to do in hot weather. Their summer undercoat does a great job of keeping them cool.
I’m happy to know I am not the only one who has to stand out there and call for their dog over and over again.
I came here bc my 9month old won’t stop scratching the door to get out. It’s 37 and windy. He will not go into his dog house. Ever. He just sits out there in the middle of the yard and acts like he’s all about it but it worries me, even though I know he’s bred for it. I try to make him stay in but he won’t let me sleep if I do. He’s my buddy and I don’t want him outside when I’m inside. Sounds like I just need to let him do his thing, but What’s the limit? How cold is too cold? what if he doesn’t understand what he’s asking for and freezes to death while I’m asleep?
We just got a 15 month old Great Pyrenees. He is crate trained. The first night here, we put his crate in the laundry room, thinking it would be cool enough for him. We were wrong. Last night, we took his crate out to the unheated, enclosed porch. It stays about 40 degrees. Success. He slept 8 hours and was much more comfortable. We have owned several breeds of dogs, but this is our first.experience with a gentle giant. He is the most kind, calm and majestic dog we have ever had. We are learning as we go.
Omg…7 times tonight. Teddy wasnt having it. We live in a developed suburb. I do have a flock of backyard chickens. My Pyr is not having it, when I try to get him inside. He has a wind shelter alcove with a roof and long 4 inch thick pad, and wants to stay out there. I try to remind myself he is fine, but feel like an ass when I can’t convince him to come inside.
I can’t keep my pyr inside anymore now that is colder. I feel awful that I can’t get him in. He slept on my bed at night for years but learned how to open the door to the back porch at my new house. I won’t go in to all the ways I have tried to keep him inside on nights when I worry it will be cold, but it’s not working. I have 2 beds for him out there that he loves but not sheltered… yet and hope I can find one. I recently moved so we’re just getting used to the new climate. It’s going to be 32 tonight and he won’t budge. He can come in anytime because I leave the door open for him (crazy I know but I worry) but does so only to eat and drink.
If I get him in (with a treat ) he about tears the doors down to get out.
My wife and I live on a small farm and are owned by a full blooded great pyrenees. He has the barn but will sleep in the snow most times. He hates rain.