01-12-2018, 12:23 PM
Yes, there are some dogs who are built for the cold, and who actually suffer more in a nicely-heated living room!
I met a big German Shepherd called Jasper who was like that today. He had a double coat (like Wolves have.)
To know whether or not your dog is built for the cold, take a look at their fur. Those with a soft fluffy under-layer, plus a top coat of more coarse shiny hairs, are "double coated", and can take the cold weather better. Any dog with a single coat (that is, just one layer of simple hairs) can't take it at all, and they really need insulation.
But even the double coated ones need protection for feet in seriously freezing conditions. Some people who have dogs like Border Collies with long hair on their legs, also bind the dogs' legs with bandages if they have to walk through deep snow. Snow can get stuck on the fur there and freeze on. It's not only heavy to carry around, it can lower the dog's temperature. The bandages will pick up some snow but nothing like the fur will do.
I met a big German Shepherd called Jasper who was like that today. He had a double coat (like Wolves have.)
To know whether or not your dog is built for the cold, take a look at their fur. Those with a soft fluffy under-layer, plus a top coat of more coarse shiny hairs, are "double coated", and can take the cold weather better. Any dog with a single coat (that is, just one layer of simple hairs) can't take it at all, and they really need insulation.
But even the double coated ones need protection for feet in seriously freezing conditions. Some people who have dogs like Border Collies with long hair on their legs, also bind the dogs' legs with bandages if they have to walk through deep snow. Snow can get stuck on the fur there and freeze on. It's not only heavy to carry around, it can lower the dog's temperature. The bandages will pick up some snow but nothing like the fur will do.
