Special care for Dogs in the Winter Season (part 1)

With the upcoming winter months, nearly every pet owner wonders how to keep dogs warm in winter. About 30% of dog breeds are very sensitive to cold weather.

These dog breeds were born in countries where there is usually warm or not very cold weather, for example, Europe, Africa, some parts of Asia, or South America. And even though some people don’t like seeing dogs in fluffy designer apparel, sometimes it is inevitable, especially during the winter season. So why is it important to put some dog winter coat and dog boots on your furry friend and how do you keep your dogs warm in the winter?

The cold winter weather, when the temperature drops to or below zero, can cause problems to some dogs and sometimes even put them in danger. Pets require a little bit of extra care in winter. In particular, it applies to dog breeds with soft, short hair or no hair because they don’t have any natural protection. These hairless dogs are typically small dog breeds such as Chinese Crested, Peruvian Hairless Dog, or Mexican Hairless Dog, and they require special winter care. They certainly cannot go out without dog coat, boots, or other clothes. Dogs with short hair are protected a little bit better, but still, you should be careful during winter. You can take them out for a few minutes without any dog clothes, but for longer trips, we would recommend putting on some apparel. There are a few exceptions, some large or medium short-hair dog breeds are much better protected, and there is no need to put any dog clothes on them. Rottweilers or Dobermans are among them. On the other hand, it is not given that these dogs cannot wear clothes in the winter.

Height is the key aspect

In comparison, little dogs are in more danger than large ones.The problem is that their belly is closer to the ground, which can affect their thermoregulation. Also, old dogs and puppies are more prone to get cold. Puppies are not very well adjusted to the cold weather yet and the older dogs lose the ability to regulate their temperature too.

Fashionable vs. practical

These days, many people buy fashion(able) clothes for their dogs without any practical reason, and it has become a trend. Dog coveralls no longer serve only as protection, but it is a part of the styling of both the dog and his owner. There are plenty of shops focused on dog clothes. On the other hand, there is a group of people that is strongly against human-like dog clothes. And what do the dogs say? Unfortunately, we don’t know. Probably, some dogs don’t mind the clothes, but you should always consider what is fine or necessary for your dog and what may be too much.