With temperatures dropping significantly in January in the UK, many of us might prefer staying home under a cozy blanket with Netflix. However, our furry babies don’t have that luxury—many still need their daily walks, no matter the weather.
But how cold is too cold for your pup? And when should you bundle them up before heading outside? Concerned dog parents are increasingly worried about their pets’ health, leading to a +509% surge in Google searches for “keep a pet warm”.
Frederica Caneiro, a certified dog trainer at Woofz by nove8, a puppy and dog training app, said: “Dogs are warm-blooded, and long walks outside in low temperatures can lead to hypothermia or frostbite.
“Keeping your dog indoors in freezing winter weather may be a good idea, especially if it’s -7°C or lower. Though dogs have different tolerances to cold temperatures, you can use some general guidelines to know how long you can keep your dog outside in winter.”
- Small breeds are already at risk of getting cold when the temperature is 0°C, with anything below -5°C posing a high or extreme risk.
- Medium breeds can tolerate colder temperatures compared to smaller breeds, but pet parents should be concerned if the temperature drops below -10°C.
- Large breeds face a medium risk down to -10°C, with the risk of illness rising to high or extreme when temperatures hit the -15°C mark.
“When the outside temperature drops below 0°C, keep your winter walks short and track your dog’s signs of discomfort, such as shivering and taking paws off the ground. Below -6°C, it can be too dangerous for your dog to stay outside unless you use dog coats and jackets.
“Depending on your dog’s breed, they should walk barefoot in the snow for no more than 15-30 minutes. Besides the cold ground, your dog may damage their feet because salt covers the sidewalks. To keep dogs’ paws safe in winter, use dog boots, apply paw balm, and wipe down the paws after walks.”