As winter sets in, you might be wondering: how do you know if your dog is warm enough? And how cold is too cold to take them for a walk?<\/p>\n
Its a tricky one; much depends on their natural coat. We go through this question on a daily basis in my household in winter because one of my dogs is small and hasnt got much coat she is currently wearing a jumper and on my lap, under a blanket.<\/p>\n
But the majority of breeds are probably OK in most Australian temperatures. In many ways, its easier to keep a cold dog with a thin coat warm than to keep a hot, thick-coated dog cool when the mercury climbs.<\/p>\n
That said, there are some good general rules to follow to ensure your canine friends dont suffer when an Antarctic blast hits.<\/p>\n
Read more: How hot is too hot? Here's how to tell if your dog is suffering during the summer heat <\/p>\n
My rule of thumb is to feel their extremities. If I can feel their ears or feet are a bit chilly to touch, that suggests their core temperature might be a bit low. Then I would provide a coat or put the heater on (if were staying in). <\/p>\n
Much depends on whether your dog has a double coat or not many dogs do. You can see if your dog has an undercoat by parting their hair and seeing if there is a downy layer of pale hair between the glossy top coat and the skin.<\/p>\n
Breeds that have a double coat include most kelpies, cattle dogs, German shepherds, and huskies. Some breeds, like Samoyeds, have really dense undercoats and can tolerate cold really well. A dog with a thick undercoat doesnt need anything more to stay warm on a cold day.<\/p>\n
If your dog has a single coat, you might need to think a bit more carefully about the cold. Breeds in this category include maltese, cavaliers, greyhounds, whippets, and staffies.<\/p>\n
In addition to coat, also consider the golden rule of surface area to volume ratio.<\/p>\n
Smaller animals have more surface area for their weight than larger animals, which means they have more surface area to lose heat from compared to a dog that is bigger and heavier.<\/p>\n
Small, lean dogs will generally struggle with the cold a bit more than other dogs for this reason. For example, Italian greyhounds are much more vulnerable than regular greyhounds. <\/p>\n
If we feel cold then they probably do too. A thicker coat helps slow down heat loss, which is good if you live in a cold environment, but not so great if you live in a warm environment.<\/p>\n
If your dog is shivering, hunched with tail tucked, trying to tuck their paws in close to their body or lift them off the cold ground, theyre uncomfortably cold. <\/p>\n
If the dog is being still, they are at more risk of getting cold. For example, we wrap our smallest dog in a blanket when shes in the car but once shes running around, she seems to generate enough heat to stay comfortable.<\/p>\n
At home, pay attention to where the dogs are sleeping. If they are curled up in a tight ball on the thickest bed they can find, or nuzzling under blankets, they are trying to keep themselves warm.<\/p>\n
My small dog has learned to show me if she wants a jumper on by wagging her tail and sticking her head in it if I hold it out to her. So we might be able to teach our dogs to answer the question Do you want another layer on?<\/p>\n
If dogs are not sleeping well at night or getting up a lot in the wee hours, its a good idea to check how cold they feel and try offering them some warmer sleeping options. <\/p>\n
If youve got a dog in the yard, make sure they have access to shelter and a bed to get them off the cold ground, especially when there is a cold wind.<\/p>\n
In Australia, a cold day is generally easier to manage for dogs than a hot day.<\/p>\n
So yes, you could have an Italian greyhound as a pet in southern Tasmania, as long as you add layers when needed and maybe accept they are going to sleep in bed with you under the covers.<\/p>\n
I like to let dogs choose, as much as possible, what they need to manage their core temperature.<\/p>\n
For example, you might provide a bed with a cover, or extra bedding and blankets on a cold day, so they can use what they need and move away from it when they have warmed up enough. <\/p>\n
Once I put a jacket on my dog, she is unable to take it off herself, so I am relying on being able to tell somehow that she doesnt want it on anymore. <\/p>\n
Still, this is an improvement on her simply climbing into my jacket with me all the time, which she still does sometimes even when shes got her own extra layers on. <\/p>\n
Sometimes you just want to cuddle up to a warm friend, though. Its hard to argue with that!<\/p>\n
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Is my dog too cold? How cold is too cold for a walk? Here's how to tell - The Conversation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As winter sets in, you might be wondering: how do you know if your dog is warm enough? Continue reading