Cold mornings, rain and, since the clocks went back on 25 October, the evening walk already in the dark: winter is on its way. Shivering at the end of the lead, curled up in a ball in bed or refusing to go out… If you’re wondering whether your dog is cold, the answer is most likely yes. Here’s how to recognise the signs, which dogs feel the cold most and what to do to protect them until spring.
Is my dog cold? The tell-tale signs
A dog won’t complain, but their body speaks for them. The most common signs:
- Trembling or shivering, especially when standing still.
- Hunching up: arched back and tail between the legs.
- Lifting their paws one by one off frozen or wet ground.
- Walking more slowly, stopping or wanting to turn back, even though they normally love their walks.
- Seeking warmth: pressed against the radiator, curled up in a ball, burrowed under the blanket on the sofa.
- Their ears and paw pads are cold to the touch.
If the shivering is intense and doesn’t stop once you’re home, or if your dog seems listless, disorientated or very weak, call your vet straight away.
Dogs that feel the cold: the ones that need the most help
Not all dogs cope with the cold in the same way. The most sensitive are:
- small dogs (Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Bichon), which lose heat quickly and walk with their belly close to the ground;
- dogs with short hair or no undercoat: Greyhound, Whippet, Boxer, Dalmatian, French Bulldog…;
- puppies and older dogs, which are less able to regulate their temperature;
- dogs that are very thin, unwell or freshly clipped.
On the other hand, a Husky, a Mastiff or a Bernese Mountain Dog, with their dense undercoat, cope much better with dry cold. But no dog is made to spend the night outdoors in the rain.
How to walk your dog when it’s cold
The cold is no reason to cut out walks: your dog needs to burn off energy. You just need to adapt the pace.
- Shorter but more frequent outings during the mildest hours of the day are better than one long walk after dark.
- Don’t stand still. It’s when they’re at rest that dogs get cold: avoid long chats on the pavement.
- A dog coat, if they need one. It’s useful for small, short-haired and older dogs. Choose one that fits snugly and covers the back and chest without restricting the shoulders or their stride. A dog with a dense coat rarely needs one.
- Make sure you’re both seen. With dark evenings, a light-up collar or a reflective harness saves you a fright. And if your dog pulls on slippery pavements, here’s the method for a dog that pulls on the lead.
Back home: dry paws and coat
A wet dog gets much colder than a dry one. As soon as you’re in:
- dry them with a towel that’s just for them, especially the belly and paws;
- if they’ve walked on salt on icy pavements, rinse their paw pads with lukewarm water and dry them well between the toes: salt is an irritant and they shouldn’t lick it;
- if their paw pads are dry or cracked, ask your vet for advice.
At home: a cosy corner for the night
The bed matters as much as the coat. Place it away from draughts, the front door and large windows and, if you can, slightly raised: a cold tiled floor draws away a lot of heat. Add a thick blanket they can snuggle into, but don’t put the bed right up against the radiator, as it dries out the skin. If you turn the heating down at night, that blanket makes all the difference for a dog that feels the cold.
The blanket fills up with hair in no time: a self-cleaning, reusable pet hair remover picks up hair as you roll it back and forth, and works just as well on the sofa.
As for food, a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors may have different needs in winter: check with your vet before changing their portion. And if they have a water bowl outside, make sure it doesn’t freeze.
Mistakes to avoid
- Clipping them in winter: their coat is their best insulation.
- Letting them sleep outside or in an unheated garage, especially if they’re small, a puppy or older.
- Leaving them alone in the car: in the cold, the inside cools down very quickly.
- Bathing them too often: an occasional bath is enough, always followed by thorough drying.
- Putting a coat on every dog out of habit: a dog with a dense coat can get too hot in one.
In short: watch your dog, adapt their walks, dry them when you get back and give them a comfortable corner. To make their day-to-day easier, discover our selection for dogs and cats.