How Cold is "Too Cold" for Your Dog?

Dealing with extreme heat in West Texas is a given. But what about extreme cold?

Another unfortunate situation that we witness during the winter months is dogs being left outside in temperatures that are too cold for comfort and often for survival. 

A common misconception is that dogs don't get cold because they have a fur coat. While it's true that their coats offer better insulation, it does not make them impervious to extreme cold. 

What we really like is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ thermometer: “If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your dog.”  

The American Kennel Club says use this “rule of thumb” to determine how long a dog may be outside in the cold, even if it is having a great time romping in the snow:

Puppies fewer than 8 weeks old: Keep indoors during cold weather
Toy breeds: Keep indoors during cold weather
Brachycephalic breeds (i.e. dogs with short noses, like pugs and French bulldogs and many other flat faced breeds): Keep indoors (especially when exercising)
Smaller breeds: Limit outings in temperatures below 32ºF to 10-15 minutes
Larger breeds: Limit outings in temperatures below 32ºF to 30-60 minutes
Arctic breeds: Can stay outside in the cold indefinitely, as long as they are acclimated

Keep your pets safe and warm this winter! 

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Shelia Huffman, Contributor/MHC Board 
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Shelia recently moved to the Greenwood community of Midland from Dallas where she was a staff writer for White Rock Lake Weekly and a columnist for Bubblelife Media.  A retired travel agent and event planner, she has  been an animal activist her entire life.  Shelia  has a daughter and son-in-law in Midland, a grandson in Dallas and a granddaughter at Texas Tech. She lists cooking and writing about food, and,  of course, playing with her Terrier Mix rescue, Penelope, as some of her favorite things.