Signs that Your Dog is Too Cold

I was out walking Rambo when this topic came to me. How cold does it need to be before a dog thinks it's too cold to be outside? And how would they tell you it's too cold for them? Rambo has taught me a few of the signs over the years.

Signs That The Ground Is Too Cold For Your Dog

This is something you learn when you take dogs for walks in winter. Two years ago the temperature drove to below zero at night and only made it back up around +2 degrees by our morning walk. Rambo and I left the warm house and started out. Usually my dog can go for up to an hour journey in the morning. If the ground is too cold for your dog the dog starts letting you know with small signs. First Rambo looked as if he was tiptoeing across the snow. Then I noticed he was limping soon after. This is a sign that your dog's paws are freezing. The dog will most often, like Rambo did, turn towards a place of warmth which may be a nearby building or home. It does not take long for a dog's paws to start freezing. On mornings like this, Rambo and I would make it maybe two hundred feet before he wanted to turn back. Other days, when it wasn't as cold but still in the teens, Rambo could go farther but still cut the route short and would turn for home. Dogs will always turn around and head for safety if they know how to get there. I would pick him up and carry him a few feet, rubbing his paw to warm it up; which after a few minutes he'd want to walk again and we'd be home soon enough.

Signs That The Air Is Too Cold For Your Dog

Another sign that your dog is too cold is how they react to the air when outside. Yes, most dogs can handle extremes better than most humans; but even dogs know how to judge a drop in temperature. Your dog is too cold when it shivers; yes dogs do shiver. When Rambo is getting cold his legs tend to shiver, and he will walk with a hunched over appearance. You will notice that your dogs tail is held close to the body to conserve heat. While Rambo doesn't whine, some dogs will make a sound of distress alerting you to their wanting to get to a warm place. If there is a wind chill, you really need to pay attention to how your dog is acting when outside. If the dog heads for a tree, building or car they are most likely trying to find a windbreak to block the cold air. Often the dog will move behind the object and curl up tight to generate heat. Rambo would hide under the house behind the steps and wait for me to get home if I was at work.

Signs That The Rain Is Too Cold For Your Dog

Dogs can tolerate rain more than people can. While I often try to head for home if I notice raindrops, Rambo will wonder why I'm worried if its not raining hard; he does tend to speed up if it starts to pour or the drops are heavy though. Signs that your dog is too cold when it rains are similar to the signs your dog is too cold from the air being cold. Dogs will often shiver while looking for a dry place. This is because the rain is cold, and since rain gets the dog wet, their skin gets cold and remains cold until they dry off. I usually towel dry Rambo once we get home. Another sign of a cold dog in the rain is when the dog is walking as if the rain weighs them down. Most dogs will walk normally in the rain if they are not cold.