Many Goldendoodle owners live in snowy areas. This beautiful landscape is a sight, but do Goldendoodles like snow and the cold weather?
It depends on your dog’s preference. Some may love plopping down in a pile of snow, while others prefer to stay in a warm house. Usually, adult Goldendoodles like to be in the snow more than young puppies. Senior dogs don’t like the cold winter months and choose to stay inside too.
Here’s barksinthepark‘s guide to keeping your Doodle cozy and safe when snow starts to fall.
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How Do You Know If Goldendoodles Like Snow?
Generally, your Doodle dog loves spending time in snowy and cold weather. They have super fluffy coats, which allow them to stay warm in cold conditions. The dog’s coat can be compared to you wearing a coat on a cold day.
Although they may enjoy the cold weather, dog owners know they cannot handle it for too long. Other Doodle dogs fall under the cold weather breed category, which includes the Newfypoos, Huskydoodles, and Saint Berdoodles. These dogs have thicker winter coats and can spend quite some time outdoors.
After all, your Goldendoodle has a personality of its own. They may love the snow and jump in giant snowdrifts for hours before getting tired and falling asleep right outside. Other Doodles may only tolerate the snow to use the toilet and quickly run back into the warm house to fall asleep on their backs as this breed is known to do.
If you see your Doodle jumping, playing, and rolling all over in the snow, it’s safe to say that they really love it. Some even sit at the window or door, admiring the snowy weather as it happens. This is a definite way to know that Goldendoodles like snow.
What Cold Weather Temperatures are Good for Goldendoodles?
This is a general guide that a dog owner can use to see which cold temperatures a Doodle can tolerate:
- 45 degrees F is usually comfortable for them.
- Between 45 degrees F and 32 degrees F, your dog may become uncomfortable because they are cold-sensitive. This usually includes the smaller dogs, like the mini Goldendoodle.
- Below 32 F, cold-sensitive dogs must be inside.
- Below 20 F, only if your dog is able to handle it can be outside under supervision.
Other factors affect how resilient they are to cold weather.
Your Dog’s Coat Color
The coat color affects your Doodle’s tolerance to the cold. Usually, darker colors absorb heat from the day, which keeps the dog warm when they are flopping around in the snow.
Goldendoodles usually have black, chocolate, apricot, dark brown, red, or cream coats. The red, cream, and apricot come from the Golden Retriever breed, and the black, dark brown, and gray colors come from the Poodle breed.
Black and dark brown Doodles can withstand cold temperatures compared to lighter colors because they retain more body heat. While this may be a factor, all Doodle dogs have thick, fluffy coats, which comes down to wind chill and the duration of time spent outside.
Age and Health of Your Dogs
Adult Goldendoodles enjoy the snow and the cold that comes with it. Your Goldendoodle puppy and senior dogs may not feel the same enthusiasm, as cold weather affects them more severely. Older dogs can experience joint pain when there is a colder wind chill.
If your dog has health conditions, it can affect its internal temperature regulation, which means it cannot retain much body heat to feel warm in the cold. For many Groodle dogs, aging also causes their fur to lighten, which decreases their ability to stand the cold.
Size and Conditioning
Dog owners would know that Goldendoodles are usually medium to large-sized dogs. There are also smaller breeds, such as the Mini and Teacup Goldendoodles. The bigger sizes of these dogs result in a low surface area to volume ratio, which means they can stay warmer than small dogs. The larger your Doodle, the warmer they stay in cold temperatures.
Usually, Goldendoodles like snow if they are accustomed to it from the time they were a puppy. Dogs who are used to tropical environments will not handle the cold easily.
Winter Health Risks
The answer to ‘do Goldendoodles like snow’ has definitely been answered. However, as a dog owner, it’s also important to protect your furry friend from winter health risks.
Your dog has the potential to get the following if you don’t take precautions:
Hypothermia
This occurs when the dog spends too much time outdoors and gets wet in chilly temperatures or when sickly dogs are exposed to cold. In mild cases, you’d feel the dog’s paws and ears go cold. Your Doodle may show signs of weakness and lethargy, with stiff muscles and slow breathing and heart rates as it progresses.
Frostbite
This begins when your dog’s body gets too cold. The body starts pulling blood away from the skin area to the center of the body to stay warm. The dog’s paws, tail, or ears get so cold that ice can form in the tissue, causing damage.
With frostbite, you might not even notice it at first. However, always check your Goldendoodle for signs of grey or pale skin. The skin will also turn cold and hard. As frostbitten areas get warm, they can be very painful.
Knowing the signs of winter health risks helps you and your Goldendoodle play safely in the snow. If you cannot stand outside without a jacket, then it’s probably too cold for them to be outside too.
Ways to Protect Your Doodle in the Winter
There are various ways to protect your dog in winter so you both can have a fun time in the snow!
Paw Wax, Dog Booties, and a Dog Jacket
Although the Goldendoodle has thick fur that keeps them warm, extremely cold weather would require them to wear a jacket. A good coat should reach from the neck to the bottom of the tail while protecting the stomach.
Winter salt on sidewalks can burn and hurt your dog’s paws and is toxic for them to lick. You should wipe their paws clean before they lick them. Their paws can also be cracked due to the cold weather.
You can easily solve this with paw wax, which has healthy fats that keep their paws moisturized. It’s really easy to use – just rub it directly onto your dog’s paw before they head out in the snow.
Since Goldendoodles have long hair, you must also trim your dog’s fur that grows on their paw pads. Otherwise, snow can clump around this hair, leaving your dog’s paw frozen and sore. You should also consider using snow boots to protect your dog’s paws.
Don’t Overfeed
While your dog does need an extra layer to keep warm, it shouldn’t be a layer of fat!
Winter may bring lazy behavior, so they are not doing much running around or walking. Therefore, your Goldendoodle does not need more calories as its activity level is fairly low. Make sure to feed them high-quality dog food for a healthy coat and energy.
Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Anti-freeze is commonly used in winter. This chemical is tempting for dogs, so your Doodle may think that they have found a nice treat and will happily lick it. However, it is toxic to dogs, and a small amount can be deadly.
Keep your Doodle out of the garage or driveway, where they may find anti-freeze and other chemicals.
Proper Snow Removal
Goldendoodles love to crash into the snow, but it can be dangerous for them. Snow piled near walls and fences tempts even well-trained dogs to climb over. When you shovel the snow, don’t put it near fences.
Snow and icicles form on your roof, which melts as the sun comes out. This can slide and hurt your Doodle while they’re playing outside. If you cannot clear this, keep them away from the roof overhang.
Pay Extra Attention to Older Dogs
Cold weather will aggravate joint problems and arthritis in senior dogs. Therefore, it’s vital to maintain a gentle exercise routine with them to keep those joints moving. Be cautious of slippery surfaces, and ensure you have a cozy set-up for resting.
It would help if you got a natural joint supplement to help their joints and ease the pain. This helps them be more comfortable in the colder months.
Other Winter Safety Tips to Remember
- Your Doodle should continue to exercise in the winter months. However, remember to start slow; they have to warm up too!
- Be careful of fireplaces inside or outside your home. Don’t leave them burning with your dog alone, even if you are trying to keep your Goldendoodle warm. Always use a safety screen to protect them from embers, flames, and soot.
- Don’t let your dog sleep too close to heaters; they may get burned or start a fire if they knock into them.
FAQs
Do Goldendoodles need sweaters in winter?
Although your Goldendoodle will grow a winter coat, it is best to put a sweater on them when they go outside in cold temperatures.
What temperature is too cold for a Goldendoodle?
45 degrees Fahrenheit is about the lowest temperature where you can safely leave your Doodle outside. As the temperature drops, keep your Goldendoodle warm by bringing them indoors.
Conclusion
It is clear that Goldendoodles like snow, as it gives them opportunities to play, explore beautiful scenery, and cuddle up with their family. You have to keep them safe by staying prepared by trimming your dog’s fur around their paws and perhaps investing in a pair of snow boots.