A general rule of thumb is if it is too cold for you, it’s too cold for the dog. But make sure you looking at weather fairly. “Don’t want to” and “too cold” can be two different things. It is important for your dog get some physical activity even in the winter.

The flip side is if you have an active and enthusiastic dog, it is still you, not the dog, who needs to decide when to go out. I can tell you there is nothing more embarrassing than carrying your heavy 50 lb dog down the block because refuses to put paws on the ground because it’s too cold.

Others things to look at when deciding when is cold “too cold”: the dog’s breed and type of coat, her age, any health conditions, and what she’s wearing if anything.

It also depends on who you are asking. After talking with my and three other local vets, I compiled these guidelines.

By “cold”, I mean 32 degrees F (0 C) or below.

Generally, many healthy medium or large size dog can walk for up to 30 minutes as long as it’s above 20 degrees F (-7 C). (Don’t forget to factor in the wind. If the wind chill is 10 degrees than we’ll call the temperatures is 10 degrees.) Lower than 20 degrees, walks of 10 to 20 minutes are OK but protection on the dog’s feet is highly recommended. For smaller dogs, cut the time to 15 or 20 minutes for temps above 20 F/ -7 C. Below 0 F / -18 C, everybody stays in. If it is snowing, it’s OK to walk if it doesn’t bother the dog and they have an appropriate coat or fur, but shorten the walk still. Wind and moisture lower body temperatures faster.

Breed and coat

You have to get information about your dog’s breed and his tolerance to weather. For instance, huge Bullmastiffs shouldn’t be out in very hot or very cold weather. Even Alaskan Huskies shouldn’t be left out in the cold too long unless you know how to work with dogs in cold for sledding, etc. (For instance, dogs that spend a lot of time in the cold need a slightly different diet.) In general, dogs with longer coats and/or are double coated (they have an undercoat of fur for the winter) are good in the cold and snow are good for up to 30 minutes. Single coat dogs should wear a sweater or jacket. Get more information on your dog’s breed from your vet or look up information about the breed on a dog book or Web sites like Wikipedia.com.

Age
Very young or very old dogs should stay in if the weather is below freezing. If under 40 degrees, consider a dog sweater or jacket and booties. Puppies and older dogs have trouble regulating their body temperature. Both are more prone to injuries on slippery surfaces, puppies due to lack of coordination and older dogs due to loss of flexibility.

Health conditions

With conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia, for his comfort, it’s better to keep the dog inside if the temperature falls under 40. Check with your vet about any conditions your dog has.

Temperament

Just because your dog does not want to go out doesn’t mean she should stay in. Use your judgment more than the dog’s. If the weather is appropriate (not bitterly cold, not very wet), get the dog outside, even if for a short while. It is still important to get some physical activity even in the winter. When walking in the cold, you still want to consider safety as well, especially for the feet. Also check out “ Winterize Your Dog”.

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