Choosing a dog
How do I choose a dog suited to cold climates?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Look for a dog with a thicker double coat and a build historically suited to cold weather work, since these traits generally provide better natural insulation than a short, single coat. Even a cold hardy breed still needs sensible precautions in extreme conditions, such as paw protection on salted or icy surfaces, and shorter coated dogs generally need a proper coat and closer monitoring during winter walks.
Coat types that suit cold weather
A dense double coat, with a soft insulating undercoat beneath a coarser outer layer, generally provides strong natural protection against cold, which is why many breeds developed in colder regions historically carry this coat type. This natural protection reduces, though does not eliminate, the need for additional layers during particularly harsh conditions.
What short coated dogs need instead
A dog with a short, single coat generally needs a properly fitted coat for winter walks and shorter outdoor sessions in genuinely cold weather, since it lacks the natural insulation a double coat provides. Watch for shivering, reluctance to walk, or lifting paws repeatedly, all signs a dog is uncomfortably cold and needs to head indoors.
Practical winter care regardless of coat type
Road salt and de-icing chemicals can irritate paw pads, so rinsing and drying paws after winter walks, and considering protective booties for dogs that tolerate them, helps regardless of coat type. Keeping outdoor time shorter during extreme cold snaps, even for a well insulated dog, is a sensible precaution.
Watching older and younger dogs more closely
Puppies and senior dogs generally regulate temperature less efficiently than healthy adults, so extra caution with outdoor time and additional layers is worth considering for dogs at either end of the age range, regardless of coat type.
A simple rule many owners use is that if the weather feels too cold for a light jacket outdoors, it is worth reconsidering the length of the walk.
Key takeaways
- A dense double coat generally provides strong natural cold weather insulation.
- Short coated dogs typically need a proper coat and shorter outdoor sessions in cold weather.
- Watch for shivering or paw lifting as signs a dog is too cold and needs to come inside.
- Rinsing paws after salted or treated walkways helps prevent irritation regardless of coat type.