How cold is too cold to walk my dog?

Question

I have a 7 month old American Bulldog. It is a short haired breed. She is used to going on long walks in the morning but it is getting cold and she is showing resistance. I feel that if I am all right then she should be and I have been making her go but it hasn't been below 30 degrees yet. On a normal day she is a little resistant anyway because she is actually quite lazy but once we get going she is fine.

So, how do I know if it is too cold for her or if she is just being lazy and wants to go back in the house where it is nice and warm?

Mike S, you are right. Many dogs are smarter than their owners, but mine isn't smarter than me. I know when she is trying to manipulate a situation.

Answer 1

Basically, if it's too cold for you to go a long period of time without protection on your hands and face, then it's too cold for your shorthaired dog.

You may want to look into getting her a jacket of some kind. That way she'll be a little warmer to start with and will probably be a little more open to going for a walk.

If she doesn't want to walk a lot, then shorten the walk and make up for it with indoor exercise. Play games, work on obedience, anything to keep her mind occupied and get her to move around a little bit.

Or make a weekly outing to PetSmart/PetCo. That way you can walk her around the store for a while and still be warm.

Answer 2

My puppy is a single coat breed and only 10lbs right now. I live in Maine and we just had about 10 inches of snow fall. It's under 30 degrees. She hesitated at first of course since it's the first time she'd seen snow. But now we go out for a few walks a day. They are only 15-20 minute walks but she does well and she actually loves to play in the snow. When she starts to really get cold she shivers a bit and you can tell she's ready to come in. When we come in I take a towel and dry off her feet making sure there is no snow between her toes and removing all the snowballs in her hair so that she doesn't become frostbit. She's doing well so far. Still doesn't love the whole pooping outdoors thing but it's all new still. I would say though that the more you need to bundle up to go out, the more they will too. Under 20 degrees and my puppy will be wearing fleece, I'm also going to try to get some boots for the really cold weather.

It's been in the 30's though for a month or more and she's been out and fine.

Just my experience for what it's worth.

Answer 3

30 degrees is not to cold! In fact you can always walk your dog for 10 minutes or so - unless it is blizzard conditions - then maybe you want to stay in... But my dogs have a really thin short coat and they will start shivering in snow but yet still love to go outside... just make sure you don't over - do it and keep them warm after (mine love a blanket on the couch afterward) OR you can buy a dog sweater...
Sounds to me it is more of a problem of your dog being lazy, rather than it being to cold!

Answer 4

My Dalmatian boy hates the cold and wet too. I used to drag him out on winter mornings, and then I realised it was doing neither of us any good. I'm lucky because I work from home so I can go on walks whenever the weather allows. This year, for the first time, I've got my boy a coat. It's padded on the inside and waterproof on the outside with a reflective strip. Very fetching. I thought he would rip it to shreds, but he loves it and it really keeps him cosy.

Answer 5

Your pup is showing her sense. It's too cold when she looks out the open door at the cold world outside then she turns around, jumps back in your bed and burrows under the blankets. Dogs are frequently smarter than their owners.

Answer 6

My boxer had very tender feet. My Mom made him boots with leather soles and crocheted uppers so his claws poked through. After the first few times...this HUGE dog would lay on his back and wave his feet in the air to get his boots on when it was time to go out! Hey, it's worth a try! Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Answer 7

I think above 30 should still be fine, that's cold for sure, but you may just want to purchase a dog jacket for her and see if you can get her to wear it and maybe shorten her walks.. When youi see that she's shivering, it's time to hurry home. Just keep your eye on her, if she isn't shivering she's prolly ok... shorthair breeds of course get colder faster, so just keep and eye on her responses to the cold.

Answer 8

awww, my pug hates the cold and the rain but i still walk him. Get your dog a coat it will keep her warm and dry. I don't think the weather so really bother her i think shes just lazy and chancing her luck lol

Answer 9

I think I will still walk my puppy but in shorter times when its cold I bought him a sweater, and you can get him a wax for his pads to protect him from the salt and cold ground. I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 10

You could always get her a coat. But at such a young age she shouldnt be going on super long walks and doing alot of excersise any way. So aslong as she will go out, take her.