Protect Your Dog From Cold Weather

A common myth about dogs is that no matter the breed, dogs will do just fine being outside in the cold weather.

This may have been true hundreds of years ago before we started domesticating dogs while selecting animals with shorter, thinner hair than their wolf cousin. Today, you really must be aware of your dog’s coat type and tolerance to cooler weather.

Dogs can have one of two main coat types. A double coat consists of a top layer, called the top coat, that has stiff and naturally water repellent hairs that protect the dog’s skin.

A bit shorter than the top layer is an almost fleece-like layer, called the undercoat, used to insulate the dog during the cooler and warmer months.  The undercoat acts as an air conditioner in the summer months and keeps the cool air in.


Most herding, working and sporting breeds have a thick double coat. The single-coated dogs have only the top coat and typically don’t do too well in the cold. The Maltese and field spaniel, for example, have long, single coats; and the Doberman, Greyhound and most hounds have a short single coat.