Anyone of you guys that lives in the Far North (with GSDs) wanna give me a good idea of the cold weather extremes that GSDs can withstand?

It is a rare year that I get more than a few days a year under 20 degrees here in the temperate rain forests.

Well, I can't tell you about cold, but I can tell you that ours want to play outside even in the current weather we're having. Heat index lately has been 105-110 with outrageous humidity, but the GSDs don't care, they want to train and play, albeit with more stops for water and the occasional hose down.

Only as far as minnesota, but we train yearround outdoors. (compared to the dobes & bull breeds they work much better). My dogs fuzzy toes clot up with snowballs. That must be why Long haired GSD are undesireable. 30 below doesn't seem to phase him, but 90 degrees and you'd think he was dying.

You wondering for working, or living outside?

I have yet to see either of my dogs refuse to go out and usually when it is sub-zero they take their damn sweet time doing their business.

Both of my dogs are house dogs, but I have seen people who have their dogs outside all but the coldest nights of the year. Then there are some that have indoor dog houses or at least get the comfort of a crate in a basement for the night. I think as long as the dog is used to being out in the winter and has a good coat and dog house that is waterproof that there wouldn't be a problem. I am talking temps above 0 F.

It gets damn cold here. I mean open the door and walk out and your nose hairs freeze cold. Add to that the wind that likes to whip between the arena and my front door and I sometimes wonder why the dogs can't just use the damn toilet like I do. I started cheating and using a horse stall for their bathroom last winter. The way the house is set up I don't have to go outside to get to the barn. It is still cold, but no wind.

So far as working, well, my only winter worry is the salt and ice melt. That stuff will reek havoc on a dogs paws in short order. The dogs really seem to enjoy the cold. They often will roll in the snow and make sure they get soaked before coming back in and jumping on me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well, I live up north and the dogs here believe it or not are a lot different. Even my dobes kinda develop an undercoat in the winter.

A friend of mine has a GSD that she keeps outside. The dog has been raised outside and has an insulated, dry doghouse. His coat is totally different then my other friend's GSD that lives indoors. His coat is much more like a Husky's coat. The temperatures can go down as low as -40 celsius. She has a rule that if the temperature drops below -32 she brings the dog inside. I'll tell you though he's not happy to be inside. He get too hot and as soon as she lets him out he dives right in the snow. I see a lot of people here that have GSD's that live outdoors and the winters can get really harsh here.

Two things critical for dogs comfort in the cold are dry and draft free. Some people just put the dog in the girage if it gets really cold but that is not necessaraly draft free. Another problem is making the dog house to big. It needs to be small enough to contain the dogs body heat. I think bringing an outside dog in when the weather gets real bad can be just as rough on the dog.

OK, interesting responses folks. I'm talking living outside 24/7.

Thanks, -32 C? Are you nutz? That is COLD! -F- that weather, I'll stick with the rain and nice 30F degree winters. Yikes. . . .

VanCamp
I spent my service in Ft. Lewis Wash. Beautiful country, mild Temps are great, but "all" that rain has to give you cabin feaver at times.

Yeah, I am sure the rain can give you cabin fever, but you think I go out a whole lot when it is in the single digits? Heck, we look forward to rain. Better than snow, ice, sleet, freezing rain....etc. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I remember when I was a young dog handler, stationed in Ellsworth SD, they had a policy that when the temperature went to -25, the dogs were removed from post. Of course we were put back out there, but the dogs were in the kennel. Oh well.

DFrost