Age and condition truly make a difference in their tolerance to cold. I learned this lesson well today.

Our heater decided to poop out on the coldest day/night we have had all year. The first day and night weren't so bad but last night and this morning it was absolutely freezing in the house even with a couple of space-heaters going.

I didn't realize how cold it had gotten in the night due to the 6 blankets and three people in our bed last night.

I woke up to find Nico curled up on the couch shivering. The temp in the house was in the 40s.

I felt absolutely awful for her, and guilty that she was suffering and uncomfortable on top of her already being unwell.

A stack of blankets and a warm rice sock later and she was fine and stayed under the blankets until the house warmed up.

Thank goodness they came to fix the heater today and she is fine now.
The kitties and the other two dogs were just fine, Loki had cold ears but he didn't seem unhappy in the least.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

Age and condition truly make a difference in their tolerance to cold. I learned this lesson well today.

Our heater decided to poop out on the coldest day/night we have had all year. The first day and night weren't so bad but last night and this morning it was absolutely freezing in the house even with a couple of space-heaters going.

I didn't realize how cold it had gotten in the night due to the 6 blankets and three people in our bed last night.

I woke up to find Nico curled up on the couch shivering. The temp in the house was in the 40s.

I felt absolutely awful for her, and guilty that she was suffering and uncomfortable on top of her already being unwell.

A stack of blankets and a warm rice sock later and she was fine and stayed under the blankets until the house warmed up.

Thank goodness they came to fix the heater today and she is fine now.
The kitties and the other two dogs were just fine, Loki had cold ears but he didn't seem unhappy in the least.

those oil filled radiators that you can get at the big box stores work great, had to use it a coulple of time last year

I'm so glad I got approved so I could say something!
We got an Italian Greyhound in Dec. 10 yrs ago, never had a single coated dog before, absolutely insisted she do all business outside, she's STILL not so well housebroke. She'll sneak off and poop if it's real cold out.
Got an ACD 4 wks ago (Leeburg people been Real help), put PAPERS in a bathroom(I hate dogs peeing inside) BUT, he is nearly 100% at 11 weeks, give him a treat everytime I see him go, he goes in there himself to pee and poop. Also, took him on a plane, in airport put newspaper in the bathroom, he peed on command, it was great.
When it's less that 20 degrees and the wind is blowing I think it 's hard for the puppy to learn about doing business outside; I think my pups have thought my judgement might be weak when I kept taking them out there every 1/2 hr. They have to go so often when they are tiny....

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

We got an Italian Greyhound in Dec. 10 yrs ago, never had a single coated dog before, absolutely insisted she do all business outside, she's STILL not so well housebroke. She'll sneak off and poop if it's real cold out.
.

Welcome to the boards. Toy dogs like papillons and Iggies are notorious for not wanting their feet wet or extremely cold temps and will use the excuse *lol* to potty indoors. It's the reason I litter box train to my garage where it is dry... reasonably temped... and simply use that area on wet nasty days. Works wonderful.

Single coated dogs are a bit more of a challenge than other dogs in dealing with temps. Doggie coats can be a must depending on the living situation.

My best is it too cold story was when I had just one dog here after I moved from Colorado. We lost power during a winter snow storm for a couple weeks and I woke up one morning with the house about 35 degrees and Booker the papillon sleeping inside of one of my pillows between the down and the pillowcase shivering with only his nose and the tip of his tail poking out. At 4lbs and a single coat he just couldn't maintain temp. Happily we bugged out that night to my sister's place.

Our IG sleeps in our bed, I think they were developed for that. She is my cow dog in summer, but after about Sept she is permanently frozen and in hibernation mode. What dogs do you have?

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

When it's less that 20 degrees and the wind is blowing I think it 's hard for the puppy to learn about doing business outside; I think my pups have thought my judgement might be weak when I kept taking them out there every 1/2 hr. They have to go so often when they are tiny....

I live in Vermont and have always had single-coated dogs (Dobes and Greyhounds), though not tiny ones. I've never had a weather-related problem with housebreaking, even with young puppies when the temps were ridiculously low (like below zero and with wind-chill issues) They get used to it pretty quick.

Though they are not dogs that should ever be expected to live outdoors, especially in the winter, both breeds enjoy spending time playing outside with coats on. Even so, they don't need coats for just a quick 'business' trip.

I will say that when it's very cold, they do tend to get their business done with a lot less poking around though.

 Quote: Dennis Jones

those oil filled radiators that you can get at the big box stores work great, had to use it a coulple of time last year

I think I might have to invest in one of those, just in case we loose heat again. The little space heaters we have do ok in a bedroom or bathroom but not the main part of the house.

My ex-wife and I had a Siberian Husky, and I've never seen that dog happier than when we went camping and it snowed. Rolling in the snow, digging his snout into snow banks, sprawled out, legs askew... what a funny sight.

Casey likes the snow too. We'll camp in temps down to around 15 degrees, but I do have a warm blanket for her to lay on/under.

As an aside, keep in mind that snow is actually a very good insulator, and being buried under a good layer of snow (as some Huskies are prone to do) means it never gets below 32 degrees. If you're of a mind, try building an igloo or snow cave some day and crawl inside... it's really quite cozy (assuming you've got appropriate clothing and a sleeping bag.)

Then, too, some people think I'm nuts.

The only time I've seen one of my dogs getting cold was in Labrador (a remote northerly region in northeastern Canada). It was February, we were doing fieldwork outside--and the temperature was -44 C. It was so cold that the liquid in my compass became thick and I could not take a proper bearing. At this temperature, my dog (an ACD Border Collie cross) would pick up her feet and begin to shiver--but even then only if we were stationary. As long as we were still snowshoeing along, she was fine. This dog was an indoor dog who spent a lot of time outside (with me).

My current dog, a coated (and decidedly not mellow) GSD was housetrained as a pup in the dead of winter. Because he loved (and still does) snow and everything that comes with winter in Newfoundland, I actually had trouble getting him back in--he wanted to linger regardless of the weather conditions (or the time of night...)
For both dogs, when we camp, I give them an insulated pad (a piece of those 'blue foamies) to sleep on-though my GSD will often choose to push even that aside.

Jeff-I hear you about the winter camping! Last winter I built one of these:
http://www.grandshelters.com/build-an-igloo-news3.html
and it was cozy..

As someone who lives in the northern part of the continent, I'm having a chuckle at the temps considered cold..12C here is considered a cool summer day! None the less, around here, folks are more likely to complain about the heat then the cold, and everyone loves winter,

warm thoughts!

Isabelle and Kapvik

I start looking for sweatshirts and hats at 16C, if God had ment us to live so far north we would be built like seals......


oh crap... I am