Winter and a sheepdog?
I always joke how Mady will never know the concept of cold.  But I still don't want to push it, how long should Mady be outdoors in very cold weather? (like -20 Celsius/-4 Farenheit) |
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In the Chicago area, we certainly get our share of sub-zero weather, and high wind chill effects. Oscar is shaved down every six to eights weeks, year-round, but he tends to run hot. Sometimes he begs to go outside and lay in a snowdrift.  My biggest concerns in extreme cold are his lungs and his paws. I will take about a 30 minute walk with him every day up until the temps drop below 20 degrees F. Then I shorten it to about ten minutes, just long enough for him to have a good sniff and to do his "business". If it's below zero, I just take him out to do his business, and then right back in the house. Laurie and Oscar |
Every winter Tonks and Luna play outside for up to 2 hours a day. I know we aren't as cold as some places, but we get windchill down to zero. And last year we even had a few snowfalls. The girls are spastic to go out in it; the colder it is, the better. I think you'll be able to tell when they get too cold. One time last year Luna played in the snow SO much she got all bound up with snow eggs. She was VERY uncomfortable; I had to take her home and pop her in a warm bath to help melt it. |
| It gets pretty cold here. We get temperatures in the negatives and the wind chills into the double negatives. I can't DRAG Asterisk in. She'll carve out a nice hollow in the snow and just lay there contented. I can call her, beg, and plead for her to come inside and she just blinks at me. OES love the snow. Especially with a full coat. Use your judgment. Mady will let you know when she's ready to come in! |
| They are more cold tolerant than you believe.......if they are on their own (and have some common sense on how to take care of themselves). I reminded of an OES who got lost in Alaska and was on her own for days. However, this being Mady's first and your first with Mady.......be careful. Paw frostbite comes to mind, salt burn on the pads from street salt are two big problems. Also there is snow balls in the fur......if the snow is quite wet. So I'd say, plan on letting her set the pace and activity to see how she does. She might be a snow bunny and love it. When down to single digits and below, just a few minutes, please. Boots and a jacket will help if you insist on a walk. Most young dogs love the cold and snow, don't discourage her joy, just be prudent. |
| The usual rule of thumb is if it's too cold for you to be outside for very long then it's too cold for your dog too. |
| Keep an eye on paws. That's usually a good indicator. They come up when feet are cold, and if you leave them out too long paws can crack, which is a terrible thing to deal with. I live in Winnipeg, and minus 20 (C) is not considered an especially cold day here. My dogs have handled that for longer periods of time with ease. The only thing that they ever really had trouble with was standing outside by the store on concrete in that weather. I think the concrete really sucks the heat from their feet. They fussed after just a few minutes, so back to the truck they went. (They usually sit on the bench outside Safeway with my hubby so they can socialize while they all wait for me to finish getting groceries.) Other than that, every sheepie I've had has been quite cold tolerant...we just always watch the feet. They'll tell you immediately if it's too cold for them. |
Bailee hates the heat  , but loves  the cold. The colder the better. By the time he comes in he is a giant snowball! |
I think I just read in one of my Dog magazines that when below 20 degrees farenheight ( don't know what that is Celcius  ), within 20 minutes, frost bite can happen effecting the extremeties, paws, genitals, under belly, ears.We have very cold winters here in NY, getting to 20 and below often, with or without snow. I let my dogs play outside and stay to supervise them. After about 20 minutes, I bring them in and if they ahve been playing in the snow banks and their fur is covered with the "snowballs", I dry off with a towel and then a low temp dryer. They can go out again but I let them stay and get warm inside a while...then out a while...tehn in...Yes, its tiring! |
| OMG Tracie! Minus 20 I'm such a wimp. |
Ashley wrote: We have very cold winters here in NY, getting to 20 and below often, with or without snow. I let my dogs play outside and stay to supervise them. After about 20 minutes, I bring them in and if they ahve been playing in the snow banks and their fur is covered with the "snowballs", I dry off with a towel and then a low temp dryer. They can go out again but I let them stay and get warm inside a while...then out a while...tehn in...Yes, its tiring! Ugh! I just moved to NY from New Mexico! I can't imagine standing outside with them when it's 20 degrees, forget about 20 minus! Ecco is going to drive me nuts this winter and probably get me frozen to boot. |
| I agree with all the above posts. If you can tolerate the cold your pup should be ok. I ski with Bella and if we are moving and it is 8 degrees F or better I am fine and so is she. We will go for an hour and a half no problem. Once it gets into the minus and if the wind is bad it is a little rough and we don't stay out for as long. We go where there is no salt so her pads are protected from that but ice balls are and issue. We are going to try boots this year to stop that issue. Bella loves the cold and would stay out for hours on end if she could. |
| I have been wondering about boots. More because the huge amount of salt that's used on Ottawa sidewalks. But it wont be helpful if boots are a real pain to put on. |
kerrym wrote: Ashley wrote: We have very cold winters here in NY, getting to 20 and below often, with or without snow. I let my dogs play outside and stay to supervise them. After about 20 minutes, I bring them in and if they ahve been playing in the snow banks and their fur is covered with the "snowballs", I dry off with a towel and then a low temp dryer. They can go out again but I let them stay and get warm inside a while...then out a while...tehn in...Yes, its tiring! Ugh! I just moved to NY from New Mexico! I can't imagine standing outside with them when it's 20 degrees, forget about 20 minus! Ecco is going to drive me nuts this winter and probably get me frozen to boot. Yes, she will! Shop NOW for a good warm coat, warm boots, gloves scarf and hat, and some long underwear! I am trying to find a silk pair for myself; its supposed to be great under your clothes to help keep the cold out! having the proper cold weather gear for outdoor time makes a big difference in how long you can last! |
| One of the most important things to watch for if they're playing the snow is snowballs between the toes. That's really uncomfortable for them and you'll notice immediately if it happens because they throw themselves down and start biting their feet. Clyde tore one off one year along with a fair amount of skin and was a bloody mess. Now I make sure the hair is trimmed back as far as it can go and I slather their feet in Musher's Secret if they're going to running around for awhile. That helped a lot. |
| We are definitely in the frozen north...of the US at least! Chewie and I do lots outside in the winter. Most of the time he has a good coat of hair - just one winter he was shaved down to lose the puppy coat, but still had his leg, belly and head coat. He can definitely outlast me. A couple things that are very important have been mentioned: Salt - very bad for the feet. If you walk where the pavement is salted, they need waterproof boots. If you even think they have walked in salted or chemical treated areas, you really need to soak/wash their feet. Makes me glad we are in the country! Pavement - in general, it is so much colder than snow or ice (yep, it is!), and limits the time they (or you) can spend outside before your feet freeze. I avoid pavement in the winter whenever possible. Actually I avoid it most of the time in general, as it is damaging to joints over time and we prefer grass or gravel surfaces for any activities. Snow - big difference in snow and moisture contents. Colder weather has dryer snow, so it is usually tolerated better. And none of those ice balls like pictured on Allison's girl . Warmer weather has wetter snow, so you really need to keep an eye on your dog. Dry cold is pretty safe, but wet and cold is very bad.  That's why I actually prefer the colder weather, it ends up being warmer... if you are dry, you can do a lot more and stay warmer. Trimming pad hair - highly recommended, and not just for snow. It tracks in less water in wet weather, mud in wet weather, yard and grass matter in the nice weather and snow in the winter. It also gives safer traction for any sport your dog does. Besides brushing, it is the one grooming item I would never skip. It is worth the little bit of time it takes in payoff with making life easier for you who have to do the house cleaning...and nicer for your dog too. Ice and snow balls are enough to drive your dog crazy...and painful. So much easier to just trim the hair and avoid the issue entirely.Boots - as we aren't urban, we don't use boots. With trimming the hair in the pads, things go great. We had our 1st little snow this morning.....ahhhhh  this is snow so tall it's over our 1000 gallon LP tank -  and sledding  |
| Aska hasn't really been in snow but I bought a waterproofed suit for her here is a picture of it all ! http://www.google.is/imgres?imgurl=http://64.115.204.118/40/40-246.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.petazon.com/price/brand/Show-Tech/3.html&usg=__0jTtky3Gc6e8SAWdjuxaxnUvSJg=&h=500&w=500&sz=19&hl=is&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ARbRt_f9VuNwvM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwaterproofed%2Bsuit%2Bfor%2Bdog%26hl%3Dis%26sa%3DG%26biw%3D1441%26bih%3D748%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=124&vpy=99&dur=376&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=81&ty=121&ei=oKzITJubJJXNjAfw9rH3Dw&oei=oKzITJubJJXNjAfw9rH3Dw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0 Here it snows alot ! Not that she'll get cold !  I'm so exited to se her in the snow ! |
| Good question about the snow and colder weather. Also very informative replies. I am not looking forward driving in the city when the roads are slippery  BUT I am so excited for Howie to play in the snow for the first time. It will be fun to hear all the stories of this year's pups experiences with snow...Mady, Aska, Howie, and several more sheepies under a year old.  I think doggy boots are my next purchase...then new boots for me. peg and pup howie who hopefully will make snow angels for me!! |
| I'm not sure who wrote it because I just continued to scroll and read all the posts but for ther person who just moved to NY...I meant 20 degrees (Farenheight) not 20 below zero But I live downstate NY...upstate I bet they do get 20 below! |
| Obviously you can play it by ear and if given the option to come inside and they want to - they will. I take it no one on here is intending on shutting them outside abandoned? Don't forget where these dogs came from in the first place - North European Wolves, probably a lot hardier than humans! The colder it gets the more turbo charged Archie gets, he loves lying outside in the frosty air and the rain if I would let him! Yes I have had an Archie shaped dry patch on our patio when I called him in out of the rain for a biscuit! - the side door was open all this time - he decided he liked it! - it was funny wet on one side and dry on the other, calling him in at night can be a challenge at times as he thinks its a game and just runs around like crazy avoiding us herding him! This occasionally comes in handy though when doing a bit of astronomy he'll sit next to me for company till the small hours! (apart from chasing our cats when they stroll past him and chaos ensues!) |
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