How Cold is TOO Cold?

[Carol and Banjo]

Today it's freezing in NH!  And this is JUST the beginning of winter!   Banjo and I get out everyday to walk 2-3 miles and then he gets to run and play ball in the yard.  Today's 22 degree temperature doesn't seem to bother him in the least.  (BRRRRRRR!!!!!!   I don't like it much AT ALL!)    We don't have snow on the ground yet - maybe getting some this weekend.   I'm just wondering - when is it too cold to go out for exercise?  He's got a wonderful coat of fur....and it seems to do it's job....I do worry about his paws.     Are there any guidelines?

UPDATE - After doing a little "surfing" I found this...
"Generally, many healthy medium or large size dog can walk for up to 30 minutes as long as it’s above 20 degrees F (-7 C). (Don’t forget to
factor in the wind. If the wind chill is 10 degrees than we’ll call the
temperatures is 10 degrees.) Lower than 20 degrees, walks of 10 to 20
minutes are OK but protection on the dog’s feet is highly recommended.
For smaller dogs, cut the time to 15 or 20 minutes for temps above 20 F/
-7 C. Below 0 F / -18 C, everybody stays in. If it is snowing, it’s OK
to walk if it doesn’t bother the dog and they have an appropriate coat
or fur, but shorten the walk still. Wind and moisture lower body
temperatures faster.
You can find further info here - 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Since our temperatures have dropped, Vern and Fudge want to be out all day. The cold weather does not seem to bother them at all. I actually love the colder weather too, so I enjoy walking with them on a day like today. It always seems like we have the rail trail all to ourselves.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Oh, our cold snap has been high 50s to 60s during the day and in the high 30s or low 40s at night!!! But...this is Southern California you know. We have a heat wave coming this weekend and it is supposed to get in the 80s on the coast and 90s inland!!!! Great weather for going out to buy the Christmas tree! Geesh! Why don't you all think about coming here instead of going south? We don't have all that humidity nor many mosquitos or ticks!!!!!

[Kim]

that sounds dreamy!!!!!

[Carol and Banjo]

Why don't we!!??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sure, go ahead and rub it in, Nancie! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
I'd love to come out for a visit. Let me just consult my almanac and make sure my visit doesn't coincide with one of those out-of-control brushfires...or an earthquake...or ....

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Actually Karen, I would love to be in colder weather and so would Gracie.  She is always hot and panting and loves it when it is cold and windy.  Right now we are fogged in and the airport is closed.  She loves to sit out on the back lawn in the fog and get all wet!  Silly girl.  When we do take her to the snow she lays down her bare tummy in it and smiles.  When we were up in San Jose she was in the ocean and it didn't bother her in the least.  Even in the snow she will run through streams and get all wet.  This Doodle is made for colder weather and snow!!!!  So far, no fires this year.  But there was a house in North County that the Law Enforcement burned to the ground today!  It was filled with bomb and explosive stuff and there was so much they were unable to remove it all so they burned the house.  They had to evacuate all the neighbors, build a big fence around it and close one of our major freeways for 3-6 hours.  I'm sure you have heard about it on the news!  Come on out!!!!

[Carol and Banjo]

OMG...Nancie...It's so funny you should post this...as when I watched that news story tonite.....for some weird reason I found myself wondering if any DK'ers lived nearby!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

The burn took place in Escondido which is about 30 miles North of us.  We live in Point Loma which is a peninsula just off the city of San Diego.  I was on the freeway today that takes you to Escondido and noticed how little the traffic was since it was closed up North.  I wonder if people stayed home from work.  It is a huge commute highway!  Didn't affect us one bit!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

CA sounds good to me.  I love California!!!!

[Yvonne N]

Sounds like we have enough doodles to form a sled dog team. Can you picture the huskies looking at us? Hehehe. Astro loves, loves, loves the cold weather.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

With my babies, the pediatrician to me that if temps were above 22 degrees get the boys out of the house once a day. As far as duration, well that would be up to how you feel I suppose. I know when I am cold the dogs are going in because I said so :)

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

Both of my doods have a lot of fur right now but when the temperature dropped, I really noticed the impact it had on them. With Simba especially, he was wanting to go to the door to come inside before doing his business and he also suddenly started having poop accidents in the hallway again. I was one of those anti-clothing for my dog people, but I bought them both jackets and now Simba never wants his to come off! After his bed time walk when I take off his coat, he stares at it, barks, looks at us, barks some more and we have to move it out of site! They both seem much more comfortable outside and Simba is willing to stay out long enough to do his business. We also have the mushers stuff for their paws but we haven't started with that yet.