How cold is too cold?

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

So I'm sorry if this seems to be stupid but in all honesty how cold is too cold for our doodles? Today it was -6 and with the wind chill it feels like -31. I know they have fur and I see plenty of dogs out and about but I'm curious I guess. All Loki wants to do is go play around in the snow but I'm concered about his paws and for that matter anything else! This could be me being paranoid but I've been mulling it over in my mind. Any thoughts you guys have would be great!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Glad I'm not alone! I don't think Loki has the common sense that Gracie has hahaha, he has run around so much at the dog park that his nails will start to bleed and then when I was chasing him around trying to get him to stop it just turned into a game of "keep away" until the treats came out, this only happened once but he had filed his nails down to the quic and one was bleeding and he acted like it was no big deal! Crazy dog!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Oh wow. Well, it's taken -15F to get her to not enjoy being outside for very long. As soon as it warmed up a little, she had no problems. When I take her out to play on "warmer" days she would probably stay out longer, but I get cold. So, when I bring her in she has snowballs in her paws that I clean out. :) I don't think dogs know - probably like children they just want to play. ;)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

OMD!  My personal temperature gauge doesn't even list those temps. (My watch doesn't start before 6 a.m. either LOL)  I can't believe anyone goes for potty breaks much less walks, when it is below freezing - guess I am way, way too sheltered being a Southern California native.  This discussion and chart was very enlightening for me. Thank you.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

You are so lucky to be in warm weather right now! We are in Michigan and I personally am over the winter! Loki would rather it always be cold- see attached picture :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

But I can't get those snowstaches pictures and I LOVE snowstaches.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I love snow beards! All the dogs at the dog park have them at this time of the year and they just look so adorable! I love "snowstaches" I've never heard that one before!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Lol. Nancy! We have no choice I have a very long down coat, a pair of thinsulate gloves, and boots. It keeps me pretty warm. Plus, layers if I need to be out longer. If you actually take walks, etc, you can sweat in the freezing cold, so you have to dress accordingly.
We have tough skin in the Midwest, so do our dogs. LOL :D

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have a long down coat too - I wear it when it is probably about 30 degrees!  :-}  In the reverse, many people don't realize that you also sweat when you are in a pool.  My kids played waterpolo and swam and we had to make sure they hydrated. Sort of the opposite idea.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Once it hits 30 here we will be running around in shorts!!
JK!
But it will feel super warm after these arctic temps.

I used to live in FL and had a down coat there. When I moved here in 7th grade, the kids couldn't believe that I didn't have a tan and that I had to wear a coat. in fact, they didn't believe I was from FL. Lol. It's all about perspective isn't it?

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Shorts in 30! I know the feeling, just two weeks ago it was 35 and I felt surprisingly warm compared to this weather we have been having!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I used to swim competitively and it's something you don't really think about until your involved in it in a team type of setting- btw that's much more my weather, no clue how I wound up in a cold weather state because I am not mentally built for it!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

My brother lives in the SF Bay area, he does enjoy the weather there ;)

To give you an idea.. it's below freezing from about Nov-March around here, we'd never go outside if we used that chart :p  Like Loki Luna kind of likes the cold - she gets way too hot in the Summer.

Here's a pic of Luna happily exploring our frozen wasteland of a back yard a couple weeks ago (complete with plowed doggie path!)