Do Doodles Need to Wear Snow Gear?

[Copper's Family]

We'll be taking our almost 3 year old doodle to South Lake Tahoe for some snow play.  It will be his first time.  Should we put shoes and a coat on him?  He seems to love the cold otherwise.  

[Michael Gurley]

I'd say it depends on how long he'll be out in the cold. I put boots on Sunny when she's out longer than about 15 minutes in the snow, and I put a coat on her if she's got a short cut and is out for more than 5 minutes. I'm sure she'd be ok otherwise, but I worry!

[Kim and Kashi]

I wonder about this as well.  I guess I just assumed since Kashi has a lot of hair, he would be OK.   I'm beginning to wonder though.  Our other dog Sadie, who has a very thick, long coat (chow/lab) can stay outside in the snow all day.   And sometime prefers to just lay in it.  Sometimes I have to make her come in.  Kashi wants to stay outside with Sadie, but I can tell the cold affects him much more.  He starts to shiver after not very long.  So, I always have to make him come in much sooner.  I just assumed when we got him, he would be the same as Sadie.  But, his hair is much thinner, and I just don't think it offers him near the protection from the cold thats Sadies does.   I feel bad, because he wants to stay out with her, but I have to make him come in to warm up.  i too have thought about getting him a sweater, or something to provide a little more insulation so he can stay outside with his big sister... As soon as I can be fairly certain of how big he is going to be, I will probably get him something. 

Hope you guys have a great time in South Lake Tahoe either way.  Sounds like fun!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think that sometimes the problem more so than the cold is the snow clumping and sticking between their paw pads and on their feet.  So, if you want to stay out and play for awhile I would suggest some boots just to prevent the ice balls if nothing else.  As for the coat, I think that depends on how cold it is going to be.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I did buy Charli a rain/snow suit. It wasn't for the cold because my girls don't stay outside too long at a shot. I got it so the clumps of snow don't have a chance of attaching to her legs. That is a royal PIA to take off but since you are only going on vacation, I wouldn't spend the money.

To remove the snowballs from her legs, I use my grooming comb. I just try and comb the snowball loose and wipe her down. I know some people use warm water and blow dryers - I have gotten to the point I just keep lots of towels to dry the floors behind her.

[Jodi and Stella]

I live in South Lake Tahoe! This time of year it's really not cold enough to warrent a coat for your doodle. I think I probably put Stella's on her 3 or 4 times all year (and I think it was more because she was so cute in it) I don't use boots at all. We haven't had any snow for a while and it is packed down pretty well so you won't get any clumps. We have a system coming in this week (all week) but it is supposed to be more rain than snow at lake level. When do you plan on coming out? I can keep you posted on conditions if you'd like!

[Copper's Family]

Thanks so much for your reply.  That was really helpful.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Mine don't wear any gear. But we don't stay out all day. But they are fine for a half an hour to an hour.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

We take Luna on hour-long walks in the snow and ice-covered dog park a few times a week.  When she was younger, the cold bothered her feet a little and we would pick her up and warm them up for a couple minutes.  Now she has turned into the one crazy dog that walks through the ice-lined slush puddles ;)  it doesn't seem to bother her one bit.

 

It really depends on your dog: how much cold exposure they have had and what their cold tolerance is.  Luna lets us know when her paws are cold, and she hasn't complained of cold paws since the beginning of Winter.