How much outside time in freezing temps?

[Cynthia Shoe]

Hi Everyone, 

It has been COLD in Colorado the past two weeks. In the 20's and below. This morning it was -5.

Lambeau apparently loves the cold and keeps barking at the door to go out and play. And really he has just been lying in pile of snow and eating it or sits on the deck, in the sub zero temps, just watching the birds. I am worried about how long I should let him be outside at any given time while it is this cold. He really doesn't want to come in,I have to lure in him with treats, but I feel like 5-10 min at a time is probably enough. Am I overreacting and should I let him just spend as much time outside as he wants? Or should I keep bringing him in for warm up breaks?  

Thanks! 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Personally, I would just let him tell you when he wants to come in (within reason). If he has a longer puppy coat and he's laying on the deck or the snow, his paws are probably tucked under him and he's toasty warm. Going from cold to warm to cold to warm, etc. every 5 minutes is probably worse for him than letting him stay out there.

We live in North Dakota, and Winnie is well acclimated to cold weather. Her first winter when she was a younger pup, she would often lay on the deck for a good 1/2 hour or longer in the middle of winter- especially if the sun was shinning and it wasn't too windy. The snow is actually pretty insulating. If we are out walking, I'll put boots on her if it is less than 20 degrees, but I don't bother if she is just frolicking in the backyard or laying on the deck. If it's less than -15 degrees, she doesn't usually want to linger outside very long! When it's that cold here, it's usually pretty windy, too. So, I worry more about her getting frostbite to her nose and ears. And, this winter I have trimmed her coat shorter, so she is letting me know that she wants to come in sooner. Makes for some nice "snuggle time" when she comes in! :-)

[Sarah Kuiper]

Any tips about getting them to wear boots?

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I've got Muttluks for Winnie- they are pretty easy to put on, and stay on nicely if the velcro is tightened well enough. It didn't take Winnie very long to get used to them. It WAS pretty funny, though! First she stood like a statue and then she danced around. :-)  I recommend putting them on right before you go out for a walk, and then walk like you mean business- no stopping. She's actually never tried to get them off. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Thats cute! My guys didn't dance but there was lots of high-toe-prancing if that makes sense. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I started putting the boots on in the house and practicing "wait" and "come" so they were focused on the treats and not the boots, my guys are very very food driven so it worked well. After that I would put the boots on them only if we were going for a big walk or to the dog park so they would keep associating good things with wearing the boots. Hope this helps!

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

I got mine from dogbooties.com. They are a type of canvas, and I also got a durable fleece set. Nothing fancy.
Once Gracie realized that they are to put on to go out to play, she didn't resist as much. I've taught her to give me her paw, so the front ones go on pretty easily.
The back ones I find go on better if you face the same direction she is facing. I basically ask for her paw, but pick it up and then slip them on.
Gracie can get a little too excited, so I've found the less space she has to get ready the better. So, we go to the utility room to put her booties on as well as her harness. It's the same door we usually go out anyway so it works well for her.

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

I read somewhere:

Windchill above 30- unlimited time outside
Windchill between 15-30- 15 to 20 minute spurts
Windchill below 0- only potty breaks

I'm not sure how that holds up but I think it's a pretty decent guide if you also look for clues from your dog to understand their comfort... I think if they're happy and running around you're probably good, but when they start lifting up their paws, it's time to come in.

[Cynthia Shoe]

Thanks for the advice! There was only one day he was running and then I saw him do a weird limp and hold up his paw, so I grabbed him and brought him in. I thought he was hurt but acted fine after a few minutes in the house. 

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

If it's icy I would be careful how much running he's doing. Loki LOVES running in snow and when he was 8months he ran so much that by 20 mins (which if you think about it is really not a long time) he had filed two of his nails down to the quic and was bleeding all over the snow. Now we wear boots :) . As far and temp goes I would let him tell you when it's too cold for him. I purposefully grow my boys hair out to about 5inches long (which is a nightmare to keep up) because they are so much happier outdoors and would live as outdoor dogs if I let them. I am pretty lax about them being outside because usually I see steam coming off of them when they are wrestling so they are obviously fine and since their paws are protected from their boots they seem ok. I live in Michigan and last year we had a few days were the temp was -22 not including the wind chill and those days we didn't play outside. When I think about it the most we last outside for a winter day is probably under 2 hours, maybe 3 hours if its in the 20's or warmer and usually I'm dragging them inside because I'm freezing and calling it quits. 

Slightly unrelated but I am a distance runner and they say for the average person when going for a run you should always add 20 degrees to the temp outside and that is what your body will feel like it is outside when you are active. So I figure if I'm adding 20 degrees for me and I do not have a giant fur coat I can't imagine how many added degrees a dog would need. Not sure if that makes sense but it makes me feel a little more relaxed and not feel like the worried dog mom as much.

Hope this helps! 

[Sally M]

We live in the Midwest where the temps have been above normal. However, it still gets cold; just not as cold as normal. We haven't had lower temps than in the upper 20s. This is what I do: Let's say the temp is in the 30s...if the sun is out, I let Penny (and our other girls) stay outside for a couple hours. If it's cloudy, I bring them in sooner. In years when it's not warm (warmth due to El Nino), we've had temps in the teens or single numbers; and below zero. When it's that cold, I only let them out for about 15 mins. max. One winter day (in the past), I let the girls out. It was 16 degrees. We don't get much sun in our yard during winter. I looked out the window to see all 3 dogs sitting in a tiny spot where the sun was shining. I took a photo. It was cute. Of course, I then let them inside.

[Christy&Riley]

Riley lets us know when it's time to come in by lifting her paws. Otherwise I think she would stay outside all day, particularly if there is snow to play in. We are always outside with her so she isn't out there long as I get cold quickly.