Dogs rarely complain when they’re cold; they simply work harder to stay warm. When we understand how surfaces, age and natural materials shape their comfort, winter becomes easier.
What Temperature Is Too Cold for Dogs, and What Can Owners Do to Keep Them Safe in Winter?
Cold doesn’t announce itself with a number. It creeps in through stone floors, settles into ageing joints, and reveals itself in the small adjustments a dog makes without fuss.
Knowing when your dog is cold, and what to do about it, is less about thermometers and more about paying attention. Some dogs bound through frost without concern; others feel it sharply. The difference lies in age, coat, build, and where they rest.
There is no single temperature at which all dogs begin to struggle. A Labrador and a Whippet in the same room will experience that room very differently. But broad thresholds help guide us.
Above 7°C, most healthy adult dogs with moderate coats manage well, particularly if they are moving. Between 0°C and 7°C, smaller dogs, thin-coated breeds, older dogs, and puppies begin to feel the cold more keenly. Below 0°C, cold becomes a risk for almost all dogs, regardless of breed. Exposed areas, paws, ears, tail tips, become vulnerable, and the body works harder to hold its temperature.
These are markers, not rules. A ten-year-old Greyhound will feel 5°C more intensely than a young Husky. What matters is noticing when your dog is uncomfortable, and
We tend to think of cold as something that surrounds a dog. In truth, much of it comes from below.
Dogs lose significant heat through contact with cold surfaces. Stone, tile and concrete draw warmth away quickly. A dog lying on flagstones in January is working constantly to stay warm. Over hours, that quiet effort accumulates.
Older dogs feel this most. Circulation slows with age; joints stiffen; their ability to regulate heat diminishes. A bed that lifts them off the floor and insulates cleanly is not indulgence, it is support for a body that no longer compensates as easily.
Younger, healthy dogs cope better, but even they will seek out warmer ground by instinct. If your dog abandons their bed for the sofa or presses themselves against radiators, the floor is often the reason.
A dog’s coat is their first defence against the cold, but not all coats offer the same protection.
Double-coated breeds, Collies, Retrievers, mountain dogs, are built for winter. Their dense undercoat traps air and holds warmth. Short-coated breeds feel the cold faster; there is little between their skin and the air.
Size also matters, though not always predictably. Small dogs lose heat quickly because of their surface-area ratio, but very large lean dogs, Great Danes, for example, can struggle too. Without much body fat and often with short coats, they have less natural insulation than their size suggests.
Age shifts everything. Puppies have not yet developed full temperature regulation. Senior dogs lose muscle mass, metabolic heat, and mobility. Both ends of life need more consideration when the temperature drops.
Cold doesn’t just make a dog uncomfortable. It changes how they move and behave.
Low temperatures stiffen joints. For dogs living with arthritis or hip dysplasia, winter mornings can be noticeably harder. Reduced blood flow tightens soft tissue around joints, leading to slower rises, reluctance on stairs, or stiffness that eases once the dog has been moving.
Behaviour shifts too. Some dogs grow quieter or more restless; others curl tightly or seek out warm spots obsessively. These are signs of effort, the body working to maintain heat.
Shivering is the clearest signal, but not the only one. Cold ears, a tucked tail, hunched posture or reluctance to walk can all indicate discomfort. Indoors, these signs suggest something needs adjusting. Outdoors, they are your cue to head home.
Keeping a dog warm in winter does not require elaborate measures, only small adjustments and a willingness to observe.
Provide a bed that lifts them off cold floors and insulates without trapping heat. Natural fibres, such as wool, excel here. They breathe, wick moisture away from the body, and regulate temperature without causing the dog to overheat once settled. Synthetic materials can insulate initially, but often trap humidity, which makes a dog colder over time.
Walks are easier through the middle of the day, when temperatures are higher. Early mornings and evenings are the coldest periods. Shorter, more frequent outings may be kinder for older dogs or those with thin coats.
Indoors, avoid placing beds in draughts or against exterior walls. Even a few inches of repositioning can make a noticeable difference. If your floors are stone or tile, placing a rug beneath the bed adds another layer of insulation.
Dogs that feel the cold acutely, the elderly, unwell, very lean, or short-coated, benefit from a coat on winter walks. Choose one that covers the chest and belly, where heat loss is greatest, and remove it once indoors so the dog can regulate naturally.
Dogs rarely complain. They adapt, change position, and seek warmth where they can. That makes it easy to miss when they are working harder than they should to stay warm, especially when the house feels comfortable to us.
Winter asks more of a dog’s body. Recognising this and supporting them with thoughtful choices, is part of the care we offer in return for their companionship. It need not be complicated. Just attention, and an environment that supports the way a dog is built to rest, breathe and recover.
In the coldest months, the materials closest to their body matter more than most people realise. When a dog sleeps on something that holds their warmth without trapping damp or stale air, their whole system works more easily. It is a small, quiet way of honouring what nature is already trying to do for them and it makes winter far kinder on the dogs who share our homes.
If you’d like to understand how different materials affect warmth and comfort, our guide on what really goes into a dog bed explains the structure in more detail.
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