How cold out should it be when dogs start wearing coats--or not going out at all?

This is completely off the hip. I spent a healthy amount of my time growing up on a reservation in rural south dakota. In the badlands, it's not uncommon for winter temperatures to get to -15 to -20, and far colder with wind-chill factored in.

Being rural, we kept large-ish dogs(german shepards, border collies, golden retrievers...all mixed as some type of mutt) to keep coyotes off the horses and chase snakes. Now, understand that these dogs grew up outdoors, having only spend about a month inside when pups to make sure they didn't freeze, but they never came in. Granted, they had some decent/sturdy dog houses and we always made sure we fed them when things would get bitter cold(country dogs love scrambled eggs for heat and even some oatmeal), but most of the time they hunted on their own.

I never lost a dog to freezing(lost one to a fight with coyotes, one to poison bait used by a rancher, a couple to parvo before we started getting them a shot, and several to cars...but never the cold...). Don't forget that they are for all intents and purposes recently tamed animals only recently given cute little clothing lines and diamond fringed collars. My ancestors ran with them just over 100 years ago out in -80 degree winters(wind chill is a pain on the prairie), and animals have ways to survive.

With all that said, some exception has to be made by breed. Obviously your not going to throw a chihuahua out into the snow, or take a huskie into the desert on 100+ day, this is mostly a comfort thing...but for the most part, they will do just fine as long as they are healthy and not too acclimated to human regulated temperatures...just use common sense. If you were wearing a fur coat like his, would you die in these temperatures?

Then subtract 10-20 degrees and you have about what a dog can handle comfortably.

This is completely off the hip. I spent a healthy amount of my time growing up on a reservation in rural south dakota. In the badlands, it's not uncommon for winter temperatures to get to -15 to -20, and far colder with wind-chill factored in.

Being rural, we kept large-ish dogs(german shepards, border collies, golden retrievers...all mixed as some type of mutt) to keep coyotes off the horses and chase snakes. Now, understand that these dogs grew up outdoors, having only spend about a month inside when pups to make sure they didn't freeze, but they never came in. Granted, they had some decent/sturdy dog houses and we always made sure we fed them when things would get bitter cold(country dogs love scrambled eggs for heat and even some oatmeal), but most of the time they hunted on their own.

I never lost a dog to freezing(lost one to a fight with coyotes, one to poison bait used by a rancher, a couple to parvo before we started getting them a shot, and several to cars...but never the cold...). Don't forget that they are for all intents and purposes recently tamed animals only recently given cute little clothing lines and diamond fringed collars. My ancestors ran with them just over 100 years ago out in -80 degree winters(wind chill is a pain on the prairie), and animals have ways to survive.

With all that said, some exception has to be made by breed. Obviously your not going to throw a chihuahua out into the snow, or take a huskie into the desert on 100+ day, this is mostly a comfort thing...but for the most part, they will do just fine as long as they are healthy and not too acclimated to human regulated temperatures...just use common sense. If you were wearing a fur coat like his, would you die in these temperatures?

Then subtract 10-20 degrees and you have about what a dog can handle comfortably...

According to the Sacramento SPCA the 20 degree number you gave is the magic number for most dogs. All other sources give much more vague answers. The true answer is individual to the dog because it's based on the hair thickness / warmth and other factors that determine the internal temp of your dog.

I'm going to answer this even though I could not find specifics. Growing up our beagles never cam indoors and it would get down to 0 during the winter. They had a well built dog houses, with wind shields over the doors and lots of fresh straw bedding.So I don't know specifics but dogs can handle quite cold temperatures.

As for the breed question yes dogs can handle temperature ranges vastly different based on their breed. Slick short coats usually note warmer climates. Long fuzzy coats denote colder climates.

This has everything to do with trapping air next to the body.(Oilier coats are for wetter climates or dog breeds designed to work in wet locations for instance retrievers. ) Dogs on the Iditarod are subjected to MUCH colder tempatures and rarely where jackets but do require boots. Also it's important to remember that dogs will get used to certain temperatures and become more or less tolerant to others.

So if your dogs are used to a climate controlled house where it's always 70 winter/summer/fall/spring they are more likely to not tolerate a sudden colder temperatureI hope this helps.

It really depends on what breed the dog is. Some dogs are climatised to weather many degrees celsius (centigrade) below zero. Others cant handle 25 degrees celsius.

For example Alaskan Huskies can handle much colder temperatures then Basenjies which are African dogs. English Bulldogs can handle very cold temperatures usually a few more degrees above zero.

I think coats are more for the dog owner than the dog. My opinion would be dogs not in the AKC working class should not stay outside unsupervised (more than a 15 minute potty break). Dogs left alone for long periods of time seem to find or make trouble.

Temperatures - The Humane Society says dogs should go outside for exercise but not be left out, especially when it drops below 32 degrees. "Don't leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops below freezing. Dogs need outdoor exercise but take care not to keep them out for lengthy periods during very cold weather.

Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks. Dogs and cats are safer indoors in all sorts of weather. Animals should never be left outdoors unattended as they risk being stolen or otherwise being harmed."

Good rule of thumb - Brisk walks are great as they offer exercise. If you want to don a coat for the dog because it's a short hair variety or shivers upon returning indoors, great. Foot Protection - My dog is a chihuahua and within the first 2 years of having her, I noticed she would pick up her feet once temperatures got cold.

I picked up boots for her and now she gets the job done! The company that makes the boots is muttluks.com.

G'day Jasoncalacanis, Thank you for your question. As others have stated, it depends on the dog. Huskies were first used in the Antarctic in 1898 and were used until 1991.

According to The Australian Antarctic Division, "Coming from Greenland and Labrador they were familiar with snow, ice, cold and wind. Their thick double-layered coats provided excellent protection against the extremely cold conditions. " aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=6082 Other brees such as malamutes or greyhounds lack protective fur and are much more sensitive to cold.

Dog and Kennel Magazine has just published this useful guide to protecting your dog in cold weather. http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/news/pfizer01.shtml Regards.

Dogs already have coats, and 20 degrees domesticated dogs should be inside. Never dress your dog.... bulldogs don't like the cold anyway.

If the dog looks good in it, then it's never too warm for fashion.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.