Poodles in winter. 10 tips for the snowy season

Can poodles stay outside in a snowfall? How long can they stay outside? Do poodles suffer from the cold? Is it good for them to play in the snow? How to protect their paws from freezing? These and other questions will be answered in this special article on Poodles in winterand we will give you the best 10 tips for you and your poodle to enjoy the snow safely.

Do poodles suffer from the cold?

Although the hair of poodle dogs looks thick and coarse, in reality, it is very light, poodles have only one layer of hair.

Most dog breeds have a double layer of fur, which protects them from the cold. This means that they have an undercoat underneath the layer of fur that we see.

The lower layers of fur protect dogs from cold and low temperatures.

Because of this, and because poodles do not have an undercoat, poodles are more vulnerable to cold weather and we must take special care when exposing them to snow.

In winter it is advisable not to shave him as much as in summer. The poodle is very cute with a cut teddy bearwith a lot of fur all over its body. See here the 9 best cuts for poodles.

Can poodles stay outside in a snowfall?

Poodle dogs, having only a thin coat of hair, should not be kept outside during the extreme weather of a snowfall or very cold days in winter. A poodle can suffer hypothermia when exposed to the cold for prolonged periods of time, even with a coat and protective boots.

A poodle should never be left outside in cold weather.

It is very dangerous for poodle dogs to be outside, because of their coat type, they cannot control the cold weather.

How long can a poodle stay outside?

Your poodle's body, with only a layer of fine fur, will react to cold weather in a similar way to how we humans react.

So if you want to take your poodle outside for exercise during the winter, it's a great idea, because they need exercise, even when it's cold.

While your poodle is active in the nive, and exercising, his body temperature is maintained at a safe level, but he should not stay outside for too long.

A good guideline for how long your poodle should stay outside is how long you can stay outside yourself.

Whenever you go for a walk, play or exercise with your poodle in winter, they should be safe, and an indicator of how long they should stay outside is until you are comfortable or snug in the cold, if you feel it is already too much, and you are shivering, come indoors.

Poodles in winter How to know if your poodle is cold?

To know if your poodle is cold, it is important to see his behavior, especially when we are out of the house.

The symptoms of cold are:

1. Tremors.
2. Slow breathing
3. Drowsiness.
4. Slow mobility.
5. Dry skin.

Why is my poodle shaking?

If you see that when you have been outside for a while, your poodle starts to shiver or shiver, and it is very cold, it is a clear sign that he is suffering from the cold.

There are other reasons why a poodle might shiver, but if you're out on the street on a winter day, rest assured that your poodle is shivering with cold.

Slow breathing

If you notice that his breathing slows down, your poodle may be cold, so cover him up and take care of him by hugging him and not letting him be in contact with the snow.

Drowsiness

If you notice that your poodle is more tired, sleeps a lot or is drowsy, it may be because he is cold.

Slow mobility

If you see that your poodle's movements in winter become slower and / or clumsy and his body seems to be somewhat stiff, it is because he is cold. Your poodle's muscles tense up in an attempt to fight the cold temperatures.

Dry skin

If you notice dryness in the truffle area of your poodle, it may be because his body is not tolerating the temperature well.

You can use a special paw or pad balm and nose balm.

Your poodle's nose in winter

Your poodle's truffle is always moist, it has natural moisture.

But in the winter, a poodle's wet noses often become cracked and damaged in the cold wind. The dry air absorbs that moisture causing a dry nose, which your poodle will lick to moisturize and the cold air will damage it. This process is repeated throughout his exposure to the cold, causing damage.

Such damage to your poodle's nose may include cracks. 

Over time, these cracks can get worse, but you can help with a product that will protect the truffle or nose of the poodle in winter.

The nose balm is a simple solution to protect the poodle's nose in winter.

Poodles in winter: How to relieve them from the cold?

If you notice any of the symptoms we have mentioned or several of them, it is important to protect your poodle from the cold as soon as possible, so that it does not suffer hypothermia.

You can give him a massage on his numb paws to warm him up and get the blood circulating well. If you see that the condition of the area does not improve, you should put him in immediately and cover him with a blanket.

If he does not improve in a few minutes, you should take him to the veterinarian urgently.

Poodles in winter. 10 tips for the snowy season

Poodles love to play in the snow, they are very energetic and active dogs and love outdoor games. They are not affected by cold weather and are always ready to play, especially during their first 5 years of life, when they are still very young.

Snow can be a lot of fun, both for us and for our poodles, but it carries with it a number of risks that we must guard against.

1. Safe walks in the snow.

The most frequent problem after walks in the snow are cold burns, the pads and edges of the ears are the most sensitive areas to the action of the cold, especially if it is windy.

The more active your poodle dog is in winter, and in the snow, the lower the risk to the pads.

Adult dogs that are used to going outdoors a lot are better adapted and tend to have thicker pads, but the pads of adult dogs that are used to going outdoors a lot are better adapted and tend to have thicker pads. poodle puppies are thinner and softer, and therefore more sensitive to the risk of burns.

It will also be greater depending on the time they are exposed, the presence of salt and friction with the asphalt, factors that can worsen the situation.

2. How can we prevent cold damage to the legs?

From micaniche.comexperts in the poodle breed, we advise the use of special boots for dogs.

Waterproof boots for dogs

There are many models and types, and the advantages of using them is that they protect the pads of our poodles from cold and abrasion.

The disadvantage is that not all poodles like to wear them, but we believe that everything is a matter of getting them used to it from an early age. And also to know the temperament of our little friend. Usually the poodle toy and the dwarf poodle are more docile when it comes to using accessories.

It is important to choose the right model and size and to choose those that are the most waterproof possible.

If we have not used boots how to take care of their pads

And if he's been running around in the snow, check his pads very well to make sure he hasn't hurt them: if you notice any color changes or sore spots, ask your veterinarian.

You may need to moisturize them. To do this you can use a ointment or balm for nose and paws.

When you get home, use a special moisturizing ointment or cream made with nourishing oils, butter and wax. If the paws are still red after the treatment, consult your veterinarian.

The use of a moisturizing product for the pads will prevent them from cracking. You can also put some on the ears, in the area of the exposed skin, this will prevent the risk of cold burns.

3. Avoid going out at the coldest times of the day and spending a lot of time outdoors with poodles in winter.

What we recommend is to go out for a walk with your poodle in winter at midday. Never at sunset or very early in the morning, which are the coldest hours.

We also recommend not spending too much time outside, a half hour and up to 1 hour, is adequate, do not overdo it if you are already shivering, your poodle, for sure too.

4. Put a winter coat on your poodle when you leave the house.

We also recommend that you fit your poodle with a coat suitable for winter, and if it is snowing or slushy, a warm but waterproof jacket is ideal.

Look at these beautiful 15 OUTFITS for small dogs

If it is too cold the most important thing is that your poodle's coat does not get wet and that it stops the winter wind.

Check out these beautiful poodle waterproof coat options on Amazon:

When choosing a snow coat, you should keep in mind that males should be able to urinate normally, lifting their paw comfortably.

You can also use a nice and funny panties to cover the ears The special ones for dogs are available and they are usually comfortable for most of them.

While ear problems are more rare, it's always better to be safe than sorry, and if it's too cold they are a good option, plus your poodle will look super cute.

5. Dry it well when you get home

Whenever you get home, be sure to check that it is not wet, and if it has gotten wet, you should dry it well, with a towel or hair dryer.

This way you will warm up faster.

6. Poodles should not sleep outside in winter.

If you have a medium sized poodle or a giant poodle and it has its stand outsideOn cold winter days, a blanket will not be enough to keep you warm.

Poodles should never sleep outside in winter.

His coat, as we said above, or poodle coat is a single layer and it is not enough for days below 10 degrees Celsius.

7. A little more calories to your diet

If you've seen our article on What a poodle should eat, you'll be happy to know that in winter you can increase their caloric intake a bit, which is quite restricted.

In winter, pay attention to your poodle's diet. Better at this time of year to have more calories to protect them from the cold.

8. Poodles at winterEnjoy the snow safely

When walking in the snow with your poodle, be careful because dogs get lost more easily in these conditions, since it is difficult for them to track with their sense of smell through the ice or snow.

Therefore, make sure he wears his collar and some kind of identification, a tag, etc. If it has a microchip, all the better. Also try to keep it always in sight.

You can bring a towel to wipe their paws from time to time and most importantly try to prevent them from sucking on them, as salt is also bad for them.

Do not let your poodle eat the snow, remember to carry water to drink: it is normal for them to run around happily and it is important to keep them hydrated and even give them treats to replenish lost energy.

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See here this training bag, where you can carry everything you need for your poodle comfortably:

9. Consult your veterinarian if there are more cases of canine colds on those days.

Canine colds are another problem we can encounter with poodles in winter. Many are contagious, so consulting your veterinarian is always a good idea.

Our poodle could catch a cold if he gets cold. But this is more likely to happen in older dogs or puppies, which we recommend to keep indoors and warm.

10. Beware of UV rays

Finally, remember that on snowy days when it is sunny there is a very high level of ultraviolet radiation and can cause sunburn in your poodle.

If your poodle has a pink truffle or light furless skin areas, we recommend that you apply sunscreen.