How Cold Is Too Cold For A Newfoundland?

Happy winter Newfies!

It’s that time of the year when Newfie owners are standing by the begging their Newfoundland to come inside.

In many areas across the country cold temps have hit and Newfies are loving it and Newfie owners are freezing.

The “If you’re cold, they’re cold” memes are circulating and owners of cold weather breeds are looking at each other shaking their heads.

I’ve already had a few comments on Instagram telling me to bring my dogs inside. 

I would if I could but they’ve turned up their selective hearing to the max and all I’m getting is blank stares into my soul when I tell them to come inside.

I know that my Newfies aren’t cold and me knowing that trumps your amateur advice.

However, those that are embarking on their first winter with a Newfie might be a little concerned and rightfully so.

The media and animal rights activists have brainwashed people into thinking that dogs, no matter their breed, should never be outside in the winter. 

Newfies are built different than your average dog and well cared for healthy Newfies can defintely hang outside in a fresh pile of snow for more than a few minutes. 

But, there’s always a but, some Newfies love it more than others. 

Let’s take a look at how cold is too cold for most Newfies.

How Cold is Too Cold for a Newfoundland?

To be honest, the answer to that question isn’t as straightforward as you would think and it ultimately comes down to the individual dog and some basic common sense.

Health Matters

Newfoundlands are a breed that is capable of tolerating cold temperatures but not all Newfies are created equal. 

Healthy, adult dogs can tolerate the cold better than senior dogs and puppies.

Coat Matters

One of the reasons that Newfies are able to tolerate cold temperatures is due to their double coat.

Newfies that have grown a full coat can withstand windchills better than dogs that have thinner coats.

Most Newfoundlands don’t have their full adult coat until they are 2-3 years old. 

Lou is just over 2 years old and doesn’t have his full adult coat yet so that is something that I keep in mind during the winter.

If a Newfie has hot spots or a skin infection, that area is at risk for frostbite. 

Bodyweight Matters

Body fat is a good insulator for a dog’s body.

A thinner dog will normally get colder than a thicker dog but don’t try to pack on the pounds just to keep your dog warm!

The added weight to a Newfie can be dangerous to their joints!

If you’re ever questioning a dog’s condition you can always check this Body Condition Score Chart For Dogs.

 

Environmental Factors Matter.

Windchill, dampness, and sunlight can impact the conditions outside despite what the thermometer reads.

Check out this Windchill chart for humans

If a west coast dog that is not used to cold weather travels up to the east coast during the winter, they might be a little chilly at first because they are used to much warmer conditions.

Their body needs time to adjust and once that happens they should do fine but it’s always recommended to monitor them.

Shelters and fresh water should be provided. 

Dogs that have the proper shelter outside can stay out in colder weather longer than dogs that do not.

Freshwater that is not frozen should be available to all dogs spending any time outside.

You can purchase heated water bowls and/or heated water buckets.

If You’re Cold, They’re Cold.

For some dogs, yes but that is probably not the case with most of the Newfie population.

While Newfoundlands can get cold, most of them can withstand the cold better than humans can.

Check their coat.

Newfies have a water-resistant, double coat, the guard hair will get wet but most often the undercoat will stay dry.

You can easily part the hair and check if the undercoat is wet.

Touch the skin while you’re there and if it’s cold and wet then they should come inside to dry off.

 

There’s a Difference Between Being Allowed To Stay Outside and Leaving a Dog Outside

I think a huge factor that many people miss when it comes to dogs being outside in the winter is allowing your dog to stay outside and leaving a dog outside. 

We allow our Newfies to stay outside in the cold because they like it but the option to come inside is always there. 

They aren’t left outside with the door closed and the lights off.

We don’t forget about them outside and we are often begging them to come inside. 

Most Newfie owners aren’t abandoning their Newfies out in the backyard snow drift, they are allowing them to be out there because the other option is to somehow force them inside. 

For some of us, that means renting a forklift!

How to Tell If Your Newfoundland Is Too Cold

All of my Newfies have been pretty good about keeping in touch with their environments and their bodies.

Normally when a dog is cold it will start to shiver, act anxious or unsettled, whine or bark, slow down or seek shelter next to a house or other permanent structure.

Some will also start to lift up one or more of their paws due to snowballs or ice forming.

These should be removed carefully so as to not irritate the dog’s paw.

The wind is normally what has drawn my Newfies into the house, not the temperature on the thermometer. 

If you really want to keep track of how cold your dog is, you can invest in a no-touch dog thermometer that is designed to read your dog’s body temperature. 

Newfies that spend a lot of time outside can be at risk of getting frostbite.

Frostbite normally occurs on a dog’s nose, paws, ears, and genitals.

Signs of frostbite are discoloration of the skin (pale skin color or grey, blue color), skin that is cold to the touch, ulcers or blisters, pain and blackened skin.

Signs of frostbite may not show immediately and can take a few days to appear.

Dogs that have heart disease or diabetes have a greater risk of getting frostbite.

 

Not All Newfies Are Created Equal

Some senior Newfies that have lost muscle mass and weight may not be able to regulate their body temperature as well as they use to so they should be monitored while outside in cold temperatures.

Dogs that are having joint or mobility issues should be monitored so that they don’t slip on ice, so they don’t get stuck walking in high, heavy snow and to make sure they are able to get up and move.

Puppies that don’t have their full coat should be monitored.

Any dog that is suffering from respiratory distress or dogs that are not in good health should be monitored in cold weather.

 

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How to Keep Your Newf Cool Inside During the Winter.

Some Newfs owners have expressed concern that when their Newf is inside in the winter that they seem hot and that is probably true.

A few ways you can help keep them cool is to have a ceiling or box fan available to them, leave a window open or keep their cooling pad out all year round.

Lou likes to lay next to our sliding door in the winter because there’s a draft. 

Don’t Sweat It!

As Newfie owners, this is a challenging time of year for us.

Most of our dogs have been cooped up in the house all summer seeking cold tile floors and cooling pads.

Their season has arrived for them to enjoy the outdoors again but people shouting that dogs shouldn’t be outside in the winter play with our conscious.

The thing about these winter concerns is that they come from people who are speaking about dogs in general.

It is a problem and it is sad to see a short-haired dog curled up outside without any shelter shivering and it shouldn’t happen.

We have to remember that we have a unique breed that the average person does not understand.

Those concerns aren’t addressing us and we should try our best to not let those silly memes get under our skin.

But we also have to remember that there are dogs, Newfs included, that are owned by irresponsible people who have dogs that are chained up outside without proper shelter, food and water, and love.

They don’t have someone watching over them, begging them to come inside before the neighbor calls the cops.

These are the people that need to receive the message.

In conclusion, there’s no number that anyone can give you as to what is too cold for a Newfoundland.

Individual results vary and common sense needs to be used.

We don’t support any dog being left outside in cold temperatures that aren’t given the choice to come inside when needed.

 

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