How to tell if a dog is cold?

• How to tell if a dog is cold? Anna Posted : 1/22/2007 5:04:14 PM I have a 2.5 yr old Chocolate Lab. How do I tell if my dog is cold? I walk him in 20-30 degree weather with cold winds. His tale is wagging and he seems to be running around happy. What are the signs I should look for when he gets cold? LIKE 10 REPLIES 71 VIEWS LAST POST ANNA Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Stef w Posted : 1/22/2007 5:12:47 PM Tux hunches his back and shivers.  He will stand looking very pathetic and just shake.  He has a coat that he wears once it gets below 0/32F.   Wes never gets cold - or I guess has never been outside long enough to get cold.  Labs have pretty good coats and they are fine for walks and runs in the cold.  Unless he looks really unhappy and shakes and shivers I wouldn't worry about it. [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xebby Posted : 1/22/2007 5:14:59 PM Most large dogs can do fine in the cold, smaller dogs have a little more trouble regulating their body temperature. On sure way you can know is to get a dog thermometer, the ear kind is the easiest. The others thermometers are well... you might not want to use them in public. The average temp should be between 100 to 102.5, any lower than 100 I would be worried 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• kpwlee Posted : 1/22/2007 8:01:31 PM I think its the coat that is the main factor not the size in keeping warm 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Thalie Posted : 1/22/2007 8:35:37 PM Not that the Lab's double coat counts for nothing but according to Coppinger (Dogs; pp. 167-170), dogs that weigh over 45 lbs. evacuate heat considerably less efficiently than lighter dogs. To get back to the topic, I would agree that as long as you do not see him shiver and shake he is OK. I have a Lab and the only time I ever saw her shiver was after getting soaking wet under the rain when it was cold and windy and she stopped being active. She would definitely not make a good duck retriever []. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• chelsea_b Posted : 1/22/2007 8:40:39 PM What are the signs I should look for when he gets cold? Oh, you just ask a 3 year old.     Seriously though, I agree with the others. If he's not shivering, he's probably fine. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Michelle Posted : 1/22/2007 8:42:19 PM Gracie (68 pounds) has a lab like coat, and generally doesn't seem to mind the cold, but sometimes when she comes in her ears are cold and she'll run right to her crate and lay on her bed for a few minutes, so I think that she was starting to get cold. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• kpwlee Posted : 1/22/2007 8:45:01 PM A great dane is going to have more difficulty in severe cold than say a Welsh terrier, BC, Westie, any of the northern breeds and many other long haired or double coated breeds from stuff I've read - I admit to NOT being an expert and it is no stretch of logic that the center of a Westie is nearer to the elements than the center of a dane but they have long histories and breeding for specific roles. That said and looking at where you live and your lab getting cold, it was on TV here the other day that even northern dogs that are breed for severe cold but then live in warm climates lose some of their ability to tolerate the cold. Most labs are going to fine in some pretty serious cold - they have a double coats and a layer of fat as normal to protect in icy waters 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 1/22/2007 10:11:33 PM My dogs shiver. My next dog will hopefully be a Doberman, and they're BIG dogs. They get cooooold! My boss's Great Danes get quite cold, too. I definitely thing it's coat related, more than size related, once they're over toy size. Double coated dogs seem to handle it better than smooth dogs. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• CoCo Chanel Posted : 1/22/2007 11:16:48 PM ORIGINAL: kpwlee A great dane is going to have more difficulty in severe cold than say a Welsh terrier, BC, Westie, any of the northern breeds and many other long haired or double coated breeds from stuff I've read - I admit to NOT being an expert and it is no stretch of logic that the center of a Westie is nearer to the elements than the center of a dane but they have long histories and breeding for specific roles. That said and looking at where you live and your lab getting cold, it was on TV here the other day that even northern dogs that are breed for severe cold but then live in warm climates lose some of their ability to tolerate the cold. Most labs are going to fine in some pretty serious cold - they have a double coats and a layer of fat as normal to protect in icy waters   unless your westie is a baby!  coco gets cold VERY easily and she will shiver and shake, and will try to run back inside. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Anna Posted : 1/23/2007 10:40:58 AM Thanks guys! I dont' think I ever saw Jules being cold....when it's freezing or when he's wet. He walked on light snow for 30 min last night in the 30 degree weather and didn't show any signs for being even chilly. So I guess I shouldn't be worried 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login