Golden retrievers have great personalities that are full of energy; they are always up for an adventure but how will your golden do in the snowy cold winter months? Do golden retriever like snow and cold weather?
Yes, Golden Retrievers love the snow and cold weather in general. They have long double coats that are perfect for going out in the winter. Their energetic playful personalities help them embrace the cold winter months and usually are intrigued by falling snow.
Let’s go over a couple of things to consider when you are letting your golden retriever play in the snow.
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What To Consider When Introducing Your Dog To The Snow For The First Time.
- Be cautious of the conditions: take into account the depth of snow, check for ice under the snow that could cause injury
- Although the majority of Golden Retrievers will love the snowy cold weather it’s important to remember that each dog will respond differently to the snow and cold weather.
- If this is your golden retriever first time in the snow introduce them gradually in a short visit outside to the snowy banks.
- Golden Retriever has double coats and do just fine without any extra clothing. Unless your golden retriever is young or old and has less than a thick normal coat. Puppies have not fully developed their double coat and older dogs that may arthritis or thinning coats may benefit from a doggy jacket and snow boots.
- Doggy jackets for young puppies or older dogs may be appropriate in extremely low temperatures.
- Be cautious of injuries that could occur from icy conditions
- Be aware any time you golden goes out in the snow; there is a risk of sprains, broken bones, and hypothermia.
- Remember if it’s a new experience don’t rush your dog to like the snow. short fun playful trips out in the snow will lead them to love the snow.
Do Golden Retrievers Need Snow Boots?
No, golden retrievers do not need snow boots. However, you can put booties on you golden if you live in an area where your dog will be walking on heavily salted sidewalks. If your golden retriever refuses to wear boots, you can try to put musher’s secret paw protection wax on their paw pads to protect them from the salt and icy conditions.
Grooming Your Golden For Snow
It is important to groom your golden retriever’s paws before they go out and play in the snow. If the hair between their toes and on the bottom of the paw pads is left long it will collect snow. They will tend to build little snowballs in there which can be a pain for them and you.
You can also trim long hair that hang down and drag the snow since they will also tend to build up snowballs on their belly. Something so easy as a simply trim and help this problem.
Do Golden Retrievers Need Sweaters?
No, golden retriever will not need a sweater in cold weather. A Golden retriever has a thick double coat that keeps them warm even in snowy conditions. So unless you golden is a very young puppy or a very old golden that may have health issues they will not need a jacket or sweater in the winter.
Signs That Your Golden Retriever is Too Cold
| Signs Your Dog Is Too Cold |
| Shaking or Shivering |
| Hunched Posture With a Tucked Tail |
| Whining or Barking |
| Acting Anxious or Uncomfortable |
| Seeking Shelter |
| Lifting Paw off the Ground |
ITS IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DOG BEFORE MOST OF THESE SIGN START TO SHOW REMEMBER TO CALL YOUR OUTSIDE TIME QUITS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF YOUR DOG BEING TO COLD.
| Signs of Hypothermia In A Dog |
| Weakness |
| Lethargy |
| Muscle Stiffness |
| Slow, Shallow Breathing |
| Lack of mental Alertness |
| Fixed and Dilated Pupils |
| Stupor- Life State |
| Loss Of Consciousness |
Tips For Keeping Your Dog Safe This Winter
If you live in an area where winter is harsh, and you and your pup are snowed in for the better part of winter.
Here are a few safety tips for keeping your golden safe during winter.
- Make sure your dog is not getting too cold. It’s important when your dog goes out to keep an eye on them and monitor their behavior. That being said, it also important not to:
- Never leave your dog outside unattended. It’s best to stay with your dog while playing outside in freezing temperatures to monitor if they are getting cold or have had an injury. In their excitement, a misstep could occur, and a simple sprain could happen.
- Young puppies and older dogs will need extra monitoring. These two tend not to tolerate the cold, snowy temperatures as much. Of course, they will still love going out and playing but may need to be monitored a little more closely to ensure they are not getting too cold.
- Do not overly groom your golden retriever. Some grooming on the feet and possibly just a slight trim on some of the extra-long belly hairs may help it important not to overly groom your golden in the winter months. Their long hair double coat is what will help keep them warm during the snowy winter conditions—no shaving or overly trimming.
- Make sure to clean the salt and chemical off your dog and their paws. When your dog goes outside to play or even for a walk on the sidewalks, they can come in contact with salt and chemicals that could make them sick if ingested. You can use a warm towel to clean their paws and give them a good rub down before they come inside. It’s important to get salt or antifreeze off before they have a chance to lick it and ingest it or before their skin becomes irritated.
- Be sure to clean up any antifreeze spills immediately. If you are using antifreeze to melt snow or if a spill has occurred, be sure to clean it up immediately. If you use antifreeze frequently, be sure to use the non-toxic product with propylene glycol instead of the highly toxic antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol.
- Bathing your dog during cold, snowy winter. Suppose you must bathe your golden during the winter months, which is highly likely. Make sure they have gone out to potty beforehand or are completely dry before letting them back outside. You may consider using a high-velocity dog dryer to ensure they are getting completely dry.
- Don’t leave your dog in a car that is not running during the winter months. This rule applies during the winter just as much as it does in the summer. So just like the car can become a heat box in the summer, it can also become a refrigerator in the winter during cold temperatures. A car tends to hold temperature making it hotting or colder than the outside air. So it’s important not to leave your dog in the car during dropping temperatures.
- Remember, if your dog is running, jumping, and diving in the snow, they will need an increase in their food intake. Goldens are pretty active in the snow, often experiencing zoomies and then jumping sometimes head first. It’s great fun, but it can also burn a lot of calories. So if your dog has had an extra fun day outside playing in the snow, remember to give them extra high-quality dog food.
- Providing a warm place to sleep. As temperature drop overnight, make sure you have your dog sleeping in a safe, secure, and warm spot. Keep them away from places in your home that may have cold drafts, and make sure you keep the temperature warm enough for all the home’s residents.
Take away
Golden retrievers typically love to play outside in the snow or cooler weather. Still, in some extreme colder environments, you will need to take a few precautions to ensure you golden stays happy and healthy throughout those winter months. These include paw care, protecting, grooming, and cleaning the paws. It’s also important to monitor your dog during their outside adventures, making sure they are not getting too cold and prevent them from injury. If it’s too cold for you to stat outside for any certain amount of time, it’s safe to say it is too cold to leave your dog outside and best to call your walk or playtime quits.