Some dog breeds are more adept at handling cold living conditions than others because simply put, they were bred that way. These breeds generally have a double coat that insulates them from the frigid air better, as well as bushy tails that they can wrap around themselves for supplemental warmth.
Their ears are small, lessening the chance of frostbite. Their paws are also covered in fur that repels snow. These breeds are mostly on the larger side, though there are smaller breeds that fit into a cold-weather dog category as well. These breeds are all over the spectrum in terms of personality, but they do tend to all be relatively athletic.
While the 10 breeds on the following list are tolerant of and can thrive in cold conditions, safety and cold weather care of the animal must still be a high priority of owners. When temperatures drop dramatically low, the dogs should have access to a warm shelter. When taken for walks their paws should be guarded against damage from salt and grit, as well as the frost of ice. Needless to say, owners should be cautious to not let these dogs stray onto frozen lakes or ponds due to the obvious risk factors.
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TOP 10 Best Dog Breeds For Cold Weather & Snow
So who are these cold weather toughies? Let’s get to the list of the TOP 10 Best Dog Breeds For Cold Weather & Snow:
1. Siberian Husky dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Working Group |
| Height: | 20 to 23 inches |
| Weight: | 45 to 60 pounds (male); 35 to 50 pounds (female) |
| Life Span: | 11 to 13 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Thick double coat; colors include combinations of black, gray, white, and tan |
| Price: | $750 to $3,000 |
If the Siberian husky wasn’t the first cold-weather dog that popped into your mind when you started reading this list, color us surprised. Their thick coat gives them the ability to tolerate sub-zero temperatures, keeping them both energetic and high in endurance.
The combination of all of those attributes makes them great sled dogs, but on the personality side, they are intelligent and generally friendly. They do howl quite prolifically and can be quite intense. The high energy aspect of the husky forces them to expand a lot of it through exercise and the thick coat causes them to shed more than many other breeds.
2. Newfoundland dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Working Group |
| Height: | 26 to 28 inches |
| Weight: | 130 to 150 pounds (male); 100 to 120 pounds (female) |
| Life Span: | 8 to 10 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Thick, water-resistant double coat; colors include brown, black, gray, or black and white |
| Price: | $1,200 and $3,000 |
When Canadian fishermen began to navigate the frigid North Atlantic waters, they need a four-legged assistant. This drove the breeding of the Newfoundland, or Newfie, which came about to serve as supporters in this necessary venture.
Fluffy-furred and gentle to their people, the Newfie love jobs. They would help to haul fishing nets and could even be counted on to save sailors who toppled overboard, a job they continue to be used for to this day. Their loving and calm demeanor makes them popular canine companions, despite their large size, perpetually excessive drooling, and propensity to shed a lot.
3. Finnish Lapphund dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Foundation Stock Service Program |
| Height: | 18 to 21 inches (male); 16 to 19 inches (female) |
| Weight: | 30 to 50 pounds |
| Life Span: | 12 to14 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Muscular; thick, coarse double coat; comes in a variety of colors |
| Price: | $1,000 to $2,000 |
No list of cold-weather dogs is legitimate without mentioning this Nordic breed. The Finnish Lapphund served as a reindeer herder across the Laplandian tundra in the Arctic Circle. The Finnies (as they are affectionately known), possess a very thick double coat (which causes them to be prolific shedders), as well as a tail that provides additional warmth if they wrap themselves in it.
This breed adores being around familiar people, an environment in which they thrive, though they do tend to be wary of strangers. Their intimidatingly loud vocals might make them seem terrifying to those not familiar with the dog.
4. Akita dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | spitz-type dogs |
| Height: | 26 to 28 inches (male); 24 to 26 inches (female) |
| Weight: | 100 to 130 pounds (male); 70 to 100 pounds (female) |
| Life Span: | 12 to 12 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Broad head; erect ears; distinctive curly tail; short, thick double coat; common colors include brindle and pinto (each with white markings) |
| Price: | $1,000 to $4,000 |
Originally bred as a hunter and watchdog for the cold mountainous regions of Japan, the Akita has become a bit of a mainstay for people in the area. They are quieter than many other breeds, but that does not mean they will not stop a stranger from entering their family’s domain. They are fiercely loyal to their people and noble, though they are quite independent by nature.
They also prefer to be the only dog in the vicinity, which makes keeping them in the company of other dogs a challenge. They have webbed toes that distribute their weight when walking across icy and snowy landscapes.
5. Keeshond dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Non-Sporting Group |
| Height: | 17 to 18 inches |
| Weight: | 35 to 45 pounds |
| Life Span: | 12 to 14 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Almost fox-like in appearance; thick plumed tail; mask around the eyes; thick double-coat; usually a mixture of gray, black, and cream but shading can vary |
| Price: | $1,500 to $2,000 |
Serving as watchdogs on barges, as well as companions to the sailors on them, the Netherland’s bred Keeshond was quite popular to those working in the Dutch canals. As they spent a lot of time on these ships, they tended to be out in the cold for long time periods. Luckily, these stamina-filled, friendly, and affectionate canine friends had a dense double coat to keep them warm.
6. Samoyed dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Working Group |
| Height: | 21 to 24 inches (male); 19 to 21 inches (female) |
| Weight: | 45 to 65 pounds (male); 35 to 50 pounds (female) |
| Life Span: | 12 to 14 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Pricked ears; curled plumed tail; thick, water-resistant coat usually white in color but can occasionally cream or light brown |
| Price: | $1,500 to $3,000 |
Oringallly bred in the Siberian region of Russia, the Samoyed had to live and work (which included herding, hunting, and pulling sleds) for the semi-nomadic residents of the region. The Samoyed get attached intensely to their people, forming strong bonds with their families, and being counted on for being gentle canines. However, their attachment’s intensity is fierce, and if they are not given enough attention they can develop severe separation anxiety or behavior issues.
7. Alaskan Malamute dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Working Group |
| Height: | 23 to 25 inches |
| Weight: | 75 to 85 pounds |
| Life Span: | 10 to 12 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Erect ears; plumed tail; very dense double coat; colors include shades of gray, black, sable, and red |
| Price: | $500 to $2,500 |
When thinking of an Alaskan Malamute, think of a husky, but stronger and larger, though not as energetic. They also make better companions since they are less independent-minded, so they bond more strongly with their human families. Unlike the husky, a pack dog, the Malamutes are not the biggest fans of other dogs in their company, preferring to be the designated dog of their home.
Their exposure and work in extremely cold temperatures have stood the test of time, as the breed has been around for centuries, assisting in pulling the sleds of the Mahlemiut Inuit tribal people over long distances in the freezing cold.
8. Finnish Spitz dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Non-Sporting Group |
| Height: | 17.5 to 20 inches (male); 15.5 to 18 inches (female) |
| Weight: | 25 to 32 pounds (male); 20 to 28 pounds (female) |
| Life Span: | 12 to 14 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Small, square, fox-like build; medium-length dense coat; comes in shades of red |
| Price: | $1,000 to $2,000 |
The Finkie, an affectionate name used for the Finnish Spitz, is a smaller breed than most others on this list, but they are tough and effective hunters. Their ancestry comes from the frigid Finish winters, where they have long coped with harsh weather conditions. This hasn’t hardened their personality though, so while they have a high prey drive, are very energetic, and can be quite loud, they are still fun-loving members of their human family
9. Great Pyrenees dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Working Group |
| Height: | 26 to 32 inches (male); 25 to 29 inches (female) |
| Weight: | Around 100 pounds (male); around 85 pounds (female) |
| Life Span: | 10 to 12 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Thick, weather-resistant double coat; usually all white; sometimes contains light markings in gray, red, tan, or badger; males especially have a pronounced ruff around the neck |
| Price: | $1,000 to $2,500 |
The Great Pyrenees comes from the mountainous Pyrenees region of Europe (located between France and Spain), and they were originally bred centuries back for guarding livestock against wild animals, a job they continue to perform to this day. They can perform the job in the low temperatures of the mountain region’s winter thanks to their thick coat that keeps them warm.
While they are loyal to their family and gentle with all the members, they have a propensity to be barkers and their watchdog instincts make them weary of the unfamiliar. For that reason, it is important to train and socialize them accordingly.
10. Chow Chow dog breed
| Dog Breed Group: | Non-Sporting Group |
| Height: | 17 to 20 inches |
| Weight: | 45 to 70 pounds |
| Life Span: | 8 to 12 years |
| Physical Characteristics: | Heavy-boned, square build; high set, curled tail; large head; deep muzzle; blue-black tongue; comes in rough or smooth dense double coats; pronounced ruff around face and neck; commonly red but other colors include black, blue, cinnamon, and cream |
| Price: | $1,000 to $4,000 |
Distinguished by their majestically ruff face and their black tongues, the Chow Chow has many admirers who are swooned at the adorably fluffy animal. The breed hails from ancient China where they guarded sacred mountain temples in the Northern Steppes where China bordered Siberia and Mongolia.
These days the Chow is a quiet and calm companion, and though they are loyal, an independent streak of a guard dog still lirks in their makeup. They are generally accepting of strangers, but sometimes struggle to cohabitate with other dogs.
Best Dog Breeds For Cold Weather Conclusion
Owners who reside in regions that experience excessively cold, harsh weather patterns are advised against getting small dogs or those with lightweight coats. Greyhounds and chihuahuas, for instance, would need a lot of care to keep them warm in cold weather. Other breeds that are not ideal for cold weather climates include the French bulldog, boxer, pug, Great Dane, and Yorkshire terrier.
Since you have finished reading this amazing article of the TOP 10 Best Dog Breeds For Cold Weather & Snow, we suggest to you to check this one: TOP 6 Dog Breeds That Are Retrievers
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can dogs get snow blindness?
Yes, dogs can get snow blindness, also known as photokeratitis. This painful eye condition is caused by overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and is more common in dogs with lighter-colored eyes. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and squinting, which can be prevented by limiting the dog’s exposure to the sun and using protective eyewear.
How much is a snow dog?
The price of a snow dog can vary depending on factors such as the dog’s age, pedigree, and location, but on average, a puppy can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500, with some high-end breeders charging even more. Adult or rescue dogs may be less expensive.
Can dogs walk in snow without shoes?
Yes, dogs can walk in snow without shoes, but it depends on the individual dog’s tolerance to the cold and the conditions of the snow. Snow can be cold and uncomfortable on a dog’s paws, and ice and snow can cause injury to a dog’s feet. Dog boots can provide protection and warmth, but choosing the right size and type of boot for your dog is important.
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Hi, my name is Idammah, and I am a huge animal lover! I have always had a special place in my heart for pets, especially cats. I currently have a rescue cat named Simba, who has brought so much joy and love into my life. In my free time, you can find me playing with my cats or watching some animal documentaries. When not spending time with my cat, I enjoy writing about my experiences as a pet owner and sharing helpful tips and advice with other pet lovers. I hope to connect with other pet enthusiasts and share our love for animals through this blog.
