Can German Shepherds live outside in winter? I live in a place where we have pretty harsh winters. We get below freezing temperatures more often than not for at least five months out of the year. I’m thinking about getting a dog, and the German Shepherd has always been at the top of my list for a lot of reasons – but I really need to know how they tolerate cold weather because I know I will have to leave it outside a lot while I’m at work. So I went online to do some research.
So, can German Shepherds live outside in winter? You can leave your German Shepherd outside for extended periods in the dead of winter. With proper precautions and preparations you can make an outdoor environment that is safe for a German Shepherd. It’s worth mentioning that most dog owners feel that no dog should live outside in the winter all day every day. That being said, the German Shepherd is one of the best dog breeds to have if you live in a cold climate.
In this article I will share some of the really great advice I found for German Shepherd (GSD) owners who need to keep their dog outside and how to create a comfortable outdoor environment for them. I will also share some general considerations that one should keep in mind regarding GSDs and cold weather.
Just for fun, here’s an adorable German Shepherd puppy in snow:
German Shepherds are Made for Cold Weather
If you work long hours, study or are sometimes just not home for long stretches during the day, you may have become accustomed to keeping your GSD outside.
It’s a practical option to make sure your house doesn’t get destroyed by a bored, high energy dog while you are not around.
Maybe you just prefer that your GSD be an outside dog.
So when the weather turns cold, what are you supposed to do?
Trust your GSD inside the house, unsupervised, even if they are not trained for it?
If that is a lot to swallow and does not seem like a viable option for you, have no worries.
The GSD has a thick double coat of fur. The longer outer layer of thicker hairs (these can be of varying lengths from short to long) are generally described as “wirey”. These are thick and dense and lay close to the body. This outer coat is like your dog’s protective shell against the elements.
The inner coat is where the cold weather protection is found – is a softer, downier texture under the outer layer, right up against the body, and is the reason why a GSD can withstand such cold temperatures. This is like the inner down jacket you might put on under a lighter shell.
The GSD, by nature, is designed to handle cold temps.
Create the Right Environment
Knowing that your GSD has great natural protection in his fur is no reason to just leave them on their own when facing the elements.
You must create the right environment so your German Shepherd can live outside in the winter and not suffer.
You should take the following precautions offered by other GSD owners and experts to make your GSD more comfortable and protect him from harsh weather:
1. Provide a Doghouse
Remember, the doghouse should be just big enough for your dog to enter into, turn around and lay down. If it is too big, his own body heat will not be able to warm the space to make it a safe haven.
Make sure its solidly built and doesn’t let in drafts.
2. Accommodate the Doghouse
Put a layer of straw down on the floor of the house. Your dog will appreciate this as a bed.
Replace with fresh straw whenever it becomes soiled or wet.
Place a flap over the door to keep out weather and drafts.
3. Build a Sheltered Area Around the Doghouse
This will allow your dog to be outside and still avoid falling snow or rain.
It will also help prevent snow banks from building up or mud from accumulating around the house.
You can even throw some straw around outside of his house so he has a warm dry outdoor bed while enjoying the cooler weather.
4. Use a Heated Water Bowl
This is really important.
Really, really important.
Your German Shepherd will still need access to plenty of fresh water and it shouldn’t be frozen.
5. Increase Their Food
Colder weather requires the body to burn more calories to stay warm.
Give them more food at each meal (or an extra meal) to account for calorie loss.
General Winter Precautions
Just because you’ve set up a great outdoor area at your home doesn’t mean that you should stop taking your GSD for their daily walks.
Remember, GSDs are really high energy dogs and need at least an hour and a half to two hours of exercise a day! This doesn’t change in winter.
When walking your GSD, remember that their paws will be exposed to all kinds of irritants on the sidewalk or road. This can include deicing mixtures of salt and sand or even antifreeze from cars. Wash your dog’s pads with warm water when you get back from your walk.
A GSD generally does not need special winter wear that is now widely available for dogs of all sizes. Their fur does a naturally great job of keeping them warm. You will probably notice that it actually gets a lot thicker in the winter months.
Even still, dog boots might be a good idea for longer walks or extended hikes in snowy conditions. These boots can eliminate the need for washing your dog’s paws and prevent snow and ice balls from building up around their pads.
How Cold is Too Cold for Your German Shepherd?
This is a tricky question to answer. No two dogs are alike, even if they are both German Shepherds.
Where you live has a lot to do with it.
If your GSD has been raised in a very cold climate from puppyhood, it is most likely able to tolerate colder temperatures than other dogs who might have been raised in an area that is not so cold.
If your average winter temperatures hover just around freezing (32 F) and the temp suddenly dips into the teens, your dog might suffer during the cold snaps.
But if your average temperature is in the low 20’s they might be ok. They might suffer when the temps get really frigid, like in the single digits.
The best indicator of “what is too cold” you can get by observing your dog. Watch your dog for any sign of discomfort such as shivering, lifting up his paws uncomfortably or whining.
And remember, young puppies and elderly dogs do not have as much capacity to generate body heat in the cold. They are particularly susceptible to suffering in even mildly cold temperatures.
Divided Opinion
Many GSD owners are passionate and protective of their dogs. The debate about leaving your GSD outside during the winter is often influenced by the general assumption that the cold is dangerous for any dog regardless of their breed. This can leave a GSD owner feeling guilty or judged for choosing to have their dog outside.
As a GSD owner, you need to be aware of the needs of your life and your individual dog(s). If you prefer to have your dog outside, feel confident that your GSD is a hardy breed. A dog breed that can handle the cold as long as you take the proper precautions.
If you have your dog inside with you at night, you may even notice that they are eager to head out first thing in the morning. Many GSDs that are used to being outside actually come to prefer the colder temps outside to heated homes.
Related Questions
Some GSD owners who prefer not to leave their dog inside the home, even when it is too cold, will sometimes bring their dogs with them to work and leave them in the parked car.
Is this OK? Can it be dangerous? This is a really contentious issue for some pet owners and animal rights activists.
A lot of GSD owners claim to leave their dogs in the car for a few hours at a time even in extremely cold weather. With their protective fur coat, ample walking and water breaks, and a thick blanket to lay on and a heated water bowl, the dog does not suffer and is actually warmer than if it were to be left outside.
Other folks swear that this is a bad practice and can be very dangerous for your pet due to the danger of suffocation.
It’s a divisive issue! We all know that a dog should never be left alone in a closed car during warm weather, but it seems like there is no consensus for cold weather circumstances.
