Dog breeds that are able to withstand both hot and cold weather tend to be popular among dog owners. The reason is because many of us live in places with all four seasons. That means we experience the hot and the cold as part of our life on an annual basis. And when we travel around with our dogs, we will need to take care of their capability to survive under these different weather conditions. However not everyone knows how to take care of themselves or their loved ones under the extreme conditions on either end of the spectrum. Let alone their dogs that do not speak the human language to communicate their pain points with their owners. This results in them suffering under the conditions that their breed is not biologically meant to survive in.
If you live in a place that has all seasons and you’re interested to get a dog or to know what kind of weather your dog’s breed is meant to live in, this is the article for you. Here are 7 of the best dog breeds for hot and cold weather.
- Canaan Dog
- Jack Russell
- Weimaraner
- Chinook
- Labrador Retriever
- Border Collie
- Poodle
Canaan Dog
The Canaan dog originated in the Middle East since thousands of years ago it bears a typical primitive dog appearance. A medium size dog that have survived under the harsh conditions of the Middle East, the canaan dog has a strong survival instinct built in them. They have a high level of alert which makes them the best candidate for watch dogs. However, they are not aggressive and are very good with children in the family. They have a decent amount of fur to keep them warm enough in the winter, but also not bake themselves during the summer
Jack Russell
The Jack Russell is a small terrier that originated in England in fox hunting. A typical Jack Russell has a short but thick layer of hair while some can have a rough coat of fur. From the picture, you can see 3 different variations of Jack Russell, from the hairy to the short-haired. They are sturdy and tough bunch and well known to be able to adjust to the different weather conditions when out hunting.
Weimaraner
This dog belongs to the large dog category. The Weimaraner is an athletic dog with a thin layer of short hair around it that can be almost non-existent. That said, they are at least able to adapt to cold weather, probably due to their metabolism. As a hunting dog, the Weimaraner is an energetic breed. It is also very people oriented. Therefore, they tend to have separation anxiety, which makes them very loyal companions.
Chinook
A native dog from the state of New Hampshire, the Chinook is especially adapted to live in hot and cold climates. It is a large and strong dog breed, traditionally used for dog sledding. Today, they do recreational dog sledding and participate in relatively strenuous operations like search and rescue and skijoring. A muscular breed, it yields a double coat and it highly adaptable to various weather conditions.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever might not have a thick layer of hair but they shed pretty often, about twice a year. They have webbed toes, something similar to that of a duck’s feet, to prevent snow from accumulating in between their toes, a biological feature that makes them adapt to live in places that may snow.
Border Collie
The Border Collie is traditionally a herding dog. In the plains where temperatures can span a wide spectrum during different parts of the day, the border collie has evolved to be versatile and capable of surviving under various climates. It is highly intelligent and active. It has a double coat of fur, with a lush topcoat to keeps it warm during the cold on the outside, and a softer undercoat to dissipate heat effectively from the core of its body during the hotter days.
Poodle
Poodles have a single layer coat made up of dense amount of curly fur, unlike most dogs that have a double coat made of straight fur. This are a popular breed for grooming and dog fashion due to this. Their healthy amount of fur also makes them very resilient to different weather conditions. Interestingly they come in different sizes to be classified as different types of poodle: standard, miniature and toy.
Final Thoughts
These dogs listed here can adapt to a temperature range from the cold of the winter to the heat of the summer. That said, it is by no means true that they can withstand the harshest of either conditions. These dogs are neither desert dog breeds to survive in extreme dry and hot conditions, nor cold weather dog breeds that love playing in arctic conditions.