Cris Alarcon. Image, Left Working Mals in Alaska on a cold night. Right, my sister with our Franch import circa 1972, currently a Supervising AHT/RVT at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital “Emergency and Critical Care Service – Emergency Room” and the second youngest Charter Member of the Hangtown Kennel Club.]
A friend posted a warning about the cold weather and dogs only to get Flamed from dogs owners that have outside dogs. So here is my two cents…
In Lake Tahoe I grew up with a kennel of dogs bred for life in the Pyrenees Mountains of France. Our foundation stud dog was a France Import from the mountains that we named Knur de Bergerac imported in 1969. So I know a bit about dogs in cold conditions.
Even dogs developed in Siberia and Alaska cannot survive alone in extreme conditions. Like any Fighter or Runner, practice makes you hardened to the conditions. Dogs living in Alaska are used to the extremes and adapt. One way they manage is they Never Sleep Alone in extreme cold (or they may die!)
This concept is familiar to us as a song lyric from when I was young, “Three Dog Night.”
In extreme Alaskan conditions Mushers [Human behind a train of dog pulling a sled] have to sleep in the same conditions of the sled dogs. When it get very cold you have to bring a dog into your bed [the intimate shell of the winter sleeping gear] so the body heat of each body works together to create a higher temp inside the sleeping shell so they can survive the cold temperatures, The colder the temperature, the more dogs that must be brought into the shell with the person to survive the cold temps – Erg, “Three Dog Night.”
This is for survival of the Mushers, but the same is true of the dogs. If they don’t have a nice sleeping bag with a Human heater in it, they bunch together in what we might call a “Dog Pile.” The combined heat of the pack, and the limiting degree of exposed area to the cold air/wind helps them survive colder temps (extreme temps) They will even shift the pile often so dog most exposed, and those most weak shit to the bottom of the pile for the greatest protection for the elements.
For Us, and the Dogs to survive, we have to get up close and work together.
A PACK of dogs [4+] can do alright on their own as they work together. A single dog or two is completely dependent on Humans to survive. Even wild cyote and wolf cut off from the protections of the Pack do not live long.
A sheltered dog adjusted to the weather and naturally equipped for the elements can do OK, but we do need to make sure the weather protection is sufficient. That means dos with “Double Coats”, not dogs like chihuahuas.
That shelter – goal – The protect from wet, cold, sun. Pretty basic but it Matters. I think we have all had the experience of decent shoes getting wet and suddenly become a Cold Trap for your feet. Wel feet suck, for us and Dogs. Nice wool coat and it rains heavy on us, that wool coat is now a cold blanket and we might as well peel it off. A good coat has lots of oils to repel the water, but that makes for a stinky dog and we wash our stinky dogs with good oil removing shampoos…
Many dog owners will argue that their dogs do fine outside and by and large they are, Provided we give them the tools to survive living outdoors:
That is high-energy food (high calories because running the heater at high take lots of fuel.);
Water that is Not frozen;
Protection from wet and wind.
Not hard, but essential.
Thank you for bringing the subject up Beverly Williams.
Cris Alarcon, Feb 10, 2020. [Youngest Charter member of the Hangtown Kennel Club and the youngest part of the Priceless Pyrenees breeding Kennel in Lake Tahoe.]
# Alaskan Malamutes are the modern standardization of native Inuit (Inupiat or “Eskimos”) freighting dogs. These dogs were named after the Mahlemut Inuit tribe (now usually referred to as Kobuk) of northwestern Alaska. Originally, “malamute” or “eskimo” dog was used to refer to any native Inuit large freighting type dog.
# Pyrenees Mountain Dogs “Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs”Pyrs were bred centuries ago to work with shepherds and herding dogs in the Pyrenees Mountains, the natural border between France and Spain [Not too far from Alarcon Spain.] The Pyr’s job was to watch the flock and deter predators, whether wolves, bears, or livestock rustlers. Their innate patience came in handy when sitting atop a freezing-cold mountain for days on end with nothing to do but look at sheep. Their courage when defending the flock is legendary.
About Post Author
