How Cold Is Too Cold For Huskies?

How cold is too cold for a Husky?

If you are wondering how cold is too cold for huskies, we have the answers. Read our winter guide for caring for huskies to keep them safe during the winter.

Huskies, by physical appearance, come across as being hardy dogs. Some people even refer to them as super dogs.

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Many people have argued that this breed can handle any kind of weather with resilience. 

How cold is too cold for Huskies?

Generally, huskies can tolerate temperatures as low as -51 °C (-60 degrees F) or -30 °C. However, different dogs will have different tolerance levels and so this range isn’t the ultimate. 

The fact that a dog can withstand certain ranges of temperature doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t feeling the cold. In this post, I’ll arm you with all the details you need to know to ensure your husky is safe and healthy even in the coldest of conditions. 

Husky Environment 

A critical factor that determines the extent to which a dog can tolerate cold temperature is where the dog was born and raised. If you live in a climate zone that’s usually warm the majority of the year, your husky won’t tolerate extremely cold temperatures.

For instance, dogs born and raised in Florida will have a hard time adapting to the weather in Norway, especially during the winter. On the other hand, Norwegian dogs will have an easy time in Florida even if it’s during the peak of the winter season, 

Can Huskies live outside in the winter?

Due to the active nature of huskies, they need plenty of space to run and play. Even in winter, the dogs have massive energy that they’ll need to burn. But to answer this question, yes, you can keep your husky outside during the winter. 

Regardless of where you live, it’s important that you give your husky the freedom to run and play around. What’s important is that you ensure the environment is safe and free of items or objects that might injure your husky companion. 

The summer temperatures can also get heated. It’s a good idea to ensure that your dog is protected from excessive temperatures.

Don’t allow it to overstay outside especially when the sun is scorching hot. The time when the weather is favorable and go skateboarding, biking, running, or jogging.  

In my case, my three huskies (Laika, Nova, and Leki) are both indoor and outdoor dogs. But I’ve realized they get the most pleasure when I let them out to play in their spacious yard.

When it’s summer, my huskies prefer to stay indoors especially when the sun is hot. I usually take them for walks in the morning and let them out into the yard when it’s evening. 

However, during winter, we go for walks in the morning, and when we come back, they remain out to play in the yard. I let them play as much as they want.

At some point around midday, they’ll come into the house for a nap. They’ll stay indoors until evening or when they’ve got to go potty after which they’ll return to the house to wait for the evening run.

How do Huskies survive the cold?

Do huskies get cold? One of the things I like about my huskies is their high tolerance to cold. The fat and fur on the bodies of huskies make it easy for them to survive in cold climates. The double coat provides insulation against extremely low temperatures.

Huskies’ long hair is nearly water-resistant which ensures the dog remains warm even in winter. The long hairs also block out ice from accessing their undercoat. This is how they stay warm even in extremely cold temperatures.

Furry Husky tail 

Huskies have tails that are furry, fluffy, and dense. The tail provides extra heat during winter.

When it’s cold, my huskies have the habit of curling themselves up in a sphere position and then covering their noses with their tails.

The trick here is simple, your dog is able to protect its moist air while at the same time inhaling warm air. You could as well say that your husky’s tail is its scarf

Can Huskies sleep outside in winter?

Whether or not your husky can sleep out during winter depends on its tolerance to cold. If your dog hasn’t had problems in the past with extremely cold conditions, chances are that it will have no issues at all.

The thermometer temperature isn’t the only factor that determines the suitability of your dog to sleep out during winter. Other essential factors include freezing rain, snow, wind, and fog. 

Even if your dog has a high tolerance for cold, you need to ensure that the weather is not extreme before letting your dog sleep outside.

Puppies, elderly dogs, and dogs with medical conditions should never be left to sleep outside during cold nights. In addition, if your husky isn’t used to below-zero-degree temperatures, it would be a big gamble for them to sleep outside. 

The other option is to have a dog house outside. That way, it will be outside but still sleeping inside. But it’s most likely that your dog will ignore the dog house with the expectation that you’ll let it into the main house. 

One way to handle this is to train your dog to sleep in the dog’s house and give him treats when he obeys to stay in its house. Also, you need to make the dog house comfortable.

Have nice and warm blankets that your husky can curl in and feel cozy. Ensure that the house is properly insulated against wind, snow, rainwater, and other things that might make the place uncomfortable. 

Also, make sure that the dog house has enough drinking water.

Given the extremely cold temperatures of winter, it’s a good idea to get a heated water bowl so that the water doesn’t freeze and becomes ice. 

Quick winter safety tips for Huskies 

• Bodies of husky puppies, elderly dogs, and those with medical conditions can’t produce enough heat to keep them warm during the cold winter weather. Let these sleep inside the house in a warm and cozy room.
• Have plenty of food in the dog house especially given that huskies are active working dogs. This minimizes the chances of the dog coming to the main door in the middle of the night when it starts feeling hungry.
• You can also bring your husky inside the house to warm up before letting them out. 
• Have your dog wear dog boots when going for walks, runs, or exercises. If your husky isn’t a fan of the boots, another alternative is to use a cream or spray that protects the paws. When you arrive back home, check and wipe any street salt still left on the paws. 
• Don’t walk your dog in places where chemicals and dangerous salts are emitted, especially if you live in an area with heavy industrial activities. Alternatively, you opt to use dog boots or sprays and creams. Do this so your husky doesn’t lick and ingest the dangerous substances that might have adverse effects on its health.
• Huskies also have protective earmuffs that provide perfect protection to the sensitive parts of the dog’s ears. The dense and fine hairs also enable the body to retain heat while also preventing frostbite.  

How much cold can a Husky take?

Although we have said that huskies naturally have a high tolerance to cold climates, they might get to a point where they can’t take it anymore. The following are the signs that will flag you:

• Let your dog into the house if you realize it’s shivering
• Panting during walks. If that happens, slow down and walk slowly so that the dog is able to preserve more heat. 
• If your husky holds up a paw during walks, stop to check if it has ice in its paws. 
• Barking and whining while staring at you as if to suggest that it wants you to let it in.