Dobe in cold weather

[Geckuh]

I have been looking into getting a Doberman for a few years now, but I have one major concern.
I live in Norway, Drammen and it can get very cold. I think the coldest it gets is about -17°C (1.4°F), averaging around -5°C (23°F) in the winter.
In the summer the hottest we have seen has been 29°C (84.2°F) averaging on 15°C (59°F) which I think should be fine (?).

Now, I am NOT planing to put my dog outside to stay in the yard, but I still need to take him outside for walks and exercise (Exersicing will heat up his body temperature too). Pointing this out because all the questions about temperature everyone is just complaining saying you shouldn't leave your Dobe outside when that's not even mentioned in the question.

Would it be cruel to keep a Dobe here?
Would it be smart to for example put a coat on him in the winter?
I have seen lots of photos of Dobes in the snow without anything on their paws, but I've also read their paws need protection from icey ground. Thoughts?

That said I have seen a Dobe in Norway before, but not in the winter. And it's a rare sight.

 

[Drogon]

Your weather sounds great for a Dobermann. My Dobermann does much better in the cold than he does in the heat. Depending on your Dobe, you may want a coat for him. My boy is now 2 years old and I only put a coat on him when it gets below 0°F.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

My two like cooler weather and I think they would enjoy 20-30 degree but we will never see those temps here. Average in winter here is 70 and summer is 90-94, high humidity year round. We only get a couple months of cool weather. I have to be careful with them in the spring and summer months because of heat.
In your area I think they would do fine with a coat on if they need it and boots along with Mushers Secret while in the snow if you are going to be out for long periods.
My first Dobe loved cold weather, my last female hated cold and always needed to be covered up. So I think it depends on what they are accustomed to.

 

[Viemarangelrock]

Hi, and a warm welcome from the UK.

I think they are more resilient than people think. Mind you, our temps are very very different to yours.

I see a lot of Dobes wearing a snood to protect their ears, mostly. I would say a coat is a must. You could use a heavy duty coat with the appropriate layers, for example...fleece, wind proof, waterproof etc...

Booties seem like a great idea, too.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

No problem at all to have a Doberman in that climate!

They originated in Germany, which I don't think is exactly tropical or a desert.

I have had two Dobes live with me in Minnesota, USA. Our outdoor exercise/play regimen did not change even in the dead of winter – well, actually it may have increased.

I now live with a Dobe in Ohio. I do not own a jacket for him and we go for our walks even if it's sub-zero out.

Now, while some here have said they don't experience this, I have found that many Dobermans actually do not do well in warm, sunny weather. I say "warm" not "hot" because, I tell you, it only has to be in the 70's (F) and sunny and my boy is pulling toward the shade and getting sluggish and obeying very slowly and reluctantly. That said, my first Doberman, who was bred in Minnesota and was a Red with (strangely) a full undercoat did not display this intolerance to heat – and I lived some years of his life in southern Arizona.

 

[Drogon]

I don't know where this video was shot but here's a Dobermann sled team

 

[LifeofRubie]

I don't know where this video was shot but here's a Dobermann sled team

I don't know why but that made me "LOL." Too funny!

 

[Oh Little Oji]

I should point out that Dobes need to be active if in very cold weather. They will shiver and seem uncomfortable if they are just out in the cold to stand around.

 

[JanS]

Welcome from Minnesota!

We have 2 Dobermans and your temps are mild compared to ours where it can get to -30 or -40 F in the winter. Our dogs do just fine when I take them out and if it's below 0 I will put boots on them because their feet are the first to get cold, but they seldom need a coat since they stay active.

The biggest thing many of them don't like is rain since they think they'll melt.

 

[AresMyDobie]

I don't know why but that made me "LOL." Too funny!

I cracked up too lol

 

[JanS]

I don't know where this video was shot but here's a Dobermann sled team

I've seen this before but I can't remember where it was shot either. I love they way they pass the Husky's like they're standing still. LOL

 

[bomary]

I don't know where this video was shot but here's a Dobermann sled team

I've never seen that!! That is awesome!!

 

[Ingrid H]

There are many people here at DCF who have Dobermans in colder climates than Norway has including myself here in Maine. The lowest temperature here this winter was -10F, but it can go lower. I had to worry more about myself getting frostbite on the face than the dog's comfort

 

[bomary]

I've never seen that!! That is awesome!!

I just HAD to share it on my Facebook!!

 

[Oh Little Oji]

I'll have to take a pic of a photo in an Doberman book I have. It shows a Doberman sled dog team.

 

[Beerswimmer]

My little guy has only know cold. I put booties and a vest on him when he was only a few months old, now he doesn't wear anything. He does better in the cold than I do.

 

[NikiL02]

I am originally from Canada and where i lived last in Red Deer Alberta it routinely went -40°C in winter plus windchill. Rarely went higher than 25°C in summer. A lady had two dobes near us and walked them pretty much every day. I bet she had a treadmill for the really cold days. They had coats, booties and snoods for the colder days too. You could tell they were well toned, good weight dogs. Seemed happy.