Can Huskies Stay Outside In The Cold?

If you are planning to own a Husky, then you should be aware of many facts about them such as whether they can be kept outside in winters or not, etc. Most of the pet lovers know that Siberian Husky is a breed that is known to be fit for survival under sub-zero degree temperatures also.

Though this breed comes with dense double-coat making it capable to withstand the variations in cold temperature, it may prove vulnerable to the overheating conditions in the summers. Hence, it is necessary to take care of them both in winters as well as summers.

Yes, Huskies can very easily adjust to the cold winter temperatures which can go as low as -65⁰F or -56⁰C. But still, it is recommended that they are treated with care and should be provided with proper shelter, comfort, and warmth during the winter.

Also, remember that even though they are capable of sleeping outside in winters but are not adapted to live directly in plain snow. Above all, their condition of coat, age, and health conditions determine whether they can handle harsh winters or not.

You might be aware that Huskies can very well adapt to both cold and warm weather but at the same time, it is equally important to know their limits to withstand the same. In this blog, we will exactly try to cover everything you wish to know about Husky.

By the end of this blog, you will be able to take a call as to whether it is good or bad to keep your Husky outdoor in extremely cold conditions.

Are Huskies comfortable sleeping outdoor in winters?

If you look at the history of Huskies, they have been used as sled dogs to carry light loads from Siberia to Alaska in sub-zero temperatures. During these trips, they tend to sleep outdoors with minimal protection or insulation.

They are bred in such a way that they are capable of handling such harsh climatic conditions. Unlike human beings, Huskies love outdoor freezing conditions. But the wise thing to do is to allow your Husky to spend an equal amount of time both outdoor and indoor.

A group of Huskies used as sled dogs living together can easily get adjusted with the extreme weather conditions by huddling together but at the same time, a pet Husky will struggle to cope up with such a situation.

What are the factors which determine whether a Husky can stay outside in cold or not?

In most cases, it is seen that a strong Husky can withstand the cold outdoor environment swiftly but when it comes to a puppy Huskies, you need to adhere to certain points before allowing them to stay outside in extreme weather conditions. Appended below are certain important factors that need to be taken into account.

• Always ensure that the area where your Husky will be sleeping is maintained properly and kept tidy and clean.
• Not all Huskies are fond of staying outdoor in extremely cold conditions. Hence, it is always necessary to be aware of the Husky breed which you possess. Sometimes the upbringing of Huskies can also play a vital role. For instance, if you have always kept your husky in an insulated shelter with comfort, it will never feel comfortable outdoor.
• As already stated above, Huskies love to stay outdoor in winters when they are in a group as they will feel cozy and comfortable by huddling with each other.

How to identify that it is too cold for your Husky?

Yes, you can easily make out that your Husky is not comfortable in extremely cold conditions outside as it will start to show certain signs indicating the comfortlessness. A few of them are mentioned below. All you need to do is keep a close eye on your Huskies behavior.

• If your Husky is shivering, then it is a clear cut sign of temperature being too low outside and your dog is not at all comfortable. Your Husky will initially try to cope up with the condition of low temperature by trying to keep itself warm and only start shivering when it fails to survive the situation.
• Did you notice ice on your Huskies fur? If the answer is yes then this is a sign of your Husky being unable to deal with the exceptionally low temperature outside. The ice on your dog’s fur is an indication that it is unable to stay warm by being not able to generate enough heat to deal with the cold.
• Anxiety is another sign of discomfort which your Husky will portray. It will show signs of fear when it fails to deal with a cold environment outdoor. Any indifferent signs of your Husky such as trying to hide at some weird location, barking while gazing into your eyes are an indication of his discomfort while staying in too low temperature outdoor.
• Many Huskies during winter season struggles with dehydration. The major signs indicating that your dog is dehydrating are dry nose or the gums. You can even check the condition of dehydration by pulling the skin located at the backside of the neck of your Husky. If the skin elasticity is weak and it does not return to its normal state, then your dog is dehydrating. In such conditions, it is recommended that you take your Husky to a veterinarian immediately.
• If you notice that your Husky is curled up with its tail wrapped around his nose and face, then he is doing it to keep himself warm by trapping the breath and heating the face and nose.

Is your Huskies temperament affected while staying outdoor in winters?

No, it will not affect your Huskies temperament at all as they are fond of staying outside in winters and getting adapted to extremely cold conditions.

You can see some kind of temperamental change in them during the summer season when they struggle to handle scorching heat.

Summers become more inconvenient for them due to their double fur coating which keeps their body extra warm.

Is there a way to keep your Husky safe and comfortable in winters?

Yes, there are few ways to keep your furry pal cozy and comfortable in extreme weather conditions in the winter. The major ones are listed below for your reference and doing the needful.

• It is mostly preferred to perform certain exercises with Huskies in the winters. The one good session to keep your Husky warm in winters is to take him out for a long walk. You can also use your garden or backyard space to play with him and helping him stay warm outdoor during winters. While making your Husky perform exercise, please keep an eye on signs of dehydration or any other abnormalities which may lead to major health issues if ignored.
• Adequate shelter for your Husky is going to give him comfort during those extreme winter season. Although Huskies have double-coat it is not enough to keep it warm during very low temperatures outdoor. Hence, it is preferred to keep Husky under a shelter to protect from snow, rain, and wind. At the same time, you should also keep in mind that the shelter which you are offering to your Husky is spacious enough for him to move around freely.

Are Husky puppies capable of tolerating cold weather?

No, the Husky puppies are not capable enough to tolerate those extremely cold winter conditions like the adult one. The reason for this is their immature coat which is not enough to withstand the low temperatures outdoor. Above all the size also restricts Husky puppies from generating the required heat to keep it warm during cold winters.

Husky puppies should be nurtured very carefully especially during the winter season. Husky puppies should not be allowed to sleep outdoor during low temperatures and preferably kept indoor till the time their coats are developed to provide the required protection.

How to save your Husky from the cold?

If you end up with the situation where your Husky becomes too cold due to extremely low temperature outside, bring it inside to regulate the temperature. Not only Husky but none of the pets should be tested in such extreme weather conditions by keeping them outdoor.

Though Huskies can happily stay outdoor in cold but the owner needs to be very vigilant and careful. The basic thing to understand here is that your pet is not different than you which means if you feel the cold, then your pet must also be feeling the same. Hence, try to be proactive rather than reactive in such cases.

Wrap up

Most of the pet owners live in a dilemma thinking whether Huskies are indoor or outdoor dogs. Let us sum it up, Huskies are both outdoor as well as indoor dogs. Huskies can very easily adapt to any kind of weather conditions.

Even though Huskies are considered as both indoor and outdoor dogs, they are mainly preferred outdoors due to their history of being bred as sled dogs that are used to sub-zero temperatures and capable of pulling loads for longer distances.

Huskies are very energetic dogs and need proper training, shelter, and exercise to keep them occupied. Huskies are good for those pet owners who have a very active lifestyle.

The bottom line is that you should assess your lifestyle and commitment to exercise before planning to become a Husky owner as they require time and effort from you to keep them active throughout their lifespan.

Huskies are a great protector and companion with the skills to hike snow-covered mountains.