Weather for Pyrs - Extreme Cold

by Lisa
(Kentucky, USA)

Hi there, Just had a quick question..

I run in a park close to where I live and have noticed that there is a Great Pyrenees left
outside most of the day, in extremely cold weather:( I am not an expert
but just wanted to make sure this is acceptable. He looks well fed, and groomed
but I just can't help feel sorry for the poor boy.I think the owners are both doctors
so I don't think they are home a lot during the day ..is to why the dog s left outside. He seems kind of lonely to me, but I have been reading they love to be outside and in the cold? It was 20 degrees Fahrenheit today. Thank you for your feedback.

Comments for Weather for Pyrs - Extreme Cold

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Dec 29, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cold Temperature
by: Donna

Pyrs do love the cold. 20 F is still 'warm' for a Pyr. They have double coats and when kept groomed so the air circulates, they are fine.

Most Pyrs love this weather as long as they have the option of shelter and a bed off the ground.

It's been -22 here and if allowed, my girl would spend 24 hours a day outside. She has a sheltered bed off the ground with a mattress on top.

This Pyr you saw should be fine.
Dec 29, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		outside
by: Anonymous

It is 5 in NY state today and my Great Pyrenees is loving it as does my St. Bernard. They can take the cold very well. He has a choice as I have a doggy door off of my family room and for the majority of the day he is out in the yard surrounded by all his toys. If I didn't shut the door down all night he would love being out there. Close to my home is a golf course that allows dogs to be off leash and I walk my dogs about 3 to 5 miles everyday. And they do just fine and I am hard pressed to get these boys in my car at the end of their run.
Dec 30, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		col weather
by: Anonymous

I had the same concern I bought a pyr from a very excellent breeder in Markham 8 years ago and those dogs are outside in pens with shelter . Are they ok if they are till there even in this weather?
Jan 02, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank You!
by: Lisa

Thank you everyone for your responses! I feel so much better. I ran again today and the dog was outside again, but he does look content sitting in the sun. There is a dog house outside as well with a back porch, so I feel peace of mind now due greatly to your responses. Thank you so much again, I appreciate it so much. Xo
Dec 30, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cold by Choice
by: Anonymous

We've had 4 Great Pyrenees over 26 years and they all loved the cold. With the freedom of 2 dog doors, they mostly prefer being outside in frigid temperatures, but do enjoy coming in to warm up now and then. It's 8 below this morning at 5 a.m., and our 4-year-old Pyrenees male is out guarding our mountain property. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him for extended periods of time without shelter or the choice of coming inside through a dog door though.
Dec 26, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My pyr loves cold she handles cold very well
by: Marie

What I do with my 2 year old bella pyr is I let her out in the cold freezing weather for about 2-3 hours I bring her in many times she play fights me to go inside the house as long as the wind outside isn’t too harsh on her she could be inside in a deep nap wake suddenly and wants to go out in the cold snow
But I am a stay at home person so i time watch her every 2*3 hours in or out she chooses but in the summer she wants in with the AC on.
Feb 11, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pyrenees and cold weather
by: Anonymous

They LOVE the cold weather it's the warm/hot weather that is much more concerning.
They DO need a shelter of some sort of it is snowing heavily and there is a strong wind. I have owned three this far and it is more difficult to try to keep them inside rather than let them stay outside.
Feb 12, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pyrenees full time outside
by: Anonymous

We have two Pyrenees that are currently 10.5 months old and are around 105 lbs each. It is in the mid to low teens this week (F), and snow on the ground. These are livestock guardian dogs and have never spent a day inside. They have an open kennel in a large loafing shed filled with hay and they rarely go in there. They sleep right in the snow most of the day when it is 12 deg (f) outside and snowing. This morning they were covered in ice and just happy as could be. when it is above 20 deg (f) and sunny we find them out in the pasture with their belly to the sky like its 90 degs out.
Feb 14, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Freeze in Texas!!
by: Donna

I live in Texas and our temperatures are dropping fast, as a polar vortex is decending on us, which brought me to this page. I have a 18 month male Great Pyrenees who is a working dog and is responsible for 16 Barbados Sheep. I too was worried about our dropping temps, supposedly in the 0 range. Bear has a doghouse with hay.. it is sleeting outside, and Bear is choosing to lay stretched out in the elements. After reading everyone's story, I feel confident that he will be fine, even at zero. I do recommend going out and breaking the ice on their water ever so often. When I do that, he grabs the ice and plays with it. Silly dog... I absolutely adore this dog, they are so intelligent.
Feb 15, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Responding to Donna from Texas
by: Kirsten

Hey Donna I’m not sure you will see this but I read your comment and was just concerned because you said your Pyr had hay for a bed instead of straw, it could’ve just been that you call it that cause I know people that do but I just wanted to suggest that you switch to straw since when hay gets wet it molds and it isn’t really meant to be used as bedding. Again just a suggestion but if it works for you that’s great! :)
Yes I found the page cause I was just concerned about my 3 year old Pyr being out in all the snow but he has 24hr access to a barn with straw and is always out playing so he seems as happy as can be lol his favorite this is getting ice sickles and chewing on them like bones and batting snow balls around like hockey pucks
Feb 17, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		So relieved now
by: Anonymous

Same here...in Texas with abnormally cold weather and have two rescue feral type dogs that are great pyrenees mix and I cannot get them to stay in the house. One will go out and curl up in the snow and sleep and the other has been running around and loving it (over an acre). Have always had the doggy door open for them to come in but they won’t since this storm hit so I’ve had to coax them inside and before I can turn around they are back out the doggy door! After about 15 times of this game I finally gave up and just check on them during the day and at night they have no choice but to be inside. Had no idea they could handle single digit weather like this plus -22 degree windchill. So glad to have found this while my electricity is on and able to get internet for the moment.
Feb 17, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Weather
by: Anonymous

Saw one on the way home just now walking in the middle of the road bellering like a bull calf, started to follow my truck, and got spooked off by the one behind me, don't know where his partner was, felt so bad for him, it's cold here in Texas, coldest ever remember, this is my 67th winter in Texas
Feb 18, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Shelter
by: Donna

Always make sure your dog(s) have insulated shelter and warm bedding as an option. They may choose to sleep out in the cold, and that's fine. But, they must have shelter.

If not a mattress in the insulated dog house, then straw as opposed to hay (it goes moldy) as someone below recommended.

Fresh water, too. You will need to get a water heater to keep the water from freezing.

Make sure to check on them regularly. You will be, anyways, since they also must be groomed regularly to keep their coats working as they should.
Jan 26, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Temperature range for Great Pyrenees
by: Anonymous

I was wondering what the hottest temperature, and the coldest temperature they can tolerate. Just want to take good care of my big beautiful babies. They are so beautiful.
Feb 03, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Extremely cold
by: Anonymous

Our Pyrenees 3yr old girl is currently out in -15 temp. with -20 wind chill. And guess what...... she's just outside the barn guarding our goats. They're very cold hardy.

[Always makes sure to have appropriated shelter from the elements available for them, along with regular grooming so their coats will work efficiently to keep them cook in summer and warm in winter.– GPCSO]
May 10, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		5 month old Pyrenee
by: Anonymous

So after reading these comments. I assume 40 degrees is safe at night right? My dog does not want to come in lol
Oct 13, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pyr and the Cold
by: Anonymous

I have had Pyr all of my life. The LOVE the cold. We currently have a pair of brothers that are 11 months old. We are in southern Missouri. Last night it was 31 f here, and they LOVE IT. They have free access to the house through a dog door 24 hours a day....they spend all night doing their LGD job then come to the house for breakfast and sleep most of the day inside on the concrete floor....by choice, they have beds and rarely use them. Someone mentioned in the thread that you cant or shouldnt use hay for bedding, utter BS. We tried straw THEY WONT SLEEP ON IT....they always sleep in the piles of hay scattered around the inside of the barn. And if you are worried about hay molding...change it, takes all of 5 minutes
Nov 01, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		12 week old Great Pyr brothers
by: Rey in MT

So happy to find this thread. My boys are still pups, so I’m not sure their coats are developed enough for the cold that’s coming next week. We have a large kennel area with a shelter they can go in & out of as they like but it will hit zero next week. I read a different page that said they can get frostbite at below 15 degrees f. How do you know if your dog has frostbite? After reading this thread I’m not as concerned, but not completely at peace either.
Nov 03, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Frostbite
by: Donna

Your puppies are pretty young to be outside. You are right. They do not have the coats to keep them warm yet. Make sure your shelter is warm enough. Surround it with straw, thick beds inside. Or, better yet, make sure it is an insulted dog house. -17 C or 0 F is pretty cold for them.

Here is an article for you to consider.

Another by Dr. Karen Becker. You may have to sign up (for free) for her substack to see the article.

I grabbed a few paragraphs from Dr. Becker's article:

If your dog is shivering, whining, holding up a paw or slowing down, it’s a sign that he’s too cold and needs to go indoors

If the temperatures are at or below 20°F, hypothermia and frostbite are a risk for all dogs

Age — Puppies and elderly dogs can have difficulty regulating their body temperatures and are more prone to adverse effects from cold weather exposures.

The following signs signify that your dog is cold, and if you observe them it’s not only time to head inside but also to consider outfitting your dog in a coat the next time you go outdoors, especially if it’s for a longer period.

Shivering

Holding up a paw

Anxiety

Searching for warmth

Whining

Weakness or limping

Slowing down

Lack of mental alertness
Jan 11, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		They are made for extreme cold.
by: Anonymous

We have a male and female Great Pyrenees. They protect out livestock. They will sleep in the snow and it doesn't bother them. Last winter it was -10 and we "forced" them to come into the laundry room and they hated it. They pant and drool and whine until we let them back out.
Jan 15, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		5 month old
by: Anonymous

We added a 5 month old with our 4 year old. They both are outside dogs in a fence area to protect our chickens. They have a very large dog house packed with straw where they bed down. Can the 5 month old withstand this cold? She seems happy and both dogs love each other.

Answer: Your 5 month old is too young to actually work. She is still very much a puppy. She won't be ready until 1.5 to 2 years old. As long as she is just supposed to be learning, at this point, from the other dog, great.

As for withstanding the cold, her coat isn't in fully yet, so she may get cold. Keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't shivering or just looking cold.
Jan 15, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pyr Mix From Shelter
by: Anonymous

My 8 year old Pyr mix shelter dog thinks it's the funniest thing to refuse to come in from the cold.
The shelter said he is ½ Anatolian shepherd as well.
He gets that play face on and backs up a little when I call him. Big big fun to see me waving and calling. At -17° this winter no one gets to stay out. But at 10° he loves to lay in the yard in wind and snow.I can't stand to leave him for more than 20 minutes.
When we brought him home we didn't know why he started barking as soon as the sun sets and loves to be out in dark cold nights.
Then we read the Pyr information.
Dec 06, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Big Furry Dogs Built For the Cold
by: Anonymous

I am new to this breed. I have two big girls for the last year and a half and the joke is they sleep all day and they bark all night which is what we wanted them to do - keep the critters away at night. They really do seem to love the cold. I built a dog house for them with an A/C. When it is 90 degrees they will get in that in the summer.. But last night it was 20 F and I get a bit worried. They seem fine - cuddled up with each other and not going into their dog house. If it gets much colder I probably will bring them in but they really don't seem bothered at all at 20F. Thanks for everyone else's comments.
Dec 13, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cold weather
by: Great Pyrenees Club

As long as they have the option of a dog house that is insulated and has bedding in it, they will be fine.
Jan 20, 2025
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		GREAT PYRS OWNER -16 F TONIGHT
by: Tweedybird

Leaving my boy with the goats int he shelter with his own little bed, lays ontop a wool blanket and is fine. Make sure to give them a little cayenne pepper in their raw milk bowl, 1/2 teaspoon or less, LOTS of raw meat (with a little organ meat and edible bone to complete the diet and rotate the proteins) helps keep them warm & the wool blanket (on straw) to lay on keeps them warm from the ground up. Outside shelters need a 3 way wind break and straw to keep them warm up to -21 is all I've tested with mine. Personally, I've slept in -17 with nothing but a sleeping bag, wool blanket and covered myself in wool clothes. It was cold, but the extra little bit of cayenne pepper makes the difference all night.

*Read about dogs lacking digestive enzyme lactase which helps digest the milk sugar lactose. Without lactase, it's difficult for dogs to digest the milk.* Lacking digestive enzyme lactase
Mar 10, 2025
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pyrs staying warm
by: Great Pyrenees Club

It's extremely important to keep any double-coated dog's coat well-groomed in order for it to work effectively.

This article is about not shaving a double-coated dog, but it explains how a double coat works and how important it is to keep it groomed for it to work efficiently.

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