The Best Cold Weather Dog Breeds

Since ancient times, people all around the world have cross-bred dogs for certain features, such as size, strength and type of coat. To survive in cold climates, a thick or long coat was the most important feature a breed could possess; and this is essentially what makes a dog breed well suited for cold weathers. From the Asian Chow Chow to the North American Malamute, the best cold weather dog breeds also include the European Saint Bernard and recent hybrid breeds, such as the Labradoodle.

  1. Asian Breeds

    • Akita, Chow Chow, Samoyed, Tibetan Mastiff, Siberian Husky and Anatolian Shepherd are the best Asian dog breeds for cold weather. Although most are big dogs, weighing up to 150 pounds, the Chow Chow, the Samoyed and the Siberian Husky are often under 60 pounds. The Akita, which originally comes from Japan, has a thick and short coat, often white and black, with orange patters. Tibetan Mastiffs have long coats, a strong territorial drive, typical of guardian breeds. Although smaller, Siberian Huskies are also a strong, hard breed that prefers cold temperatures, because of their thick coats. Originally from central Turkey, a region with freezing temperatures during winter, Anatolian Shepherds were introduced in the United States during the 1970s.

    North American Breeds

    • Alaskan Malamutes have a dense double coat, and can tolerate outdoor living in very cold climates. They are working Arctic dogs, and don't feel comfortable in warm and humid climates. The foxlike American Eskimo Dog, with its white fluffy dense coat and smaller size, rarely weighs more than 30 pounds. Chinooks first appeared in 1900s, in New Hampshire, but became famous after taking part in Admiral Byrd's first Antarctic expedition in 1928. The giant Newfoundland, a cross between the Tibetan Mastiff and the extinct American Black Wolf, has a long black coat.

    European Breeds

    • Several European breeds are ideal for cold climates, including the Bernese and the Saint Bernard originally from the Swiss Alps, and are used as rescue dogs; the Finnish Spitz, a small hunting dog up to 20 inches tall at the shoulder; the Great Pyrenees, a shepherd dog with a dense white coat; the Keeshond, a small old breed form 17th century Holland; the Hungarian Kuvasz, with its almond-shaped eyes and thick white fur; the Norwegian Elkhound, which was used for moose hunting; the 12-pound Brussels Griffon, which was bred to hunt rats; and the rare Sussex Spaniel from England.

    Recent Hybrid Breeds

    • Some hybrid breeds, created in the last 20 years, show a high tolerance to cold temperatures because of their thick coats. They include the Goldador, a hybrid between the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever; the Goldendoodle, a cross-breed between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle; and the Labradoodle, the hybrid between a Labrador and a Poodle. In addition to coping well in cold temperatures, these dogs make good companions and are often used as therapy dogs.