12 Best breeds for cold weather (including 3 cat breeds!)
To some cats and dogs, summer and heat are just plain overrated. They’d way rather roll in a snowbank than a grassy lawn or watch the snow fall than the sun shine any day.
Of the many cool dogs and cats who can’t wait to chill this winter, these 12 breeds stand out as some of the most cold-loving of all:
Alaskan Malamute. Originally bred by the Mahlemiut Inuit tribe to pull freight, malamutes are powerful dogs that have the Arctic practically flowing in their veins.
Maine Coon. Tufted ears, snowshoe paws, thick coats—these gentle giants were designed by nature itself to survive the frigid winters of Maine.
Siberian Husky. Smaller and sleeker than malamutes, Siberian huskies are sled racers, which explains their typically exuberant and energetic antics in snow.
Newfoundland. If you’ve been bred to jump into the icy Canadian waters to rescue drowning fishermen, you better be strong, loving and extremely cold tolerant.
Saint Bernard. Compared to Newfies’ water rescues, Saint Bernards are all about snowstorm rescues, historically braving blizzards and avalanches to find missing travelers.
Norwegian Elkhound. Hunting and herding with the Vikings means that this ancient breed had to have the same legendary cold tolerance as their Viking owners.
Norwegian Forest Cat. The Vikings didn’t love just their dogs; Norwegian Forest Cats, also known as skogkatt, were so beloved, they entered Norwegian folk tales and mythology centuries ago.
Samoyed. As bright white as the snow they love to frolic in, these stunning dogs were bred for more than just beauty, historically pulling sleds and herding reindeer in the frozen expanses of Siberia.
Tibetan Mastiff. Standing guard all day in the snowy Himalayas means these massive mastiffs have to be super insulated against all the elements the mountains might throw at them.
Great Pyrenees. Different mountains, same problems! Herding sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains is likewise frosty, requiring a thick coat and endless patience.
Keeshond. Who says only enormous mountain dogs can love the snow? Keeshonds' breeding as barge dogs in the canals of Holland have given them an equal appreciation of the cold.
Siberian. Last but not least, Siberians are cherished Russian native cats that have been shaped by natural selection to weather the notoriously harsh winters of Russia.
So go ahead and let your cold-loving pet get lots of snowy romps this winter (supervised on porches or catios for cats, of course). But remember, even such hardy breeds can still get frostbite or hypothermia! When they’re all played out, always bring them back indoors to get properly warmed up.
