Labs, How cold can they handle?

[Hoernig]

I have a 9 month old Lab, Freyja, she is my hiking companion. I'm considering some winter hiking /camping next year and would like to bring Freyja. I'm not so worried about the hiking, while exercising she appears to be impervious to the cold, she wears boots while doing day hikes in the snow this winter. I realize that when she stops moving the cold, esp at night will/ could be a problem. I have considered getting a full snow jump suit for her to sleep in like http://www.kristalas.com/apparel/apparel.htm or http://www.shaggylamb.com/snowsuit.html.

Does anyone camp in the snow with their Labs? Would an insulated snow suit be sufficient in a tent in sub freezing weather ( -20F at the lowest ), or do I need to rethink taking her?

She does love lying down in and rolling around in the snow on semi warm days ( 40F ).

[Drazhar]

#1 where are you hiking? when i hike and climb in colorado in winter weather the cold can get in to the minus 50's with wind chill but not including windchill only about minus 25 to mins 30.

#2 you can buy doggie sleeping bags, ill find one and post it for you.

i would buy the doggie sleeping bag

i will also post a very cool thing that will interest you :)

[Drazhar]

QUOTES from another forum im a member of!



I had not heard of the Quandary Dog until I happened to meet him on the summit of Quandary last week. And, if I had heard of this wonderful dog, I would have thought it was an urban legend. See if this sounds familiar to anyone:

On the way up the East Ridge, a gentleman climbing with 3 dogs, one of which was a gorgeous yellow lab with boundless energy, passed us. On the way down, he only had 2 dogs, and indicated that he had no idea who owned the yellow lab which was hiking with him.

When we got to the summit, this same yellow lab was socializing among a group of well over a dozen hikers who had gathered at the peak. Not one of them owned the dog, and not one of them knew where this dog had come from! It seemed impossible, but there was a yellow lab on the summit of one of our highest 14ers who had climbed the peak solo, without a human guide!

One of the dog's name tags said "Horton." The other, oddly enough, said "Quandary Dog." Evidently, Horton the Quandary Dog lives somewhere in the valley, and independently climbs to the summit of Quandary Peak on a regular basis for the purpose of hanging out with hikers on the summit and (hopefully) mooching their food! I've never even heard of anything like this. (Told you no one would believe me).

When I got home, I did a google search, and found stories of this same dog dating back to May 2004! I believe this one has a picture of him descending the South Gulley:

http://www.alanarnette.com/alan/quandary.htm

Has anyone else encountered this strange and wonderful animal on their hikes up Quandary?

Horton is and impressive hiker. I climbed Quandary in January and he ran circles around us all the way to the top. It was also -20 at the TH when we started and blowing about 30mph above tre line. This didn't phase him at all.`


Horton followed us up and then down Quandary as we skied all the way to the trailhead last Febuary. We thought we lost him in the woods filled with deep powder but he popped up shortly afterword. Amazing dog.http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g97/DrazharMOB/Various%20dogs/quandary-peak_8.jpg

I climbed with Horton this winter on a very, very cold day. It was so cold that my cell phone and sunglasses broke. There were 80-100mph sustained winds and temps of -50. Horton was blown over a few times (like the rest of us) buy he made it to the summit.

[Drazhar]

here is a sleepingbag for dogs, half price!!

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,98889_ABO-Gear-Sleeping-Bag-Canine-Cuddler-For-Pets.html?cm_mmc=PaidPlacement-_-NexTag-_-WNEXT7-_-ABO_Gear_Sleeping_Bag_-_Canine_Cuddler_-_For_Pets

thats what i would get if i was you, maybe get the jascket aswell (better safe than sorry)

[AnnieB]

Hello, I will try to give you an idea about the cold here, its varies anywhere from usually 10 above to 40 below with the wind facter, now I have 3 labs ot of my bunch of 7 dogs lol oops, that is in the winter months...my boys will ask to go out and just plain lay down and stay there for until they feel the need to come in. I mean a 10 above degree day is NOT bothering them much at all, and depending where you are going, and depending on if the dog is used to those temps like mine are. I am guessing that if you are going hiking where i may be night temps dipping to 40 or so you'r boy would do fine, course thats IMO. Hope that helps. :D

[JessMaster]

First all, Freyja is a great name! She's even in the Danish national anthem.

I've got one of those skinny type labs... cold never used to bother her, certainly not while exercising or swimming. When I take her backpacking these days, I noticed that she is getting cold a couple of hours after we go to sleep if there is wind. This is even in above-freezing weather. I would definitely get some sort of bag as Drazhar recommends. I have given mine an old summer bag.
I would love to watch as you try to get the 9-month old to stay in her bag the first time :)

[Hoernig]

Drazhar, thank you very much. I'm going to take her hiking all over California and Washington, so temps can get very cold depending on altitude. I'm going to look at the sleeping bag option. That seems like a great idea.

That is one insane story about Horton, maybe if I find my way out that way Freyja can play with him. I never considered taking her skiing, but maybe I should.

AnnieB, Thanks for your observations, they really reassure me about my pups abilities. She does love the snow.

JessMaster Thanks for comment on the name. Freyja is Field line, so she is also kinda thin, so I will take a doggie sleeping bag we go out in the winter.

Summing up your advice, I should have no problem with her in the day, and at night she may get cold, so having a bag for her is a good saftey net.

If any of ya think I missed the point please let me know.