What Temperatures Can A Dog Stay Outside? In Celsius & Fahrenheit

Although we treat our dogs the same as humans, their physical feelings differ entirely from ours. The way they feel heat and cold, especially. So if you own a dog, knowing the limits your dog can handle will help you make their lives a bit more comfortable.

And today, we will educate you about what temperatures a dog can stay outside. The details in this chapter are more valuable to those who are living in countries with multiple climate seasons, such as winter and summer. 

So, what temperatures can a dog stay outside? The answer to this problem depends on the physique of the dog. The way a short-nosed dog reacts to a specific temperature may differ from that of a long-nosed one. And a dog with a short fur coat may not handle cold seasons like long-haired dogs. Another factor is the size of the dog. So, it is essential to be concerned about the dog’s physical appearance before deciding what temperatures a dog can stay outside.

What Temperatures Can A Dog Stay Outside In Celsius?

All dog parents know how excited our pets become when they get the hint we are taking them out. But before taking the dog outside for a quick stroll or a full-on exercise, it is a must to consider the weather and the temperature outside. 

Let’s first consider a small doggo. For the parents who are wondering what temperatures can a dog stay outside if they have a small body, here is the answer. 

Usually, small dog breeds such as mini poodles, chihuahuas, Maltese, etc., can enjoy a pleasant day outdoors at temperatures of 15⁰ Celsius to 30⁰ Celsius.

It is the ideal temperature for you to enjoy a lovely game of tag or fetch with the pet, take your dog to the park, and let loose to play with other dogs. 

Dogs with tiny bodies, like my pet Jack Russell, don’t react to cold temperatures below 15⁰ Celsius. On cold winter nights, even though the house is heated up to a favorable temperature, my pet would sometimes shiver or try to curl himself up into a ball to be warm.

So, I would either give him an extra layer of blankets and cover himself up or turn up a small heater where he is sleeping. 

So be mindful when the temperature is going below or over the limits of 15⁰ Celsius to 30⁰ Celsius, so your dog will not get heat strokes and frostbites from hyperthermia. 

However, large-body dogs, such as sheepdogs, German shepherds, huskies, mountain dogs, etc., are a little more prone to these limits. They can handle temperatures below 15⁰ Celsius for an additional 30 minutes to one hour compared to dogs with smaller bodies. 

These are the levels of temperatures a dog can stay outside depending on its body size. But now, let’s move on to the next segment of this chapter and see how other factors apart from body size affect dogs when they are trying to cope with a [particular temperature. 

What Temperatures Can A Dog Stay Outside In Fahrenheit?

In simple terms, all dogs, despite their body size, breed, fur coat type, health, and age, tolerate and be their best selves in temperatures between 32⁰ F to 90⁰ F.

In contrast, the coping levels of small-bodied dogs are different from that of the bigger-bodied ones; keeping an eye on the temperature and the time you are spending outdoors is a must. 

Now let’s discuss the other factors that affect what temperatures can a dog stay outside, such as the coat and the dog’s health. 

Naturally, dogs with heavy, fluffy hair are more immune to cold weather than short-coated dogs. But they don’t like it much when the temperature is higher than 90⁰ F.

But a short-coated doggo can bear an increase of 1 or 2 degrees in the heat much more than that of a long-haired one. 

Moreover, suppose the temperature is over 30⁰ Celsius. In that case, bigger dogs with long fur coats, especially double-coated dogs, may face problems coping with the heat. So it is advisable that you do not keep the dog outdoors for more than 10 minutes. 

Additionally, pets who have weak health and senior dogs too might face temperatures below and over 15⁰ Celsius to 30⁰ Celsius, respectively.

While it is impossible to always keep a tab on the temperature outside when going out with the dog, if you feel like it is too hot or cold than your pet would like, keep your adventures to a minimum and take the pet inside the house as soon as possible. 

What Temperature Can Dogs Tolerate Outside?

As we discussed above, a few factors affect how a dog tolerates a specific weather condition. 

• The snout of the dog 

The dogs with long snouts can effectively pant with the tongue out to get rid of the body heat, while the short-nosed breeds have problems. 

• Body size

The larger the dog’s body, the better they react to colder and hotter climates. 

• Heath of the canine and the age

When the dog is not feeling well and doesn’t have robust health at the moment or is a senior doggo, coping with temperatures below and above 32⁰ F and 90⁰ F becomes difficult. 

• Fur type

Double-coated or heavy-haired dogs can react to colder weather better than the ones with short fur, while short-coated ones react to hotter climates better than heavily-coated dogs. 

No matter what bread, age, coat, etc., the dog’s much-preferred temperature for any dog is 15⁰ Celsius to 30⁰ Celsius (32⁰ F to 90⁰ F).

If you need to take the pet out at a temperature below or above 15⁰ Celsius to 30⁰ Celsius, for instance, to let your pet potty, make sure that you do it as quickly as you can and bring him back inside to a much-preferred temperature. 

It is imperative to remember that dogs react to the temperature of their surroundings differently than us. Therefore, even though we don’t feel much heat or cold, the dog might have hyperthermia.

So keeping an eye out for the temperature is vital when taking care of a four-legged friend. Thank you for reading this post. Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts about your pet friend.