The dog breeds that love snow

I know winter is over, but we were all surprised by the snowfall about a week ago. That inspired me to write an article about dog breeds that love the snow, whereas most humans don’t. I’m an exception to that, I love snow. Anyway, let’s take a look at the dog breeds that appreciate the snow!

1. Akita

The Akita’s first known job stems from the cold northern region of the Japanese island Honshu. The Akita was used as a hunting dog, also known as ‘snow country dogs.’ They helped take down animals like bears and elk. But, as the years went by, they began guarding homes and serving as herders. Not to worry, their bodies are more than capable of handling the cold. How? Due to their fur. It’s a double coat with a rough outer layer, as well as a dense undercoat. This helps with insulation. And then we’ve also got their paws, which are webbed paws that help to distribute their weight more effectively while walking on snow.

2. Alaskan Malamute

This dog breed loves the cold because it’s in their DNA. The Inuit tribe called the Mahlemuts began breeding these dogs 4000 years ago as working dogs. Where? In northwestern Alaska. What they did was carry heavy sled loads over long distances in quite harsh weather. And, just like the Akita, they helped to hunt. In the late 1800s, they began pulling sleds for the U.S. Postal Service to carry mail to the remote areas of Alaska. All of this makes their bodies very suitable for winter. Their paws include veins and arteries that are much closer than typical paw pads. This means that the blood flow through the arteries keeps the outer veins warm, which guards against freezing. With that, they also have a coarse outer coat and an undercoat that’s dense, wooly, and oily.

3. Bernese Mountain Dog

This dog is originally from the Swiss Alps. They were used as farm dogs, helping with tasks that included herding, pulling carts, and guarding. Multipurpose, actually. Anyway, these dogs carried the tasks out in the cold, snowy environment we’ve all come to know in the Alps. And still, to this day, you’ll find them pulling carts throughout Switzerland for various events. How do they function so well in this cold weather? Thanks to their thick, relatively long coat.

4. Great Pyrenees

Yet another mountain dog. Used in the Pyrenees Mountains of France and Spain to guard sheep. Where do they do this? High up on mountain slopes, in aid of shepherds. They were also used to pull carts, deliver milk, and haul sleds. Now, they still serve as working dogs, as well as family companions. Now, for the physical features. Their double coats protect them from the weather, with a course and long outer coat. On top of that, or rather under, they have a wooly and dense undercoat.

5. Newfoundland

As you can guess, this dog breed comes from the Canadian region bearing the same name. They lived along a chilly coastline, helping with many of the resident’s needs. That included working as pack animals, towing ship lines, and helping those who were drowning. They do the last handling out of instinct. How? By helping those who struggle, and letting those who are conscious hold onto them. Those who are unconscious. They grip their arms, towing them back to shore. They’re well-suited to this watery work, ‘equipped’ with webbed paws and a water-resistant coat. Their undercoat is dense and soft, which is a huge help to keep their skin dry and warm. Its outercoat is of medium length, and coarse. And yes, they’re perfectly resistant against snow too!

6. Norwegian Elkhound

This dog, originally from Norway, is a trusted helper to humans since the early days of the Vikings. They served as hunting dogs, guard dogs, and herders in their snowy and frigid homeland. They hunted elk, even moose. That toughness created a unique policy in Norway: the Minister of Defense can mobilise all privately-owned elkhounds when needed. Their fur is suited for snowy weather. They have a long, coarse outer coat to push off wintry precipitation, and a soft wooly undercoat for insulation.

7. Siberian Husky

They’re originally from Siberia and are well-known as sled dogs. They helped pull sleds for the Chukchi people. They used them because of their endurance and ability to handle extreme cold and winter weather. In the early 20th century, they got exported to Alaska, and that was when they became popular in being used for sled racing. A team led by Balto, popularised in many stories since, helped them gain fame. Which story, you may ask? Well, the one where they covered hundreds of miles in six days to bring a serum to Nome, Alaska. Back then, the residents battled a diphtheria outbreak. They have a double coat, which is soft and dense on the inside, and straight and relatively flat on the outside. They’re big fans of cold weather and genuinely love being out in the snow.

8. Saint Bernard

They were originally used as monastery-hospice dogs in the Swiss Alps. When isn’t entirely known, but some reports state it must’ve been around the late 17th century. They served as watchdogs, cart-pullers, and as companions for the monks. Yet, they became renowned as life-savers. They accompanied the monks on treks to search for lost travellers, acting as a rescue team. They’d dig into the snow to find a traveller stuck underneath after a snowstorm. One of them would lie on top of the traveller for warmth, the other would go and get help unless they could walk. Then they’d simply lead them back to the monastery. They’re most comfortable in cold weather and don’t tolerate heat well.

9. Samoyed

They were raised by nomadic people bearing the same name, somewhere in the frigid northwestern area of Siberia. They helped herd reindeer, to hunt, and to fish. They also served as sled dogs when needed. They did all of this in a tundra region with extremely cold weather. To help their people survive such a harsh climate, they also slept with the children to keep them warm through the night. They have a thick double coat that protects them from the snowy elements. Their undercoat is soft and thick, covered with a harsh outer coat.

10. Tibetan Terrier

As their name suggests, they were originally kept by monks in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet. Serving as watchdogs, they were also beloved companions and mascots. They presumably helped to herd other animals and to retrieve items that had fallen off steep mountainsides. These dogs were considered good luck charms and were never sold, only given as gifts. The most famous nickname given to them is: ‘The Holy Dogs of Tibet.’ They’re well-suited for the mountains with their long, thick double coat. The inner portion of their coat is soft and wooly, covered with an outer layer that’s long and falls forward over their eyes and face. On top of that, they’ve got large, flat paws that helped them traverse the snowy, rocky mountains of their homeland.

Love, Skye Lewis/Deem ❤

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