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Cold Weather - How to Protect Your Standard Poodle
Protecting Your Standard Poodle Against Cold Weather Fortunately, where I live, the temperature rarely gets below freezing, so protecting my Poodles against the weather isn’t much of an issue, although it does get chilly! If you’re not so lucky, the cold can pose a danger to your Standard Poodles, so you’ll need to take extra precautions to keep him or her warm, safe and comfortable. If your Poodle stays outdoors during the day like mine does while I’m at work, then you’ll need to provide some kind of shelter from the elements. The kennel for my three Poodles has a roof over it to provide shade and to keep it dry. It also has shade cloth all around it which also provides shade, as well as protecting it from the wind. If your area gets below freezing during the winter, then you should provide some kind of shelter with heat to protect it from the cold weather, preferably an insulated dog house If you’re home most of the time, it’s best to keep your Poodle indoors, especially if they are old or ill. Even if your Poodle has lots of fur, he can still experience hypothermia. This occurs when their body temperature falls extremely below their normal temperature of around 101 degrees. During hypothermia, the metabolic rate is lowered and the organ functions can be affected. Hypothermia symptoms include shivering, weakness, breathing problems, sluggishness, coordination problems and sometimes paralysis. If you live in cold weather, you should become familiar with these symptoms. If you suspect hypothermia, keep your Poodle warm in a blanket and get him to the vet immediately. When we lived in Scotland, we had English Cockers and used to take them hiking with us in the winter in the snow. Somehow, it never occurred to me that their feet could get frostbite with all that hair and thick pads on their feet! Well, was I wrong! My husband had to carry our female cocker most of the way back. She developed huge ice balls between the toes on her feet and her feet were really sore. Fortunately, there was no permanent damage. We never did that again! If you are going to hike with your Standard Poodle in cold weather, invest in a pair of dog boots Frostbite is very bad news! It causes tissue death in cells. The areas that are most prone to frostbite are the most highly exposed areas on your Poodle, which include the feet, tail, ears, scrotum and mammary glands. If your Poodle is outdoors during the day, he may eat more during the cold weather. This gives them more fuel to help keep them warm. Always give them access to fresh drinking water as well. If your dog is outdoors during the day, use a heated bowl If you follow the steps above to prevent frostbite and hypothermia, you should have an enjoyable winter with your Poodle!
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that is elevated off the ground. It should be water-proof and ideally have a door to help prevent drafts. It should just be big enough for the dog to stand and turn around. Make sure the 
