Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/dog-breeds-that-love-the-snow/

As the winter wears on, a lot of us get pretty tired of it. There are only so many times you can scrape your windshield, dig out your car, or shovel your driveway before you’re ready to move to the equator. There are some special folks who absolutely disagree with this, though, relishing every last snowflake. If you’re that type, there are plenty of dog breeds that would be more than happy to accompany you into the winter wonderland. Here are 10 breeds that go nuts in the snow.

Akita

The Akita was first kept as a hunting dog in the cold northern region of the Japanese island Honshu. In fact, they were once known as “snow country dogs.” They helped take down big game, including bears and elk. As time went on, they also helped to guard family homes and served as herders.

Their bodies are well-suited for the cold, due to their fur. They have a double coat, with a rough outer layer that sticks out from their bodies, as well as a dense undercoat. This helps with insulation. Their feet are also uniquely adapted to the snow. They have webbed paws that help them distribute their weight more effectively as they walk along a snowy ground.

Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes have the cold in their DNA. The Inuit Tribe, the Mahlemuts, located in northwestern Alaska, began breeding these hardy canines 4,000 years ago as working dogs. They carried heavy sled loads over long distances in harsh weather. They also helped their humans hunt. Millennia later in the late 1800s, they began pulling sleds for the U.S. Postal Service, carrying mail to remote areas of Alaska.

In addition to their history, their bodies are perfect for winter. Their paws adapted to include veins and arteries in much closer proximity than typical paw pads, which means that blood flow through the arteries keeps the outer veins warm. This guards against freezing. They also have a coarse outer coat and an undercoat that is dense, wooly, and oily. This gives them the insulation they need to thrive in colder weather.

Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain dog is originally from the Swiss Alps. They were multipurpose farm dogs, helping with tasks including herding, pulling carts, and guarding. The hardy dogs carried these tasks out in the cold, snowy environment found in the Alps. To this day, you may find them pulling carts in drafting events throughout Switzerland.

With their background, as you can imagine, they do well in cold weather. This is thanks to their thick, relatively long coat, which provides insulation. One of their favorite times to go for a walk is when it gets a bit nippy out.

Great Pyrenees

The Great Pyrenees are another mountain dog. They’ve long been used in the Pyrenees Mountains of France and Spain to guard sheep. They do their work high up on mountain slopes, in aid of shepherds. These resourceful canines were also used to pull carts, deliver milk, and even to haul sleds. In present day, they continue to serve as working dogs, as well as family companions.

They also have physical features that help them thrive in the cold. Their double coats protect them from the weather, with a course and long outer coat and a woolly and dense undercoat. These very devoted pups would enjoy a day out in the snow with their people.

Newfoundland

The Newfoundland comes from the Canadian region of the same name. These large pups lived along a chilly coastline and helped with many of the residents’ needs, including working as pack animals, towing ship lines, and coming to the aid of people who were drowning. They have an instinct about helping struggling swimmers, as well, letting those who are conscious hold onto them, while gripping those who are unconscious by the arm as they tow them back to shore. Some beaches have even used the Newfie as a lifeguard!

The Newfoundland’s body is well-suited to its watery work. It has webbed paws and a water-resistant coat. The undercoat is dense and soft, which helps keep the skin dry and warm when the dog ventures into the water. Its outercoat is medium length and coarse. With all these features, your Newfie would have no problem romping through the snow with you.

Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound has been a trusted helper to humans since the days of the Vikings. In their snowy and frigid homeland, they served as hunting companions, guard dogs, and herders. The big game they helped hunt wasn’t limited to elk. They even managed to bring down moose. This toughness has led to a unique policy in Norway: the defense minister can mobilize all privately-owned elkhounds when needed.

This hardiness makes it sound like not much would bother a Norwegian Elkhound. That would include mounds of snow. It has fur suited for such weather: a long, course outer coat to push off wintry precipitation and a soft wooly undercoat for insulation.

Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky originated in Siberia and is well-known for being a sled dog. Initially, they helped pull sleds for the Chukchi people, who used the dogs due to their endurance and ability to handle the extreme cold and winter conditions. When they were exported to Alaska in the early 20th century, they became a popular breed for sled racing. They also gained fame when a team led by Balto, popularized in many stories since, covered hundreds of miles in six days to bring serum to Nome, Alaska, as the residents battled a diphtheria outbreak.

Like the other dogs mentioned, Huskies have a double coat, soft and dense on the inside and straight and relatively flat on the outside. Due to their bodies and their history, they are big fans of cold weather and genuinely enjoy being out in the winter. An ideal exercise for them may be to go on a jog with their human when it’s cold.

Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards were originally monastery-hospice dogs in the Swiss Alps. It isn’t known exactly when they stepped into this role, but there are confirmed reports of this dating back to the late 17th century. They served as watchdogs, cart-pullers, and companions for the monks, but much like Newfies, they became renowned as life-savers. After accompanying the monks on treks to search for lost travelers following snow storms, they got a hang of it. Two or three male dogs would go out by themselves as a rescue team, digging into snow to find travelers. One would lie on top of a lost traveler to warm them up, and the other(s) would go back to get help. If the person could still walk, the dogs would lead them to the monastery.

Saint Bernards remain well-suited for this type of work to this day. Due to their ancestry, they are most comfortable in cold weather and do not tolerate the heat well. If you have a snowy excursion, this breed would be a great companion. Your pup may even help someone in need. Who knows?

Samoyed

The Samoyed were raised by a nomadic people of the same name in frigid northwestern Siberia. They helped herd reindeer, hunt, and fish. Like other dogs on this list, they also served as sled dogs when needed. These pups carried out all this work in a tundra region with cold weather extremes. To help their people survive such a harsh climate, they also slept with children to keep them warm through the night.

Their bodies continue to handle colder temperatures well, due to their thick double coat that protects them from the elements. The undercoat is soft and thick, covered with a harsh outer coat that stands straight out. With their ancestry and well-adapted bodies, you’ll likely be ready go back inside after a snowfall before they are.

Tibetan Terrier

Tibetan Terriers were originally kept by monks in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet. They served as watchdogs, beloved companions, and mascots. They may have even helped to herd other animals and retrieve items that had fallen off steep mountain sides. The pups ultimately became companions for laymen, as well. They were considered good luck charms and never sold, only given as gifts. One of their nicknames is “The Holy Dogs of Tibet.”

They are well-suited for the mountains, with a long, thick double coat. The inner portion is soft and wooly, covered with an outer layer that is long and falls forward over their eyes and face. They also have large, flat paws that helped them traverse the snowy, rocky mountain faces of their homeland. With all this history and bodies ready for the snow, these pups can’t get enough of winter, either.

If Your Dog Doesn’t Like the Cold Weather

Does your dog not relish its time outdoors in the winter, or do you want to make sure you’re keeping your pooch as safe as possible in the winter months? Here are some tips on keeping them warm and out of harm’s way. If you’re looking for a dog that may do better in a warmer climate, here are 10 breeds that can shun the snow with you.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog