Hi I was wondering my husk that is now 1 year and 4 months gets cold outside.... Like today it is -22 and I brought him out to play and 5 mins later I noticed he started kicking with his back legs. Does this mean his cold or ? And is it because he is allways inside in a wormth place that he gets cold so fast ?

I'm not sure what you mean by kicking with his back legs. Is he shivering? Is he asking to go inside? Is he curled up in a little ball and slow to respond?

-22 - is that F° or C° and is that absolute temp or wind chill?

-22c and yes he did curl up in a ball put his nose inside his tail.. And for the kicking part I don't know how to explain it .. He just kicks back wards with his leg like if there was somthing stuck between his paws but there is nothing but snow ... Do you understand the kicking part ?i could take a video of you really don't understand

The kicking part sounds what like Ami (and most male dogs) do after peeing or smelling something "yummy". It has nothing to do with cold, among various theories, it is to distribute their scent. The hind legs go really stiff and scrape backwards vigorously, leaves, snow, dirt, grass...whatever, goes flying backwards.

If he is not running/exploring'playing around when he goes out, but just curls up, that is a sign he is keeping warm. "Too cold" is indicated by shivering, loss of responsiveness, slow to waken. Does he want to be outside or is he asking to come in?

How long is he out there, how often? We do not approach those temps for the most part. What I do notice with Ami is if it is single digits (F) and windy, if he is not actively playing or on leash walking, he will go in his dog house, make a nest in the straw and curl up. Low teens, he will stretch out in the dog house with his head in the doorway. Above that...forget the doghouse, its a heatwave. Most of the time now, his outside time is freewill, he has invisible fence collar, doggie doorbell to the house. To get him in at night, I usually have to drag him out of his house...during the day, he rings the bell but not to come in...he wants company, go for a walk, to play. If I want him to come in, I have to bribe him with cheese Even today, when it was 6° and windy.

But, Ami is acclimated - he always spends a good portion of the day/evening outside.

About the kicking part that you talked about you say it has nothing to do with cold but the thing is he did it when we went hicking the other day and he doesint do that when he pees .. I'll take a video tonight to show you

Regarding the kicking part, I tend to agree with Amy (but it's not strictly male dogs, my Sasha does it as well) there are glands between their toes and when they're "kicking" like that, it's another way of marking territory - his actions suggest that there's been another dog who's come visiting and left their scent.

The following from M Milani, DVM:

Quote :

Dogs rely on their four feet to successfully hunt food as well as to avoid becoming food for some predator. Scent glands in their feet enable dogs to lay down a scent trail they can follow in limited light. Scratch marks made with the hind feet following urination visually announce the dog's presence to other animals in the area.

Regarding the "too cold" - mine are too cold today (when's it's a wet but balmy 65f) mine go out for necessaries but other wise, even in the summer where it's a very dry 100f they would much rather be inside (er, I do not have A/C) where it's only in the 90's ... << will you excuse me as I laugh!? >>

aljones wrote:

Regarding the "too cold" - mine are too cold today (when's it's a wet but balmy 65f) mine go out for necessaries but other wise, even in the summer where it's a very dry 100f they would much rather be inside (er, I do not have A/C) where it's only in the 90's ... << will you excuse me as I laugh!? >>

Regarding the "too cold"...mine is currently curled up on the walkway to the front door. It is 8° F outside with a 10 mph wind out of the west (he is fully exposed to it). I tried to bring him inside (the laundry room is maybe 60° - the kitchen is 66°). He paced and paced. I gave him a bone to see if he would settle down...he carried it to the back door and waited...I gave up. He's outside. He has a dog house full of straw. He's laying in the snow.

<< laughing riotously >> Well, he is a snow dog, no??

I know the kicking thing you're talking about, Kohdi does it once in awhile on his walks. The closest thing I can think of to describe it is like when you're watching a rodeo, and a horse or bull comes out kicking, its like that but Kohdi does it kinda just kicking out the one leg/paw. I would say it *could* have to do with the cold, but not like because its too cold or anything, more likely he just feels like something is caught on his paw.

The kicking thing - Ami does it year round, not related to snow or cold. If he does get snow or ice balls in his feet, he limps, then lies down and starts to lick it. The only time he will eagerly let me handle is feet - I warm his paw in my hand to melt the snow/ice balls.

Aurora and I play outside at -45F and she is only 7 months old and absolutely loves it. The more the temps drop the higher her energy level haha

I think it has a lot to do with what they are accustomed too though. Obviously they can handle the super cold temps, it still blows my mind as I'm putting layers on and Aurora needs to prep whatsoever haha. I keep it somewhat cold in the house (about 62-64F) and when we go outside sometimes she'll lift a paw up because it's such a big transition. But after a few minutes of walking/running around she's good to go.

But if he's an indoor pup then it's more of a transition. Aurora sleeps inside with me but she is also in the truck all day when I'm at work so that she is in cold weather more frequently and is used to it.

Jaime... In the truck all day when you are at work? Does she seem ok with that? lol I am only asking because I am bringing my puppy home this Saturday and starting Tuesday I will be bringing her to work with me every day. (I work in a lumber yard basically) Are you in the truck with her? I will have to leave my girl for an hour or so throughout the day to do some work that she won't be able to accompany me during. I was worried that she would hate it, and hate the 45 minute commute in the car. lol

Nala does the kicking thing as well in the house it looks so silly but i dont think it has anything to do with the cold weather. I was told huskies can stand up to -10 F for hours but I think she would be alright just keep an eye on her and her paws to make sure they dont blister up.

Katie, my Oakley loves car rides he just lays there he will sleep just hang out but with Nala she gets so excited to be going some where she cant sit still so it just depends on the temperament and if they are used to it i think with the commute as long as she has been doing it since a small pup she might end up liking car rides like Oakley he finds it soothing kind of like a baby haha

Katie, she actually loves it. we go on lots of road trips and as I mentioned she's in the truck when I'm at work and she does great. She likes it way more than staying at home in her crate. I don't crate her in the truck either, she just roams around (mainly sleeps).

She isn't in the truck ALL day without any breaks though. I let her out every couple hours and we always go on a mile walk during lunch every day. I'm sure it helps too that it's been this way since the first time I brought her home so to her it's "normal".

She has also been really good about not chewing everything when she is alone in the truck which is awesome! However, there have been a few times where she got extra bored haha. She'll chew any paper that is left behind and she ate a water bottle top. But nothing too crazy. I haven't caught her doing it so it's been hard to teach her not to do it lol.

I always leave toys in there and I have a bed I leave in there all the time too.

Jamie, I'm curious what kind of truck do you have for Aurora to hang out in? when she gets bigger will she fit haha, that's cool that she just hangs out in there and you can walk her on lunch and things I'm jealous.

I have my personal truck, newer Toyota Tundra, and my work "truck" which is a Chevy Equinox. Usually we are in the Equinox. So either one has plenty of room for her when she is full grown.

Yeah she loves our lunch walks. There is this out-and-back trail that's about 1 mile total near my cabin. I'll walk and she just runs around through the trees and snow. It's good off leash training too, lots of recall practice. I love calling her and seeing her run to me through the trees and snow at full speed. She always will run ahead but never too far ahead, she'll look back and wait for me. and if the trail curves where she can't see me she'll wait until she can see me before continuing on. =) it makes me so happy!

thats really good!! i live in the city so i dont have anywhere like that to train Oakley but i feel that if i did have him off leash he would come right too me, Nala on the other had would be to Ohio in 2.5 seconds if i let her off leash!

Okami does the kicking thing lol... almost after everytime she pees... since she was a pup... -sigh-

Okay Jaimie, that's one hell of a "truck"!! From reading I figured you were a driver in a rig since they also have plenty of room for a dog to wander (unless they're a day cab).

Jaime- You just relieved a lot of stress for me. lol I was so worried that being in the car period would be a problem. I have 2 fifteen minute breaks for small walks, and I will be able to walk her at lunch too. There is a park down the street, and my boss own multiple acres of "woods" behind our property. We will have to make our own trail. lol I have heard of Huskies chewing steering wheels and other such parts while left alone in a car for even a short period. But I, like you, will be having her in the car from day one, five days a week, for the rest of her life. Thanks for putting my worries to rest. How old is Aurora now?