Greyhounds feel the cold - here's why

Greyhounds feel the cold–here’s why.

Being lean, tall and healthy (athletes of the canine world) comes with its perks, but one of the downsides is that greyhounds feel the cold far more than their canine counterparts, so  they may need extra protection.

Greyhounds were built for speed, and keeping their body temperature down while running at high speeds. Their physiology works against them in cold climates where low body fat, thin skin and only a thin layer of fur results in:

1. Not having adequate insulation to protect them

2. Their thin coats don’t allow them to effectively trap heat.  All of this culminates in greyhounds not being able to warm themselves up effectively without exerting a lot of energy. As winter sets in and the temperature plummets, their bodies will prioritise keeping the internal organs warm, and their extremities will become cold very quickly.

Here are some ways to tell if your greyhound may be feeling the cold:

1. Shivering: Just like humans, shivering is a sign that your pooch is becoming cold. Greyhounds may not shiver consistently as it's common to come in spurts. It also may not be obvious to the naked eye so touch them to check if you feel them shivering

2. Cold extremities: If your greyhounds' ears and paws feel cold to the touch, then it's a good indication that they are cold

3. Curling into a ball: Greyhounds naturally curl up into a tight ball to maintain their body heat if they are feeling the cold

Here’s how you can help:

1. Keep them indoors where possible, particularly at night

2. Put a blanket on their bed or buy a fluffy winter bed

3. Move their bedding to a warmer place in the house and avoid any tiled rooms.

4. Lift their bed off the floor by putting some extra padding underneath their bed or buy a raised bed.

5. Give them a coat, they actually learn to love them and can get very excited about putting it on. The benefit is this is the best way to keep them warm!

6. A big warm winter meal is nice and it’s important to give them a few more calories than in summer as they use more energy just to stay warm in winter

Please view our greyhounds and locations to get started with the opportunity to meet your new best mate!