With winter approaching, everyone has started planning about hunkering down for the colder months. And especially dog parents like me, who want to prepare their furry friends to brace for the harsh, cold winters.
When it comes to winters and dogs, you might come across numerous myths. The most common one I stumbled upon was – do dogs hibernate in winter? No, dogs usually sleep more in colder months, but they don’t hibernate.
If you’re wondering about dogs hibernating and how to prepare your little furball better for winter, dive right in to learn more!
Do Dogs Hibernate?
No, canines don’t go into an active and dormant state during winter to hibernate. Instead, animals like bears hibernate throughout the winter and have lower heart rates, body temperatures, and metabolic rates, but that’s not the case with pups!
If you think it implies that the cold weather won’t affect your dog, then you are mistaken. You might notice your dog becoming less active and more tired than usual because of the colder weather and shorter days.
Another thing you must note here is that winter can affect dogs differently. Not every dog becomes less active; however, some can slow down, especially older dogs with arthritis or joint pain.
Our dogs often follow our lead in terms of the daily routine. If you’re not very active during the winter months, your dog will likely follow your lead. However, indulging your pup in fun activities and finding stuff to do with your dog will keep your dog active.
Factors That Influence Winter Behavior in Dogs
The changes in a dog’s behavior during winter are caused majorly by hormones and health conditions. Here are the primary reasons that determine how your dog will act during winter.
1. Melatonin
Is your dog sleeping more as the weather gets colder? If yes, you can blame it on increased melatonin production.
Like humans, dogs also produce the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep cycles. Produced by the light-sensitive pineal gland, melatonin is secreted usually in the dark at night. Moreover, whenever light reaches the retina, it inhibits melatonin production.
So, a dog’s body will produce more melatonin due to less sunshine and light during winter. While increased melatonin can have various effects, the most prominent is that it causes sleepiness.
It can often cause oversleeping, lethargy, and depression. Research by The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals indicated that around 40% of dog owners notice a downturn in their dog’s mood during the cold winter months.
Therefore, giving your dog more exercise during the brightest hours of the day when there is sunlight will boost exposure to natural light and alleviate season-induced lethargy. Consider putting your pup’s bed closer to a window or under the skylight.
2. Serotonin
Another reason that might be responsible for your dog sleeping more during the cold is serotonin. A neurotransmitter that primarily helps regulate a dog’s mood, serotonin is synthesized by the pineal gland in order to produce melatonin.
However, reduced exposure to sunlight can also decrease the serotonin released in a dog’s brain. The serotonin deficiency can often lead to tiredness, lethargy, and crankiness in your otherwise playful pup.
3. Potential Medical Issues
Is your furry friend suffering from medical issues like boredom, apathy, or even depression? These can be heightened during winter due to reduced exposure to light.
If a dog is suffering from depression, it will likely be less active and alert and sleep more. You might also notice less excitement for the usual things that once excited your pup like you walking in the house or grabbing their leash.
How To Care For A Dog During The Colder Months?
As a dog parent, you know the cold winter can be tough on your pup. If you’re scared the winters will take a toll on your pet’s health, fret not. Here are some steps you can adopt to keep the dog happy and healthy.
1. Keep Them Physically Active
The one key factor that can completely change your dog’s behavior is keeping him active. You can play with them, and an indoor game of fetch or a frisbee is a great way to do this.
Even though it’s cold, dogs must move around, so you can let them run indoors or use stairs to get some exercise. If it’s not too cold, you can also take them outside so they don’t miss the winter breeze. Short-haired dogs might get cold, so always cover them in dog jackets.
Teaching obedience indoors is another fun yet useful way of keeping a dog engaged. You can find plenty of training tips as well as videos online to help you bond with your dog while teaching them new commands.
Does your dog enjoy meeting other canines and humans? You don’t have to cut down on socializing due to the weather and instead go for indoor classes or dog parks.
2. Diet
Besides activity level, your dog’s diet can also impact how your dog welcomes the cold weather. Wondering how? A dog will naturally expend more energy to stay warm during winter, leading to increased calorie requirements.
If your dog spends time outdoors and gets exposed to the cold, you can offer more food to meet these increased energy needs.
However, the situation is different for an indoor pet. A dog staying indoors will conserve energy by sleeping more and being less active when they go outside, so you must adjust the food intake accordingly.
It’s best to avoid serving your pup frozen or excessively cold food during this season.
3. Cover Them Up
While certain dog breeds naturally have thick fur for insulation in cold weather, those with thinner coats might need a sweater or a coat. You must invest in an effective canine coat that covers your pup from the neck to the base of the tail and protects the belly.
If your pet has existing medical conditions like arthritis, remember that the cold weather can only exacerbate them. Therefore, consider covering them up and ensuring they stay warm to beat the winter blues!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Dogs Hibernate?
Only common raccoon dogs are known to hibernate during winter. They tend to increase subcutaneous fat by 18% to 23% and internal fat by 35 to 5%.
Where Do Dogs Sleep In Winter?
Dogs need a warm place to sleep in winter. You must bring your dog inside the house and make a sleeping space for them in a warm, dry place filled with blankets.
How Can You Tell If A Dog Is Cold?
You can notice signs like shivering, whining, change in behavior, and even hunched posture with a tucked tail, indicating that a dog is feeling cold.
Final Thoughts
You know that dogs do not hibernate in winter, but we can’t deny that the cold season can be tough on our little fur babies. They need extra love, care, and help to stay warm during the harsh weather.
If you want to keep your pup healthy and happy during the winter months, it’s essential to keep them engaged and active.
Play games, go for walks and runs, train with them, or enroll them in classes to keep the winter blues at bay.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.