Do Bernedoodles Get Cold? A Guide to Keep Them Warm in Winter

The weather surrounding your darling bernedoodle is detrimental to them, meaning it is essential their bodies are used to the temperature of the environment they inhabit. It’s essential for them to feel at ease inside their homes and their habitats in general.

Now, let’s get to the bottom of the primary topic to understand what climate is best for your Bernedoodle.

Do Bernedoodles Get Cold? Bernedoodles get cold when the temperature drops to 20°F (-6° C) or lower, and you should bring them inside when it’s this cold. Bernedoodles are better suited for colder temperatures due to their double coats and their high body fat percentage, which come from their Bernese Mountain Dog lineage.

Keep on reading to find out in more detail how to keep your bernedoodle warm in winter.

Table of Contents

Do Bernedoodles Get Cold?

Bernedoodles not only enjoy and thrive in cooler temperatures. They have thick, long hair and a lot of body fat, so they are considerably more suitable for the colder months.

They also enjoy playing outside when it’s snowing and refuse to go inside.

Bernedoodles can tolerate freezing temperatures to a point; they are an energetic and lively breed that enjoys playing in the snow, so as long as you ensure that the temperature is appropriate for your dog or provide them a sweater or to stay warm, a pair of boots is also advised.

Bernedoodles may love anything in the wintertime just like every other dog; they have such thick fur that can shield them to some extent, but you must constantly monitor the weather so you can tell when your Goldendoodle can no longer take the cold.

However, just because they love wintertime and the cold temperatures so much doesn’t mean that they can’t tolerate the warmer temperatures. They can handle warmer temperatures, but you still need to be careful and take good care of them during summertime to keep them cool and avoid them getting too hot as this can have severe consequences – sometimes even permanent ones – on their health.

You can learn how to take care of your Bernedoodle in the summertime here.

What is the coldest temperature that Bernedoodle can handle?

Below 20°F, your Bernedoodle should not be outdoors. Bernedoodles may be happy up to 45°F, but below that, it can be a bit too cold for them.

If the weather goes below 20°F, you must not let your Bernedoodle get out there.

Bernedoodles are canines who prosper in the cold. When the temperature decreases below 20°F, their bodies find it difficult to keep a consistent body temperature.

As they struggle to stay warm, they lose body heat quickly, putting them at risk for cold-related illnesses including hypothermia and frostbite.

As a consequence, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation recommends avoiding keeping Bernedoodles or other pets outdoors for long periods of time in severely low temperatures.

If you really must bring your Bernedoodle outside when it’s that chilly, dress them in a coat or sweater and boots.

You may find suggestions on how to pick and suggestions in our guide to whether your dog requires a sweater or jacket throughout the winter.

Cold tolerance varies from dog to dog, particularly with Bernedoodles, because their parents are two separate breeds.

So it totally relies on their general wellbeing, their fur, and how sensitive your Bernedoodle is. Some Bernedoodles have long, dense hair, while others have shorter, finer hair.

I can already see people in the comments that are claiming that you can keep your bernedoodle outside if they have a good insulated dog house, and I’m here to tell you that you are wrong.

In fact, a Veterinarian has done a test to see how good dog houses are in keeping dogs warm in colder weather, and he even tested insulated dog houses which are marketed as the best option for keeping your dog warm outside in the winter, and he found out that none of these worked in keeping the dog warm.

Here’s the video of the experiment, It’s incredibly important that everyone watches it:

See? Just bring your dog inside. Dogs are not meant to live outside. Learn more about why dogs should never live outside in this guide to can Labradoodles live outside.

Winter tips for keeping your Bernedoodle warm

Bernedoodles are entirely at ease in the chilly winter months. As the owner, you must, obviously, ensure their safety and warmth at all times during the winter.

Limiting their time spent outside:

Bernedoodles like playing and running outside, especially in the winter. The movement is really beneficial to their health and intelligence, but you must monitor how much time they stay outside.

You should minimize their time outside if they are trembling abnormally after spending many hours in the snow.

Offer a self-heating blanket:

Self-heating blankets are quite important since they will keep your Bernedoodle warm even on the coldest nights and let them sleep peacefully. You can check out my recommendations for self-heating blankets in this guide on do labradors get cold at night.

Nourish them correctly:

Bernedoodles must be fed at all times, especially during the winter, to be healthy and strong. A well-balanced diet of nourishing foods and meat will aid in energy maintenance.

To keep your dog healthy, try serving them beef or chicken soup. You can also provide them with warm water by heating it and allowing for it to get warm enough for them.

Warm bed sheets:

Keeping your dog cozy and comfortable during the cold winter evenings is vital.

Don’t let him sleep on the floor in the cold. For maximum heat absorption, make him a doughnut-shaped bed out of bedsheets.

This will support the maintenance of their body temperature while sleeping.

Having shorter and fewer baths:

Baths should be taken occasionally during the cooler months since they require drying time and warm up again. Bathe them indoors with warm water, and try to dry their fur as quickly as possible.

I have a complete guide on how to dry your dog quickly here where I explain exactly how to dry your dog’s thick coats literally in minutes, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Maintaining their fur:

Avoid clipping or shaving your Bernedoodle during the winter since their fur is their major source of warmth. Since the fur is longer, it is more prone to knotting and tangling.

To avoid this, brush out any knots on a regular basis. If you incorporate this into your and your dog’s winter routine, they will be happy and content during their beloved season. You can also check out my complete guide to caring for your doodle’s coat so it doesn’t get matted here.

Maintain their activity:

You must provide adequate activity for your Bernedoodle in order for them to stay warm. You always should take your dog for regular walks as well as other exercises such as catch, tug-of-war, or hide and seek.

Because taking your dog swimming in the winter might be challenging, consider hiking instead. You can learn how to go hiking with your dog here.

Make water accessible:

It is just as vital to maintain your Bernedoodle’s hydration in the winter as it is in the summer; the water will keep your dog healthy and rejuvenated.

Water also plays an important part in maintaining their body temperature; just ensure their water isn’t too cold for them, and it’s best if you boil it briefly before serving it.

You may also bring a thermal bottle with you and fill it with lukewarm water to give to them when you’re out and about.

Keep them inside:

It is sometimes preferable to keep your Goldendoodle inside since it is too cold outdoors.

Thus, on days when you can’t do anything but lie on the sofa or bed with warm clothes, a hot cup of tea, and a comforter wrapping you from head to toe, keep relaxed and invite your Bernedoodle to snuggle with you; they’ll be pleased.

Keep in mind that Bernedoodles are not made for the cold, unlike huskies or indeed poodles, so don’t attempt taking them outdoors on a cold day since they might become impacted by the cold and suffer from hypothermia and other cold-related health concerns.

Is it important for my Bernedoodle to wear a sweater?

If your Bernedoodle has a long thick coat, they usually wouldn’t require a sweater in winter until the temperature falls below 30°F, in which case it’s best to give them one to keep them warm.

You should also offer them a blanket in the wintertime because the temperature lowers dramatically at night.

Bernedoodles have dense fur coats that make them excellent for chilly regions. As a consequence, they are not required to wear a sweater.

However, if you wish to let them exercise in the snow for a long period of time at degrees below freezing, wrap them up with a sweater to minimize hypothermia and other cold-related illnesses.

Also, if your Bernedoodle is elderly or sickly, it is critical to protect them from the cold with a sweater since it may be painful for their bad state and impaired immunity.

Winter gear your Bernedoodle needs

To maintain your Bernedoodle’s warmth and his safety from cold-related illnesses, ensure you have the following gear for your dog:

Coats:

Coats or sweaters can provide just what your Goldendoodle requires; if you walk out with your bernedoodle and see that the temperature is dropping, be sure to offer them the coat or sweater. Even indoors, your dog may become cold and require a sweater or cover, so keep a watchful eye on them for one of the indicators.

Snow Boots:

Although your Bernedoodle may not get cold, obtaining snow boots is necessary, as it is important to protect their paws from the snow as well as warm them up.

Snow contains chemicals and salt that could have a dry effect on their paws, leaving them with cracking and damaged paws, which is quite uncomfortable for them.

Thus snow boots can help avoid this.

If you don’t like snow boots, you can still keep that from occurring by washing their paws immediately when you return home, so they don’t get a possibility to lick the snow off their paws.

After washing them, use coconut oil or petroleum jelly to moisturize.

Top Snow Activity for Bernedoodles

Playing in the snow is one of Bernedoodles’ absolute favorite pastimes since they have thick coats; these dogs like winter and stay warm outside.

Their Bernese Mountain Dog parents spent long winters hunting for people who had become lost in the mountains.

Though your dog will not have to save anyone, a snowshoeing journey with you will give them a great sense of purpose.

These snow dogs will be among the best winter companions to encourage you to get out there and appreciate the snow.

What are the signs that my Bernedoodle is cold when sleeping?

If your Bernedoodle displays some or all of these behaviors when sleeping, they are cold and should be given a blanket.

Shaking
Whining when sleeping
Their mouths trembled slightly.
Tucking their tail and covering their face
Anxious demeanor

Signs of Hypothermia in Dogs

Hypothermia should be avoided at all costs by dog owners. The following are some of the symptoms of hypothermia:

Having fair skin and gums
Shaking
Whining
slipping, poor coordination
pupil dilation
Low heart and breathing rates
tucked away