spoospirit

What a shame that you had to take a dressing down like that!

It is not cruel to take your poodle out in that length of coat at that temperature. And letting him run in the sea at a warmer temp is not cruel either. A dog is not going to run in water that is causing pain and making it uncomfortable. I am assuming that he isn't getting soaking wet but probably running in and out of the surf?

This women must not have any understanding of the poodle breed. They are not frou-frou dogs! They are hardy and love to be outside in the snow and the cold and love to play in it. Ours do it all the time. I have stood outside shivering while our dogs were zooming around and having a grand time and then had to ride home in the car with the back windows cracked open because they were warm and panting. This is normal for them.

I have a coat to put on my short clipped dog, but I don't use it because he gets too warm. His coat was about 3/4" long all over until a week ago. He sleeps near the patio door a lot so that he can catch the cool air radiating from it, and our house is not hot!

As others have said, if your dog shows signs of shivering, then it is time to end the play and bring it in. I have only seen one of my dogs shiver once in three years.

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jade cat

Thank you all, I was starting to doubt myself, silly me. I thought Eddy looked like he was having too much fun, sniffing and tracking the local cats to worry about the temp!!
Oh and yes Eddy does not go into the water full on when it is cold out, if it gets near his belly, he leaps out sooo quick it is so funny, no he just runs around chasing the tidal edge, like a little child.

JE-UK

Sounds like she doesn't have the first clue.

My poodle is kept quite short and he's absolutely fine in the coldest weather as long as a) he's moving and b) he's not wet. If I ask him to stand around in the cold, he'll shiver.

If your dog is happy, tail up and not shivering, he's fine. I'd tell the woman to mind her own business in areas she clearly hasn't sufficient knowledge.

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"Yes is so much important than No." Dominique Barbier

kdias

" I'd tell the woman to mind her own business in areas she clearly hasn't sufficient knowledge."

So true, some folks think they know about everything. YOU were the one with the poodle, SHE had the border collies.

Panda

Well I just shaved Panda really short yesterday because I find it easier to keep him clean that way. We are in SE England too and have snow and Panda is just fine, he wears a snow suit to keep him dry but it doesn't offer any warmth as it is thin. He doesn't show any signs of discomfort though, he loves the snow!

PoodlePowerBC

Russell and Rufus are kept quite short, and Russell spends a lot of time outside. He begs to be out there, this morning was -16C ... I think he's nuts, but what do I know. He sits on the deck in the sun, surveying his property with steam bellowing out of his nose! No sweaters for him! At this temperature I tend to call him in every 1/2 hour, but it takes convincing on my part. Rufus, who is 14, shivers if it is under 4C, won't tolerate a sweater though. I firmly believe your dog will let you know if it is uncomfortable!

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Walk with someone who will accompany you willingly, preferably a dog.

Ms Stella

How rude of that woman! She obviously doesnt know what she is talking about but must really believe her story..I guess we could just consider her uninformed and very passionate about doggie welfare! But my standards have shaved (with a 40 blade) butts and they will sit in the snow. Ive never seen them act cold..except once after a fresh shave of his feet Player had cold feet in the fresh snow. But he let me know right away. Im sure your dog will let you know if he is uncomfortable.

spookiesmom

Seems like I read that Poodle was fractured German for puddle. And that the show cuts were originally designed so the dogs could do what they were supposed to do, water retreivers. Yes, no?

I love BCs too, but that woman is crazier than a loon.

Ladyscarletthawk

Wow I cant believe some people! I mean the breed was developed to hunt in freezing German waters! Or what about the all spoo sled team that ran te iditarod in AK. We lived in AK for a while (avg -30f in the winter), let me tell you they will let you know when they are cold.. Basics tap dancing in the snow.. shivering. Ugg some people are soo prejiduce against poodles.. they are no where near as frail as some believe! I know my mini put a 6mon old lab in its place, or the time she retaliated against a 70 lb husky for pushing her very patient limits. She is not frail, nor an aggressor but if your another canine dont push her or she'll push back! And is maybe 12lbs and 13.5" tall, and the most social butterfly!

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Laura, Eve, and Fergie