Best Dogs for Cold Weather: Breeds Built for Canadian Winter
Some breeds were made for snow. Here's which dogs usually cope best with a Canadian winter, the coats and genetics behind it, and why even a husky still needs care when the wind picks up.
By PuppyGenes · How we research and write our guides
Dogs bred for snow and outdoor work, like the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Newfoundland and Bernese Mountain Dog, usually cope best with a Canadian winter. They share thick double coats, sturdy builds and generations of breeding in cold places. Even so, wind, wet fur, age and health still matter, and no breed makes a dog cold-proof.
The short version
- Coat comes first. A double coat, with a dense, soft undercoat under longer guard hairs, traps warm air close to the skin.
- Size helps. Larger dogs lose heat more slowly than small ones, so toy breeds feel the cold sooner.
- History shows. Many cold-hardy breeds were developed for sledding, herding, guarding or rescue in northern or mountain climates.
- Genetics backs it up. Research on Arctic sled dogs has traced their ancestry back about 9,500 years, along with versions of genes researchers think relate to cold adaptation.
- Hardy isn't invincible. Ice, road salt, wind and wet snow affect every dog, and puppies, seniors and dogs new to Canada need extra care.
What makes a dog good in the cold
A few physical traits do most of the work.
- A double coat. The undercoat is the insulation; the outer guard hairs shed snow and water. This is why the American Kennel Club advises against shaving double-coated dogs: the coat is doing a job.
- Body size and build. A bigger, heavier body holds heat longer than a small one with a lot of surface area for its size.
- Tough, furry feet. Many northern breeds have thick pads and fur between the toes, which helps on snow (though road salt is still hard on any paw).
- A history of cold work. Breeds that pulled sleds, guarded livestock in the mountains or retrieved from icy water were shaped by people who needed dogs to keep going in the cold.
The genetics behind cold-weather dogs
Coat length and texture come down to a small number of genes. A study of more than 1,000 dogs from 80 breeds found that variants in just three genes account for most coat types in purebred dogs, including the variant behind long coats. Our guide to long coats explains how that one is inherited.
Sled dogs have deeper roots still. A 2020 study in Science sequenced modern Greenland sled dogs alongside a roughly 9,500-year-old dog from Siberia, and found that the main ancestry of today's sled dogs traces back to Siberia. The researchers reported sled-dog versions of genes that may relate to Arctic adaptation, already established by that time.
A thick double coat isn't controlled by one single, well-understood gene, so the best test is still the dog in front of you: part the fur and look for that soft, dense undercoat.
Breeds built for Canadian winters
| Breed | Original job | Coat | Typical adult weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siberian Husky | Sled dog in northeastern Siberia | Dense double coat | 16 to 27 kg |
| Alaskan Malamute | Heavy freight sled dog in Alaska | Very dense double coat | 34 to 39 kg |
| Samoyed | Herding and sledding in Siberia | Thick white double coat | 16 to 29 kg |
| Newfoundland | Working water dog in Newfoundland | Water-resistant double coat | 45 to 68 kg |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Farm and draft dog in the Swiss Alps | Long double coat | 32 to 52 kg |
| Great Pyrenees | Livestock guardian in the Pyrenees mountains | Thick, weather-resistant double coat | 39 to 45 kg |
| Akita | Hunting and guarding in northern Japan | Dense double coat | 32 to 59 kg |
| Saint Bernard | Alpine rescue dog | Dense coat, rough or smooth | 54 to 82 kg |
| Norwegian Elkhound | Hunting dog in Norway | Thick double coat | 22 to 25 kg |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Retrieving from cold water in Nova Scotia | Water-repellent double coat | 16 to 23 kg |
Canada's own cold-weather dogs
Several breeds with Canadian roots were shaped by cold, wet conditions. The Newfoundland worked in the North Atlantic, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever retrieved from cold water in Nova Scotia, and the Labrador Retriever's ancestors also came from Newfoundland. The Canadian Eskimo Dog, a sled and hunting dog of the Inuit, has worked in the Canadian Arctic for centuries.
Cold-tolerant doesn't mean cold-proof
Even the hardiest breeds have limits. Wind, wet fur and wet snow pull heat away fast, ice can cut paws, and road salt irritates pads on any dog. Our guide to winter dog care in Canada covers paw care, coats and how to read the signs that a dog is too cold.
Some dogs need more care whatever their breed:
- puppies and seniors;
- dogs with arthritis or other health conditions;
- dogs that are very lean;
- dogs that moved to Canada from a warmer climate and haven't been through a winter here.
A cold-hardy dog still needs a warm, dry place to rest and fresh, unfrozen water.
Breeds that need extra help in the cold
Small, lean and short-coated dogs usually feel the cold first. Breeds such as the Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Whippet, Greyhound and Chinese Crested often do better with a well-fitted coat and shorter outings on the coldest days. That's not a flaw; they were simply bred for other jobs and other climates.
What about mixed-breed dogs?
A mix with northern or mountain breeds in its background may well have inherited a thick double coat, but it may not. Coat type depends on which genes a dog happened to inherit, so two dogs with the same mix can have very different coats, as our guide to common mixed-breed patterns explains. A dog DNA test can estimate your dog's breed ancestry, and the PuppyGenes report also predicts coat traits like length, curl and shedding where the sample supports them. Your dog's actual coat is still the best guide to how they'll handle the cold.
Frequently asked questions
- What dog breeds do best in cold weather?
- Breeds developed for cold climates and outdoor work usually cope best: the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Pyrenees, Akita, Saint Bernard and Norwegian Elkhound, among others. They tend to share thick double coats and sturdy builds.
- What is the best dog for a Canadian winter?
- There's no single best breed. A dog with a thick double coat and a sturdy build will usually enjoy winter more, but the right dog also has to fit your home, your activity level and the time you have. Look at the individual dog's coat, health and age, not just the breed label.
- Do huskies like the cold?
- Most Siberian Huskies are comfortable in cold weather thanks to their dense double coat and history as sled dogs. They still need shelter, water and attention to their paws, and wind and wet snow affect them too.
- Can a double-coated dog stay outside all winter?
- Even cold-hardy dogs shouldn't be left outside without a warm, dry shelter, bedding and unfrozen water, and they should be checked on often. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions need extra protection.
- Should I shave my double-coated dog for winter?
- No. The undercoat is insulation, and shaving can change how some coats grow back. The American Kennel Club's guidance recommends regular brushing instead.
- Can a DNA test tell me if my dog has a double coat?
- Not directly. A double coat isn't controlled by one single, well-understood gene. The PuppyGenes report predicts coat traits like length, curl, furnishings and shedding where the sample supports them, and estimates breed ancestry, which can hint at coat type. To check your own dog, part the fur and look for a soft, dense undercoat beneath longer guard hairs.
From general to personal
See how this applies to your dog specifically.
Our at-home Complete Dog DNA Test adds your dog's own results to these tips across six report sections: breed ancestry, coat colour, physical appearance, temperament and size predictions, genetic diversity and oral microbiome. The report does not include genetic disease or health screening.