The Siberian Husky is a beautiful dog known for the fact that it’s built for cold weather. They are dogs bred to pull sleds in cold snowy places. But can a Husky live in hot weather?
Surprisingly, Siberian Huskies can live in hot weather just fine. They are bred to adapt to every place and can live in cold and hot temperatures. But there are some things that you should worry about when it’s too hot outside.
- The Characteristics Of A Husky
- The Ideal Climate For A Husky?
- What You Need To Look Out For
- How To Help Your Husky In The Hot Weather
- Should You Shave Your Husky’s Coat?
The Characteristics Of A Husky
The Siberian Husky is one of the most popular dogs in the world. It is known to be bred in the northern parts of the world that have colder climates but every part of the world has it. Even if the Husky isn’t the best guard dog, people still love having it in their homes.
Double-Coated Fur
The coat of the Husky is double-layered. It has a dense layer underneath, called the undercoat, and another one on top called the primary coat. This thick coat is perfect for insulation and obtaining the Husky temperature range. It also protects from insect bites. The bad thing is that Huskies shed throughout the year, so be careful if you have allergies.
The ears and tail are also accustomed to the cold. Huskies have built-in ear muffs made from hair in their ears that protect them from the cold. Their tails are also covered in fur and are perfect for protecting their faces when they cuddle up to sleep.
Coat Blowing
Huskies in the summer go through a very interesting process called coat blowing. It is a circular process that happens when the seasons change. During the summer, the dense undercoat starts shedding off. In its place, a thin undercoat forms and protects the dog from the hot weather. When winter arrives again the thin undercoat sheds and the dense one comes back.
This process is believed to happen because of hormonal changes in the Husky. It is related to the amount of daylight it receives and it happens every spring and fall season. This makes them very adaptable dogs.
The Ideal Climate For A Husky?
Siberian Huskies were bred in Siberia by the Chukchis. So the ideal climate for them would be the harsh cold winds of Siberia. But over the years Huskies were bred all over the world and they still exist everywhere.
What Temperature Is Too Hot For Huskies?
There are some Huskies that are much better at adapting to temperatures than others. The Husky’s age, health, and even color all play a part. Even the humidity level of the outside and the speed your pup is moving play a part.
The maximum cold a Husky can endure is -74 degrees F or -60 degrees C. The maximum heat it can endure is 90 degrees F or 32 degrees C. When the temperatures get up to 95 degrees F or 35 degrees C, you will start seeing some symptoms of overheating.
Ideally, you should avoid getting the Husky out at a temperature of 77 degrees F or 25 degrees C. If you do go out, keeping the dog in the shade and using some techniques to cool down will help. Husky puppies, seniors, and those will health problems need to be more protected.
What You Need To Look Out For
Now that we know how hot can Huskies tolerate, let’s see what can happen if your Husky is exposed to dangerously high temperatures.
Dehydration
This happens when your dog starts losing a lot of water from its body as a form of sweat. In time, it will lose such an amount of water, that a few symptoms can be noticed.
Common symptoms of dehydration include:
- Lethargy
- Reduced energy levels
- Loss of appetite
- Panting
- Sunken or dry eyes
- Dry nose or gums
- Loss of skin elasticity
Besides these symptoms, you can also do a “pinching test” to see if your Husky is dehydrated. You do this by simply pinching your pup’s skin with your fingers. Normally, once you let go, the skin will instantly go back into place. In dehydrated dogs, the skin will take a while to come back to normal.
Overheating/Overexertion
If your Siberian Husky is in hot weather for way too long, symptoms of overheating and overexertion will start. The symptoms are very similar to the ones that happen during dehydration. They include
- Excessive panting or rapid breathing
- High body temperature
- Weakness and lethargy
- Extreme thirst
- Increased heartbeat and pulse
- Excessive drooling
- Disorientation and stumbling
- Loss of consciousness
Noticing these signs, you should immediately be ready to act. Get your dog in the shade and give it water to prevent dehydration. If you are worried, you can contact the vet.
How To Help Your Husky In The Hot Weather
There are a few things you can do to prevent any complications from happening during the hot summer days.
Hydrate Properly
Always have a bottle of water ready when you go for a walk in the summer days. It is good to have for yourself and for your Husky. Along with the bottle, make sure to get a dog bowl so you have somewhere to pour it. Water protects the dog from dehydration and allows its temperature-regulating skills to flow smoothly.
At home, put a few dog bowls filled with water in the house and outside. Your Husky can drink up whenever it needs to. If you are leaving the dog at home alone, ask someone to check up on it just in case it needs more water.
Stay Inside
If it is too hot to walk a Husky outside, consider staying at home during the heat wave. Get your house ready to keep you and your pup cool. Give it enough space to move around and stretch. Get the air conditioner on, or turn on the fans so they will cool the air. Close the blinds and just relax at home.
Even if it’s too hot, your Husky will need exercise. If it doesn’t spend that extra energy your dog will start jumping on you and become erratic. Avoid going out at midday when it’s too hot. Instead, go for a short walk in the morning and evening. Try to walk in the shade and don’t do intensive exercises.
Avoid Walking On Hot Surfaces
Your Husky’s paws will get burned if they are exposed to the hot pavements outside. If the pavement isn’t cooled in any way it can get extremely hot and make it hard to walk on it. To see if it is hot, touch it with your hand. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
When you are walking your Siberian Husky in the hot weather make sure to walk on the grass and in the shade. Those places keep cool for longer. If you can, you should get shoes for your pup to protect its paws.
Use Cooling Beds And Give An Ice Bath
Because you spend most of your time inside during the hottest days, you also have to have ways to cool off your pup. Getting a cooling bed is a good way to do so. If you can’t get a cooling bed, you can wet a few towels in cold water and place them where your Husky rests.
Another way to cool off your pup at home is to give it an ice bath. Get a large bowl and fill it with lots of ice. Make sure not to allow your pup to stay in when the ice melts. Icy water is very cold and it may not be able to tolerate it.
Provide A Dog Pool And Frozen Treats
A way to help Huskies in hot weather is to get a dog pool to cool off outside. Your puppy can splash around in it and just have fun. Pools are also great for your pup to swim in and exercise. Your Husky will be very thankful and excited because it loves water. You can also put up a sprinkler that will sprinkle cool water around.
Another thing your Husky will love is some frozen treats. They’re good to cool off but can also be nutritious and tasty. You can just freeze up some blueberries, bananas, or watermelon and just give them as a whole. You can also buy commercial frozen treats from companies like Pedigree or Purina.
Should You Shave Your Husky’s Coat?
You should never shave or trim a Siberian Husky’s coat. Its coat is perfectly made to adapt to cold temperatures and hot temperatures, as well as protect from insect bites. Shaving the coat off will only impair its ability to regulate its temperature properly. This will actually make it more predisposed to overheating.
If you think shaving will stop shedding, it will not. It might also ruin the coat. When it grows back again, it might grow back “sticky” or “velcro-like”.
So Can A Husky Live In Hot Weather?
The Siberian Husky is a dog that is known for its ability to live in really cold weather. This is why a lot of people wonder if a Husky can withstand hot temperatures. Huskies are perfectly fine living in hot weather.
The double-coated fur protects the Husky from cold weather. The coat blowing process is responsible for keeping it cool during hot weather.
But what temperature is too hot for huskies? Huskies can endure up to 90 degrees F or 32 degrees C. Anything over that is too hot. When it is exposed to this temperature you will notice signs of dehydration and overheating.
To help out your pup in the hot weather, you can do a few things. Give it enough water to hydrate and avoid walking on hot surfaces when out. Stay inside during the hottest part of the day and cool off at home. Do ice baths and give frozen treats to help.
FAQ
Can you let your Husky sunbathe?
Huskies love sunbathing and will go outside if the weather is good. And that is perfectly fine. Just don’t allow it to go out during the hottest part of the day and watch out for overheating symptoms.
Can a Husky live in hot weather and sleep outside?
If it isn’t too hot where you live, a Husky can sleep outside. Its coat is perfect for isolating it from the hot weather and the cold weather. But check up on it from time to time to see if it adapts well.
Can you take a Husky to the beach?
Yes, you can take your Husky to the beach. Huskies love to run and cool off in the water, so they will fit right in. Make sure to take all precautions to prevent dehydration and overheating.
