A Chihuahua lives happily through a Minnesota winter as an indoor dog with a plan for going outside. Put a fitted coat on below about 45 degrees Fahrenheit, limit outdoor time to a few minutes below 20 degrees, and when the wind chill drops below zero go out only for a quick potty trip or use an indoor spot. Protect the paws from road salt, keep the dog's bed off cold floors, and head inside at the first shiver or lifted paw.
Why a Chihuahua Feels the Twin Cities Cold So Fast
A 4 pound dog loses heat far faster than a 60 pound one. Small bodies have a lot of skin for their weight, and a Chihuahua has little body fat and thin, upright ears that shed warmth. Smooth coats carry almost no insulation. Long coats look fluffy, but the hair is fine and has no dense undercoat like a husky's. Then there is height: a Chihuahua's belly rides only a few inches above the snow, so it is cooling from underneath on every step. A day a Labrador barely notices can chill a Chihuahua in minutes.
How Cold Is Too Cold for a Chihuahua? Our Temperature Guide
Age, health and coat all change the numbers, but this is what we tell families for a healthy adult Chihuahua. Always go by the "feels like" temperature, not the thermometer.
| Feels like | What we do with our own dogs |
|---|---|
| Above 45 degrees F | Normal walks; a light sweater for smooth coats on damp, windy days |
| 32 to 45 degrees F | Coat on for every walk, keep moving |
| 20 to 32 degrees F | Coat plus paw protection; walks of 10 to 15 minutes |
| 0 to 20 degrees F | Potty trips of a few minutes; exercise indoors |
| Below 0 degrees F | Out and straight back in, or use the indoor potty spot |
Treat puppies, seniors and adults under about 3 pounds one row colder. Wind off the Mississippi and the city lakes can make a 15 degree afternoon feel like zero, so check the wind chill before you open the door.
Coats and Sweaters That Actually Work
A good coat is the most useful winter purchase you will make. Choose one that covers the chest and belly, not just the back, since the belly is closest to the snow. Fleece-lined and water-resistant works best in Twin Cities slush. Measure the neck, the widest part of the chest and the back length, then try it on: two fingers should slide under each strap, and the dog should be able to walk and squat without the coat riding up.
Own two if you can. Slush soaks a coat within one walk, and a wet coat is colder than none. Indoors, a thin sweater helps a smooth coat dog in an older house with drafty windows or in a basement apartment. Long coat Chihuahuas often need the indoor layer less, but they still need the outdoor coat.
Road Salt, De-Icer and Small Paws
Sidewalks and streets across Minneapolis and St. Paul are salted heavily for months. Salt and chemical ice melt dry and crack paw pads, sting any small cut, and upset the stomach if a dog licks them off its feet. Three habits cover it:
- Before: booties, or a coat of paw wax on the pads.
- During: walk on snow or grass rather than freshly salted concrete, and use a pet-safe ice melt on your own steps.
- After: wipe each paw with a warm damp cloth the moment you come in, and dry between the toes.
Long coat Chihuahuas also collect ice balls in the fur between their toes. Trimming that fur short for the season helps a lot.
Potty Trips in Snow
Families often tell us that a puppy who was nearly trained in September starts having accidents in December. It is not stubbornness. A small dog in snow deeper than its legs, with a wind chill below zero, will hold on as long as it can and then go indoors. Shovel a small patch right outside the door, go out with the dog every time, reward it the second it finishes, and keep a pad or tray indoors in the same spot all winter for the worst days. Our Chihuahua potty training schedule explains how to teach an indoor and an outdoor spot side by side.
Puppies in Winter: Cold and Blood Sugar
A young puppy has one extra risk. Cold makes it burn energy to stay warm, and a tiny puppy has very little stored energy to spare, so a chill can help tip it into low blood sugar. Keep winter potty trips to a minute or two, dry the puppy off when it comes in, give it a covered bed off the floor, and feed every meal on time. Learn the signs in our guide to low blood sugar in Chihuahua puppies, and keep the glucose gel we send with every puppy somewhere you can find it fast.
Warning Signs of Hypothermia and Frostbite
Shivering, lifting paws, a hunched back and pulling toward home are the early signals. Take them seriously and go in.
Weakness, stumbling, slow breathing, pale or bluish gums, or a dog that stops shivering while still cold are signs of hypothermia and need action now. Wrap the dog in a dry blanket, hold it against your body to warm it gradually, and call your vet or an emergency clinic. Do not put a heating pad or hot water directly on the skin. Frostbite usually shows first on ear tips, the tail tip and toes as pale or gray skin that later turns red and sore. It also needs a vet.
Keeping a Chihuahua Busy Indoors All Winter
With walks cut short for months, exercise moves inside. Fetch down a hallway, a snuffle mat at mealtime, five-minute trick sessions and gentle tug games all burn energy. Some Twin Cities training clubs and pet stores run small-dog play groups and indoor classes in winter, which also help with socialization. A bored Chihuahua barks more, so plan the indoor play rather than hoping for a mild week.
Car Rides and Power Outages
Warm the car before the dog gets in and use a carrier with a blanket. Never leave a Chihuahua in a parked car in winter; a car cools quickly and a small dog can become dangerously cold. On longer Minnesota drives, carry a blanket and water for the dog in case you get stuck. If the power goes out in a storm, keep the dog in the warmest room with you, in a covered bed or inside your coat.
Our View: A Chihuahua Makes a Fine Minnesota Dog
We breed Chihuahuas in Minneapolis because we believe they do well here. A dog that lives indoors, wears a coat outside, has its paws looked after and has an indoor potty plan for the worst days has a good life in Minnesota. Trouble comes when nobody warned the family: a smooth coat puppy carried out bare on a January morning, or a dog that stops wanting to go outside and nobody understands why. That warning is part of every puppy that leaves our Minneapolis Chihuahua breeding program.
Families across the state can read how pickup and visits work on our Chihuahua puppies in Minnesota page, or see who is ready for a new home on our teacup Chihuahua puppies for sale page.