"Ok, my 9 month old berner loves being outside (especially in the snow) and I'd love to take him camping on the Appalachian trail. I definitely don't want to wake up next to a frozen puppy".. <snip>
Hi Thomas, I don't do the kind of camping you are talking about but I think I'd be worried about the puppy's feet & toes, ice build up on the fur between the pads, and frostbite.(There are protective boots made for dogs.) Also another concern would be ears & nose areas, sunburn as well as frostbite. Berners were bred in the Alps but ones that have been bred, raised and kept indoors in more temperate climates are no longer adapted, or savy to the dangers of cold, snow, ice, getting wet and hypothermia. So, while I don't think being in a tent with you on a mat or sleeping bag would be too dangerous, there are aspects that could be, especially for a puppy. : ) Hopefully you will receive advice from list members/breeders who live with their dogs in more severe weather climates, or have snow camping experience with their dogs. : ) Bernerly, Mary Jeff & Mary Chapdelaine SnoBear Berners N. California, USA http://snobear.freeyellow.com "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." Wayne Dyer - Psychotherapist, Author and Speaker
