Not every dog is perfect for every situation and every environment. Otherwise all dogs would look the same! Instead we have a wide breadth not just of canine physiognomy but also so many breeds they’re almost impossible to count! Consequently, some dogs excel in some climates and seasons, while others fill particular roles in society and the home. With winter bearing down, we turn our attention to those breeds that are most at home when snow is falling and Jack Frost is nipping at your nose.

1. Alaskan Malamute

How could we not look at winter dog breeds by beginning with the Alaskan Malamute? This dog looks like a combination between a husky, a bear, and a wolf, and is incredibly strong, excelling at hauling heavy loads across the tundra during snowstorms, hail, and worse. Harkening back to a time in  Alaska when transportation and communication relied on dogs, the Alaskan Malamute is not afraid of a harsh winter.

2. Saint Bernard

The image we have of the classic Saint Bernard is of a dog with liquor (or hot chocolate, depending on your interpretation…) in a barrel on his collar, coming through the cold snows to help retrieve and reinvigorate a lost and weary traveler. The Saint Bernard’s strength, loyalty, and intelligence lends itself to that image, as they have long been fantastic dogs in the mountain trails.

3. Siberian Husky

And finally we come to the classic choice of winter breeds, the Siberian Husky. It’s hard not to think of a cold, harsh, unforgiving winter when we think of Sibera, and that is where the Husky hails from, marking it as the finest of winter dogs. A work dog with a remarkably wolf-like appearance, the Siberian Husky’s coat is incredibly effective against cold and hot weather, while it is also a fantastic hauler and great at transportation; one can see how the Siberians came to rely on the breed!