Not all breeds are designed to pull sleds around the Alaskan tundra all winter.
Intro
Although we know that dogs are descended from the mighty wolf, different dog breeds exhibit a huge variety of characteristics. While some breeds can pull sleds around the Alaskan tundra and face the cold weather, other pups were meant to stay bundled up inside this winter.
The data experts at pet data site PetBreeds used data from Animal Planet and the American Kennel Club to find the 31 most popular breeds that can't handle the cold weather. These dogs are qualified as the least cold tolerant, or "1" (Animal Planet measures on a scale of 1-low tolerance, 2-medium tolerance and 3-high tolerance). Dog breeds are ranked by their popularity in 2015, based on information from the American Kennel Club.
Most of these canines have short fur (or none at all) and not enough body fat to keep them cozy in freezing temperatures. Size, however, is not a determining factor. Of course, tiny breeds like Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus would prefer to stay curled up on the couch, but larger dogs like Weimaraners and Great Danes do not handle cold temperatures well, either.
#31. Pharaoh Hound
A pharaoh hound is shown in the ring during the Hound group competition during the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Popularity (2015): 171
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 55 lbs
#30. Ibizan Hound
Ibizan Hounds are shown the ring at the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Popularity (2015): 160
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 65 lbs
#29. Greyhound
Popularity (2015): 147
Average life expectancy: 12 years
Average weight: 70 lbs
#28. Redbone Coonhound
A redbone coonhound is judged during the first day of the Westminster Dog Show Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Popularity (2015): 139
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 65 lbs
#27. German Pinscher
A German Pinscher competes during the Tenth Annual AKC Eukanuba National Championship dog show on Sunday Dec. 5,2010 in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks)
Popularity (2015): 138
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 35 lbs
#26. Manchester Terrier
Popularity (2015): 137
Average life expectancy: 16 years
Average weight: 22 lbs
#19. Basenji
Popularity (2015): 87
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 26 lbs
#5. Shih Tzu
Popularity (2015): 19
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 16 lbs
#4. Great Dane
Popularity (2015): 15
Average life expectancy: 7 years
Average weight: 180 lbs
#24. Saluki
Popularity (2015): 132
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 65 lbs
#23. Toy Fox Terrier
Millie the toy fox terrier wears some beads during Mardi Gras celebrations in Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Popularity (2015): 110
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 7 lbs
#22. Rat Terrier
Popularity (2015): 101
Average life expectancy: 19 years
Average weight: 40 lbs
#21. Japanese Chin
A Japanese chin is shown in the ring during the Toy group competition during the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Popularity (2015): 97
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 7 lbs
#20. Brussels Griffon
Popularity (2015): 95
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 10 lbs
#18. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
A staffordshire bull terrier is shown in the ring during the terrier group competition at the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Popularity (2015): 79
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 40 lbs
#17. Chinese Crested
Parfait a 3 year old Chinese crested form San Antonio, Texas, waits backstage after competing in the 135th Westminster Kennel Club dog Show Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Popularity (2015): 75
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 12 lbs
#16. Italian Greyhound
Popularity (2015): 71
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 14 lbs
#15. Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin)
Popularity (2015): 64
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 10 lbs
#14. Dogue de Bordeaux
A dogue de Bordeaux competes with the working group at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Popularity (2015): 63
Average life expectancy: 11 years
Average weight: 144 lbs
#13. Dalmatian
Dalmatians compete at the 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Popularity (2015): 62
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 60 lbs
#12. Whippet
Bourbon, the whippet, competes during the 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Popularity (2015): 57
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 40 lbs
#11. Papillon
Papillons Willow, right, and Kayla are shown during the meet the breeds companion event to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Popularity (2015): 48
Average life expectancy: 14 years
Average weight: 9 lbs
#10. Weimaraner
Popularity (2015): 34
Average life expectancy: 11 years
Average weight: 90 lbs
#9. Vizsla
Popularity (2015): 32
Average life expectancy: 12 years
Average weight: 65 lbs
#8. Chihuahua
Popularity (2015): 28
Average life expectancy: 16 years
Average weight: 6 lbs
#7. Havanese
Popularity (2015): 24
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 13 lbs
#6. Boston Terrier
Popularity (2015): 22
Average life expectancy: 12 years
Average weight: 25 lbs
#3. Boxer
Popularity (2015): 10
Average life expectancy: 11 years
Average weight: 80 lbs
#2. Yorkshire Terrier
Popularity (2015): 7
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 6 lbs
#1. Bulldog
Popularity (2015): 4
Average life expectancy: 9 years
Average weight: 55 lbs
#25. Affenpinscher
Ernesto Lara runs with Banana Joe, an affenpinscher, who won best in show during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Popularity (2015): 136
Average life expectancy: 13 years
Average weight: 9 lbs
