Many people right across Greater Manchester will have woken up to a covering of snow outside this morning.
And for those of us with dogs, this can be a pretty exciting time.
While some four-legged friends will no doubt be having the time of their lives frolicking around in the snow without a care in the world for how cold it may be, for other dog breeds, their furry coat just isn’t enough to keep them warm, and are therefore “vulnerable” in the winter and may need a helping hand to regulate their temperatures.
With the winter weather only set to stick around for a couple more months, leading pet supplies retailer Pets At Home has released a list of the 14 dog breeds most vulnerable to the cold at this time of year.
It’s also released some top tips to help dog owners best keep their pups warm.
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“Lucky for some, certain dog breeds have naturally long and well insulated coats that help keep them warm when the weather gets tough,” Pets at Home says.
“Unfortunately, lots of other types of dog are more vulnerable to the cold weather.”
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According to Pets at Home, when temperatures drop below 10⁰C, some small to medium-size dogs might need to be walked in a jumper or coat dependant on the length of their fur, activity levels, and how long they’ll be outside, and when it gets to below 5⁰C, certain larger dog breeds can begin to become affected by the cold weather too and may need to wear a coat.
Dog owners are always advised to pay close attention to the length of their dog’s fur, the time spent outside, and their behaviour when in the cold to help them come to the decision as to whether they may need to wear a coat.
These are the following dog breeds most susceptible to the cold, and the most “vulnerable” during the winter.
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Small and Short Coated Dog Breeds
Jack Russells
Poodles
Whippets
Dachshunds
Chihuahuas
Basset Hounds
Yorkshire Terriers
Large and Short Coated Dog Breeds
Dalmations
Staffordshire Bull Terriers
Greyhounds
Doberman Pinschers
Pets at Home says that it is typically small breeds with short coats and toy breed dogs that will struggle to keep warm during the winter, however, some larger breeds can also get chilly, despite their size, due to their thin coats, and it’s important to keep this in mind.
“All these breeds are more susceptible to the cold, however, any dog will get cold if left in the cold or wet for too long,” the retailer says.
When the temperatures drop to – 5⁰C or less, Pets at Home also says owners should be wary when walking any breed or size of dog, as there is a chance that sub-zero conditions can cause frostbite and paw injuries.
Dog owners are always advised to pay close attention to the length of their dog’s fur in the winter / Credit: Unsplash (Paje Victoria)
Besides canine coats, what are some other top tips for ensuring dogs are warm in the winter?
If the ground on your usual walk is particularly icy or cold, you could try introducing ‘booties’ to your dog’s usual walk wear, and while most pets aren’t used to having their paws covered, these can prevent those painful injuries caused by ice, snow or slush.
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To help your dog get used to them, you could try putting children’s socks or mittens on their feet when they’re comfortable and happy at home.
You should always thoroughly dry your dog when you return from too.
This Manchester hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package for pets to help keep them calm
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most luxurious hotels is transforming into the ultimate pet refuge again over the firework season.
Bonfire Night is loved across the UK for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that go along with it, but the November annual event isn’t so fun for our four-legged friends, as fireworks can be frightening to pets due to loud bangs, flashing lights, and the unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives.
With multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays too, pets are rarely able to pinpoint where the booming explosions are coming from, only making it more terrifying for them.
This is why, after becoming a huge success following its launch last year, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the heart of the city centre has brought back its special ‘Bonfire Night Escape’ escape package, turning the already pet-friendly hotel into a firework-free sanctuary.
The hotel‘s year-round ‘PAWfect Stay’ package includes any dog staying at no extra cost, plus a pet tuckbox, a guide to the best dog-friendly places in the city, and a toy waiting for them in the room, but this fireworks season, pet owners will also get a luxury hamper including Pet Remedy’s ‘Party Season Survival Kit’
The kit comes together with a range of fast-acting products to help immediately in stressful situations such as fireworks, and includes calming spray, a plug diffuser, and some calming wipes too.
On top of that, dog owners can also take advantage of the hotel’s Music Concierge service, which allows guests to request a record player and vinyls to be placed in the room ahead of check in – with lots of classical and relaxing music records available to distract anxious pets from the noise of Bonfire Night celebrations.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package to help keep pets calm / Credit: Elisha Terada (via Unsplash)
The award-winning The Refuge Bar and Restaurant inside the hotel also offers a menu of carefully-curated dog treats throughout the week, as well as doggy Sunday roasts all Sunday.
David Lockhart, who is the General Manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said he likes to think of the hotel as a “home-away-from-home for our guests”.
“Our top priority is making sure everyone is feeling safe and comfortable,” he added. “We can’t wait to welcome our November guests and help them care for their four-legged family members, giving them everything they need.”
The Bonfire Night Escape package at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is available to book from Friday 1 November, subject to availability, and you can request the package via the hotel concierge or by emailing [email protected] to book.
Scissor Sisters confirm reunion after more than a decade ahead of massive Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Still a firm cult favourite from the 2000s, Scissor Sisters are officially back and are bringing a special reunion tour to Manchester and the UK and Ireland at large.
The American outfit were one of the biggest and most well-known pop groups on this side of the Atlantic during their heyday, notching three BRIT Awards and two number-one albums.
Starting out in New York, like many bands in an oversaturated music market, they ended up proving to be much more popular here in Britain than they ever did in the US, not to mention becoming real icons among the LGBTQ+ community.
And now, over a decade later, the Scissor Sisters are set to repay the likes of Manchester, Leeds, London and more with a series of comeback shows, including one at Co-op Live arena – a gig which the venue has already teased earlier this week.
Confirming the reunion on social media on Thursday, 10 October, the band said: “Exciting news, for the first time in over a decade, we will come together again, live next May across the UK and Ireland.
“And for the first time ever, our debut album Scissor Sisters will be performed in full in celebration of its 20th anniversary – alongside all the other Scissor hits from along the way… See you very soon. Jake, Babydaddy, Del.”
Long-time fans were quick to notice that there was no mention of fellow founding member Ana Matronic nor former drummer Randy Real; the band themselves told BBC that the current lineup following their indefinite hiatus is by no means a way of replacing anyone but does give them a chance “to get some people on stage and ask some friends to do fun things.”
Frontman Shears’ 2023 Cabaret co-star, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was also teased with a possible appearance on the Scissor Sisters reunion tour. Either way, they’ve promised a “little bit of chaos, anarchy” and an “‘anything can happen’ energy again.”
It’s been 12 whole years since we last saw them out on the road, so it’s only fitting that they give us a dozen UK/IE dates, starting at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena before bringing the comeback party down the home stretch in Dublin.
Scissor Sisters are set to stun the Manchester crowd with their Co-op Live debut on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, with special guest support from Alison Goldfrapp of the iconic electronic music duo, and we truly really can’t wait to roll back the years with them.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 6 November at 10am which you can access via their website and general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Friday, 8 November.
We can’t wait to hear all the favourites – ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin”, ‘Take Your Mama’ and more – but, until then, the announcements coming out of Manchester’s biggest new music venue just don’t stop…