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.
“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.”
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.
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
Yorkshire Terriers and Dachshunds are two of the dog breeds most “vulnerable” to the cold weather / Credit: Unsplash (Sebastian Pociecha & Dan Smedley)
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.
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.
Royel Otis add second Manchester date due to massive demand
Danny Jones
Australian indie pop group Royel Otis have announced a second Manchester date ahead of their upcoming UK tour due to a huge demand for tickets.
The Aussie duo, who have blown up in the past couple of years with tracks like ‘Oysters In My Pocket’ and two viral covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Cranberries, are due to play a massive Manchester gig later this year.
Set to make their O2 Victoria Warehouse debut this winter, the ‘Sofa King’ singers saw their ticket allocation sell out quicker than you can say ‘Going Kokomo’.
As a result, there was only one thing for it:
Due to demand, @RoyelOtis have just added an extra date at Manchester @O2VicWarehouse in November! 🔥
For anyone still unaware of the rising alt-pop outfit led by frontman Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell (hence the name), they began breaking onto the scene around 2022 after having released a couple of tracks the year prior.
Although they quickly gained support back in their home country, their presence over here and indeed around the world was helped no end after their tripleJ take on ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ and stripped-back version of ‘Linger’ for SiriusXM hit the internet.
They even managed to land a feature on EA FC 24 – formerly known as FIFA – and we all know how getting on that soundtrack can transform careers.
Since then, their following has grown exponentially, and the rising double act has booked major festival slots such over the past 12 months or so, playing the likes of Kendal Calling, Glastonbury, as well as Reading and Leeds, just to name a few.
Regardless, fervent fans haven’t seen their clamour disappear, and now the band have announced an extra date at Victoria Warehouse.
Now set to play the venue on Friday AND Saturday, 28-29 November 2025, they will be supported by an opening act with a cool UK connection: Still Blank.
The transatlantic outfit is made up of Jordy is from Hawaii, and Ben, from right here in Manchester; the two come together to make what Stereogum has described as “sullen folk-grunge” – yet more reason for locals to be interested in the gig.
Once again, while the first gig has sold out, you can grab your tickets for Royel Otis’ second Manchester show HERE.
New ‘postboxes of the future’ are being rolled out across the UK
Danny Jones
The Royal Mail is starting to roll out its line of so-called “postboxes of the future” across the UK this year, including right here in Greater Manchester.
It has been dubbed the most important and noticeable transformation to the classic British postbox in its entire 175-year history.
The national postal service teased the modern-day upgrade earlier this year, but the revolutionary new upgrade was officially announced this week, with Royal Mail ushering in a new era of digitally-driven units that should make many lives a lot easier – at least in theory.
Although they might look pretty identical to the iconic red boxes since before the turn of the 19th century have used up and down the country, there are marked differences between the new and the old ones.
Credit: Royal Mail
The biggest change made to the Royal Mail’s soon-to-be standard design is a digitally activated drop-down drawer, which will be able to fit parcels as big as a shoebox, hopefully saving us Brits on a fair few trips to the post office.
You will be able to scan a barcode via the updated Royal Mail app to activate the drawer for larger items; meanwhile, there will be a separate slot for letters and smaller packages.
Additionally, the new range of high-tech postboxes will also be solar-powered, helping the public limited company chase its ‘green’ targets.
Now owned by parent firm International Distribution Services (IDS) – who also oversee Parcelforce Worldwide – following the UK government’s approval of its historic sale to Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský at the end of 2024, the group as a whole is undergoing a significant overhaul.
Britain’s new solar postboxes were first trialled back in April in four towns located throughout the Hertfordshire region: Letchworth Garden City, Ware and Hertford. A fifth was later installed in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, too.
Despite being quickly considered a success on the whole, the initial design featured an entirely black top, with polls of civilians and Royal Mail themselves agreeing that keeping them red all over was more in keeping with the brand.
It’s like the old school phone box, isn’t it? We can’t picture it any other way.
📮Attention Postbox Lovers 📮
Royal Mail is upgrading postboxes to accept parcels. They'll gaining a new slot and a solar panel on top
Speaking in a statement, the Royal Mail‘s managing director of ‘out-of-home and commercial excellence’, Jack Clarkson, said: “We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before.
“This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces. There are 115,000 postboxes in the UK located within half a mile of 98% of addresses, making them by far the most convenient network of parcel drop-off points in the UK.
“Our message is clear – if you have a Royal Mail label on your parcel, and it fits, put it in a postbox and we’ll do the rest.”
The new generation postboxes are now being made permanent in the same locations, with Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester next.
Keep your eyes peeled on the streets as they’ll soon be making a debut in your area.