Most dogs love a cozy bed by the fireplace during cold weather, but not Carl. For this 10-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog who lives in Switzerland, winter is his paradise, and snow is his favorite companion. While many seek warmth indoors during icy storms, Carl can’t wait to plunge into the fresh, white blanket outside. For his owner, Liz Vanderbrouk, this quirky love for the cold has become a regular part of life. Every snowfall transforms her yard into Carl’s personal winter wonderland, where he can be found happily nestled beneath layers of snow for hours on end.
Whenever the snow begins to fall, Carl makes it clear he wants to be outside. “He’ll just stare outside and then stare at us and then back outside until we actually let him out,” Vanderbrouk explained in an interview with The Dodo. Once outside, Carl carefully picks a spot, settles down, and allows the snow to envelop him. His younger brother, Steve, a 5-year-old Newfoundland, prefers brief moments in the snow before retreating indoors.
At first glance, Carl looks like he’s been buried in the snow after a tragic accident. But, instead, Carl is alive and well under the frigid blanket of snow
Initially, Carl’s outdoor naps worried his family. They feared he might get too cold. However, after researching the Bernese mountain Dog breed, they realized this behavior was not only safe but perfectly natural. “I Googled it immediately to make sure he was safe because you always hear, ‘If you’re cold, then they’re cold,’ regarding dogs and humans,” Vanderbrouk said. “But I found that the Bernese Mountain Dog breed is just fine in these temperatures and under these conditions, and it’s what he actually wants!”
When a video of Carl enjoying the snow went viral on Instagram, followers were fascinated. One commenter explained why Carl thrives in the cold: “Fun fact: If you see an animal on which the snow does not melt, that means that they are perfectly insulated,” wrote @slingu. “The cold does not reach their skin, and their warmth doesn’t escape their fur! So that dog is perfectly warm.”
Even when the snow isn’t falling, Carl adores the chill of winter. “If there’s no snow but it’s still cold, he’ll still prefer to be outside in the cold grass,” Vanderbrouk said. His energy spikes in cold weather, leading to playful chases with Steve and bursts of joyful barking.
She Could Barely Walk or Breathe When Rescuers Found Her
Rescuers swooped in, but when they got the pup into their care, she had lost the use of her back legs, was struggling to breathe, and weighed just around 20 pounds.
For Carl, winter is more than a season—it’s his element. And for Vanderbrouk, there’s nothing better than seeing her dog so content. “As dog owners, there’s nothing more satisfying than looking at your fur child and knowing that they’re happy,” she said. “That’s all we want.”
