Anita H. Says:
We may be spending one or two months in Portugal to see where to settle when my husband finally retires. We have an arctic breed dog (samoyed), will he survive in this climate?
IL Contributor in Portugal Terry Coles Says:
Hi Anita,
Thanks so much for your interest in Portugal and for writing to International Living. Portugal is a compact country with a varied climate. The further north or inland you choose to live the more rain and cold you will experience during the winter months and the less hot the summers will be. Perhaps for the comfort of your dog you would prefer a cooler climate like the central or northern regions of the country.
The hottest summers in Portugal occur in the Alentejo and Algarve areas where summer temperatures are hot and dry and a winter breed of dog may need to stay inside with the air conditioner running full time, and this could get costly. Prior to living in Portugal my husband and I lived in Panama for 5 years where the temperatures are hot and humid year-round. We did have friends in Panama who owned huskies, also cold weather dogs. One couple, an American couple, chose to keep their dogs inside their condo most of the day with the air conditioner running full time, so not much of a life for them. Our Panamanian friend and Spanish teacher had a husky that lived inside and out with no air conditioning and did seem to survive well. Maybe it’s what the dogs become accustomed to early in life.
Portugal is not as dog-friendly as some other countries in Europe. Dogs are not allowed inside restaurants, shopping centers, or even on the beaches during the peak seasons. In some other parts of Europe, like Austria and Germany, dogs are permitted inside restaurants while their owners are eating and allowed to accompany their owners on all forms of public transport. My husband and I have done extensive house and pet sitting around the world and often in hot climates, like this past summer near Paris. There we took care of a large breed of dog who did not appreciate going for walks during the 100 F heat of the day and preferred to sleep inside, although the house did not have air conditioning.
So, my advice would be to visit Portugal in the peak of summer and see what the temperatures are like from the north to the south before you move your family and your dog abroad.
Hope this helps. Safe travels.
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