There’s something magical about a fresh blanket of snow — soft, untouched, and perfectly white. But for one woman in Switzerland, a smooth layer of snow never lasts long, thanks to her fluffy winter-loving dog, Carl.
Every time it snows, Liz Vanderbrouk can count on finding a dark lump nestled in the middle of her yard. Hours pass, and the snow keeps falling until the shape nearly disappears beneath the powder. Then, suddenly, a massive head pops out of the snowbank — Carl, her 10-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, blinking sleepily and smiling as if to say, “What? I’m cozy.”
Carl loves the snow more than anything. His younger brother, Steve, a 5-year-old Newfoundland, prefers to stay indoors after a few minutes of play. But Carl? He’ll lie in the snow for hours if his parents let him.
“For some reason, Carl LOVES the snow and would sit or lay in it for hours if we let him,” Vanderbrouk told The Dodo. “His brother Steve will enjoy licking the snow and maybe sitting or laying down in it for a few minutes — then he wants to come inside!”
From the moment the first flakes start falling, Carl is ready. He’ll sit by the door, staring outside, then turn to his parents with pleading eyes until they finally give in. Once out, he picks the perfect spot, settles down, and lets the snow slowly blanket him.
At first, Vanderbrouk worried he might get too cold. Like many dog owners, she’d heard the saying: “If you’re cold, they’re cold.” But a quick Google search reassured her that Bernese Mountain Dogs are built for freezing weather — thick coats, insulated underlayers, and all.
“I Googled it immediately to make sure he was safe,” Vanderbrouk said. “But I found that the Bernese Mountain Dog breed is just fine in these temperatures. It’s actually what he wants!”
When she posted a video of Carl buried in snow on Instagram, one commenter explained the science behind his comfort:
“Fun fact: If you see an animal on which the snow does not melt, that means they’re perfectly insulated,” wrote user @slingu. “The cold doesn’t reach their skin, and their warmth doesn’t escape their fur!”
That’s exactly the case for Carl — his thick double coat keeps him perfectly warm. When his nap is finally over, he simply stands up, shakes off the snow, and trots back inside until the next storm rolls in.
Even when it’s not snowing, Carl still loves the cold. He’ll lie in the frosty grass, chase his brother, and bounce around with extra energy.
“If there’s no snow but it’s still cold, he’ll still prefer to be outside,” Vanderbrouk said. “The cold weather makes him frisky — he’ll be running, barking, and hopping around a lot more.”
Carl’s love for winter has become one of his family’s favorite things about him.
“As dog owners, there’s nothing more satisfying than looking at your fur child and knowing they’re happy,” Vanderbrouk said. “That’s all we want.”
Carl may be buried in snow, but he’s never been more in his element.