Coat standing on end

[thefensarefarbutistillgo 2,643]

I’ve never understood why a dogs coat stands up when it is cold, where is the logic of nature in that ? Surely that just makes the dog colder by releasing more body heat and letting more cold air in. Anyone know why this happens ? 

[lurchers 2,984]

They have to release heat some way mate,

[thefensarefarbutistillgo 2,643]

1 minute ago, lurchers said:

They have to release heat some way mate,

But it only seems to happen when they get cold, that would be worst time for that to happen, doesn’t make sense to me 

[Black neck 17,393]

6 minutes ago, thefensarefarbutistillgo said:

But it only seems to happen when they get cold, that would be worst time for that to happen, doesn’t make sense to me 

Trap warm air like the hairs on your arms stand up when your cold and u get a nip on 

I can do science me 

[mushroom 14,103]

14 minutes ago, thefensarefarbutistillgo said:

I’ve never understood why a dogs coat stands up when it is cold, where is the logic of nature in that ? Surely that just makes the dog colder by releasing more body heat and letting more cold air in. Anyone know why this happens ? 

Same thing as with humans. Apparently the idea (evolutionary speaking) is that the hair raises up to trap air, therefore creating a layer between the cold air outside and the warmer air trapped closer to the body between the long and short coats.

It works the same as wearing layers in the mountains, duck down, or even a synthetic stuffed quilt. Snow is a massive insulator due to the air content. I remember reading somewhere about igloos being something like 15°C warmer than outside not taking into account windchill.

Edited November 3, 2021 by mushroom

[Black neck 17,393]

12 minutes ago, mushroom said:

Same thing as with humans. Apparently the idea (evolutionary speaking) is that the hair raises up to trap air, therefore creating a layer between the cold air outside and the warmer air trapped closer to the body between the long and short coats.

It works the same as wearing layers in the mountains, duck down, or even a synthetic stuffed quilt. Snow is a massive insulator due to the air content. I remember reading somewhere about igloos being something like 15°C warmer than outside not taking into account windchill.

Your version sounded cooler

[thefensarefarbutistillgo 2,643]

9 minutes ago, mushroom said:

Same thing as with humans. Apparently the idea (evolutionary speaking) is that the hair raises up to trap air, therefore creating a layer between the cold air outside and the warmer air trapped closer to the body between the long and short coats.

It works the same as wearing layers in the mountains, duck down, or even a synthetic stuffed quilt. Snow is a massive insulator due to the air content. I remember reading somewhere about igloos being something like 15°C warmer than outside not taking into account windchill.

Ah that kind of makes sense, I’m not sure how the coat could trap air thow when it raises, just trying to get my head around that made me think perhaps the hair raises which allows heat to rise so in a way pushes cold air away from the body rather than allowing it to penetrate

[thefensarefarbutistillgo 2,643]

20 minutes ago, Black neck said:

Trap warm air like the hairs on your arms stand up when your cold and u get a nip on 

I can do science me 

How can it trap warm air if there is none around

[Black neck 17,393]

Just now, thefensarefarbutistillgo said:

How can it trap warm air if there is none around

The warmth off the dogs skin as it generates heat by being alive , if u still can't understand pm me and ill tek u thru the process of which living organisms process energy on a molecular level 

But your have 2 break me off some weed bruh ,time is money

[thefensarefarbutistillgo 2,643]

1 minute ago, Black neck said:

The warmth off the dogs skin as it generates heat by being alive , if u still can't understand pm me and ill tek u thru the process of which living organisms process energy on a molecular level 

But your have 2 break me off some weed bruh ,time is money

, I think that I’m thinking to deeply into this probably be easier just to buy the dog a coat, I just like to have a deep understanding on how the universe and its creatures work 

[thefensarefarbutistillgo 2,643]

9 minutes ago, Black neck said:

The warmth off the dogs skin as it generates heat by being alive , if u still can't understand pm me and ill tek u thru the process of which living organisms process energy on a molecular level 

But your have 2 break me off some weed bruh ,time is money

Wouldn’t it just be easier for the dog to keep the heat inside itself to start with rather than trying to trap it on the outside 

[Black neck 17,393]

1 minute ago, thefensarefarbutistillgo said:

, I think that I’m thinking to deeply into this probably be easier just to buy the dog a coat, I just like to have a deep understanding on how the universe and its creatures work 

In that case we're gonna need a pound

 

Just now, thefensarefarbutistillgo said:

Wouldn’t it just be easier for the dog to keep the heat inside itself to start with rather than trying to trap it on the outside 

Possibly but then on a hot day it would most likely explode 

[sandymere 8,263]

Controlling temperature - Homeostasis – WJEC - GCSE Biology (Single Science) Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

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Study homeostasis, including hormonal control of blood sugar, and how the skin helps maintain body temperature...

 

 

[Neal 1,930]

14 hours ago, thefensarefarbutistillgo said:

Wouldn’t it just be easier for the dog to keep the heat inside itself to start with rather than trying to trap it on the outside 

The air travels from hot to cold. For example, on a cold day with a window wide open and we all say, "Brrr! I can feel the cold coming in," it's actually kind of the opposite i.e. the temperature inside is reducing because the heat inside is travelling to the outside...via the open window. In the case of your dog, the warmth from your dog will travel to the 'outside' air but, by raising the hairs, it traps it for longer close to the surface. Same principle as a string vest...which I could never get my head around until I taught KS2 science. Similar to how putting a coat on a snowman will keep it frozen (alive) for longer than a 'naked' snowman.