Dog care tips · October 2026

Small Dogs in a Seoul Winter: Cold-Weather Care Tips & Cozy Indoor Plans in Gangnam

If this is your first winter in Seoul with a small dog, it can come as a surprise. Autumn here is crisp and lovely, but by December the air turns properly cold and dry, and little dogs feel it long before we do. Whether you have just moved to Seoul or are visiting with your pup, here are practical tips for getting through the cold months happily — plus a warm indoor option in Gangnam for the days when a long walk is not a good idea.

How cold does Seoul get?

Seoul has four very distinct seasons. From roughly December to February, daytime temperatures often sit around or below freezing, and cold snaps can push them well below −10°C, especially with wind. The air is also very dry. For a dog that weighs only a few kilograms, with short legs that keep their belly close to icy pavement, that adds up quickly.

Dogs that usually need extra care in the cold:

• Toy and small breeds (they lose body heat fast)
• Short-haired or thin-coated dogs
• Puppies and senior dogs
• Dogs with health conditions — ask your vet if you are unsure

Winter walk tips

Keeping things comfortable at home

Most Korean homes have ondol, heated floors. Dogs usually love them — expect lots of sprawling. Just make sure your dog can move to a cooler spot if they get too warm, and keep a soft bed or blanket off the hottest part of the floor.

Floor heating plus winter air makes rooms very dry. Keep fresh water out at all times, and a humidifier can help both you and your dog. If your dog's nose or paw pads look cracked, check with your vet about a pet-safe balm.

Seoul also has days with high fine dust levels, which can happen in winter and spring. Many residents check an air-quality app before going out; on bad days, a short walk and indoor play is a sensible swap.

Too cold to walk? Play indoors

Small dogs still need to burn off energy in winter, and a bored dog stuck inside for days is not a happy one. At Mungdolphin (멍돌핀), our small-dog café in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam, there is a warm indoor play room where your dog can run around and meet other small dogs while you relax with a drink.

• Play room hours: daily 9:00–21:30 (weekends from 10:00)
• Under 5 kg: ₩3,000 per hour, ₩30,000 full day
• 5–10 kg: ₩4,000 per hour, ₩40,000 full day (over 4 hours counts as a full day)

Mungdolphin is for small dogs under 10 kg. Large dogs and some breeds, such as Welsh Corgi, French Bulldog, Jindo and Shiba, cannot enter; for medium-sized dogs, please ask first. See the full price list.

Busy winter schedule or holiday trip?

Year-end parties, long workdays and winter trips can make it hard to give your dog enough attention. Mungdolphin also runs a weekday dog kindergarten, a small dog hotel (reservation and prepayment required, one dog per room) and grooming by reservation. A winter bath and paw tidy-up can be especially welcome after weeks of salty sidewalks. We explain how each service works in Staying in Seoul with Your Dog: Daycare, Dog Hotel & Grooming in Gangnam.

Members of the Mungdolphin app (English supported) receive photo and video updates of their dog during their stay and can book with a price estimate.

No dog with you this winter?

Travelers who miss their own pets are welcome too. You can come in without a dog, grab a warm drink and spend time with the café's resident dogs — a cozy way to warm up between Gangnam sights. Read our friendly guide to visiting a dog café in Seoul for etiquette tips before you go.

Getting there on a cold day

• Subway: Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9) is about a 7-minute walk; Nonhyeon Station (Line 7) about 10 minutes.
• Car: the Nonhyeon Elementary School public parking lot is right in front (open 24 hours, ₩300 per 5 minutes).
• Taxi: on a freezing day this is the easy option — show the driver this address 👇

Questions in English? Texting +82 10-2449-5545 is usually the easiest way to reach us. You can also find us on Naver Map, which gives better walking directions in Korea than Google Maps.