Fresh snowfall usually leaves everything looking smooth and untouched. But in Liz Vanderbrouk’s yard in Switzerland, there’s always one spot that never quite stays flat.
After every snowfall, Vanderbrouk notices a dark, lumpy shape beneath the snow. As the hours pass, flakes pile higher and higher until the mound looks like nothing more than a strange clump in the yard.
Then suddenly, it breathes.
Moments later, a giant furry head pops up from the snow and stares straight at her.
The mysterious snow creature is actually Carl, Vanderbrouk’s 10-year-old Bernese mountain dog — and he’s exactly where he wants to be. After flashing his signature smile, Carl simply sinks back into the snow to continue his winter nap.
Inside the house, Carl’s 5-year-old Newfoundland brother, Steve, watches from the warmth. While Steve enjoys a quick taste of snow before heading back indoors, Carl would happily stay outside for hours.
“For some reason, Carl loves the snow,” Vanderbrouk told The Dodo. “He would sit or lie in it all day if we let him, while Steve is done after just a few minutes.”
You can watch Carl sleep in the snow here:
As soon as the first flakes fall, Carl makes his intentions very clear.
“He just stares outside, then stares at us, and then back outside again until we open the door,” Vanderbrouk said. “He’ll stay out there as long as we allow him to.”
The first time Carl buried himself in the snow, his family worried he might be too cold. After some research, they discovered that many Bernese mountain dogs share Carl’s love for snowy naps.
“I Googled it immediately,” Vanderbrouk said. “You always hear, ‘If you’re cold, they’re cold,’ but Bernese mountain dogs are actually built for this. It’s what he wants.”
When Vanderbrouk posted a video of Carl nearly buried in snow on Instagram, viewers chimed in with reassurance.
“Fun fact: If snow doesn’t melt on an animal, it means they’re perfectly insulated,” one commenter explained. “Their warmth stays in, and the cold doesn’t reach their skin.”
Thanks to his thick, dense coat, Carl stays cozy no matter how much snow piles up. When his family finally convinces him to come inside, he simply shakes off the snow and waits patiently for the next storm.
Even without snow, Carl still prefers the cold.
“If it’s cold but there’s no snow, he’ll lie in the chilly grass,” Vanderbrouk said. “Cold weather makes him extra playful, too — chasing his brother, barking and hopping around.”
It may have puzzled his family at first, but now they wouldn’t change a thing.
“As dog owners, there’s nothing better than knowing your fur child is happy,” Vanderbrouk said. “That’s all we want.”
You can follow Carl and Steve’s snowy adventures on Instagram.
