Where we live it does not get cold like that- but we have winds that rip car doors off without fail every year. It rains nine months out of the year and it seems that when there is a bit of a chill in town we have crazy ice storms out here in the gorge. We are in a special little micro climate I guess
I had the opportunity to 'babysit' an eight pound yorkie for about a month long probably within a year of the time that I got Lilah. She was expected to go outside (that was her house rules and expectations she came with) but without fail would brave the cold winds with whipping tree branches pelting rains and have an accident inside right after. She was just plain miserable and I thought, man- when I have a yorkie, my yorkie will have a potty pad. I felt like it just wasn't a practical expectation for this little gal. Lilah is 4.6 lbs and has had a potty pad station in our restroom since the get go. She thinks it is fun to go potty outside but I am grateful in one of our raging windstorms that it just isn't an issue that she might blow away. And because she consistently has that option available, it is never a question of hiding to eliminate to avoid the conditions outside or anything like that. She has a safe space as an option and for us, that is what works best.