Short times outside in all but the most extreme cold situations are usually fine (see the temperatures listed in this article). But you are right to be concerned about the cropped ears. They can be an issue, especially in the tips of the ears where circulation is at the lowest. Just be cautious and use some common sense. I certainly wouldn’t keep him outdoors in the cold as a regular thing. There are apparently a few companies making doggie ear-muffs but I have no experience with them so I can’t recommend any.

I use a jacket for my buddy, Timber, but I worry about his ears ,they are cropped.

How do you feel about him being outside in the cold?

I feel like another factor that wasn’t mentioned is how active the dog will be while outside. On even a short walk outside, my dobbie will start shivering if she’s on leash. (Because she can’t move very far, and has to walk at my sedate pace.) If she’s off leash, she can race around like a maniac (and does so), so seems comfortable for a far longer period of time without a coat.

(With that said, I live in the Seattle area, so in the winter, temperatures are maybe 40-50. 5 minutes without a coat and on leash seems okay, although she’s generally VERY eager to get home. 30 minutes without a coat and off leash seems okay. More than 5 minutes on leash or 30 off leash and she needs the coat. It also keeps her a bit cleaner as the mud mostly ends up on the coat, which is win-win!)