Thursday, July 30, 2009

how to keep dogs warm in winter?

i have dogs and rent! we are not aloud pets inside! never had outside dogs before! i live in a northeast area in alabama! we don't get snow, how ever it gets chilly at night! any ideas on how to keep them warm?? :)
Answers:
Make sure the door of the house faces South or southeast.Fill the house with fresh straw,and add new straw as needed.(don't use blankets;they get wet,and if your dog is tied,the blankets can get all wrapped around the chain or cable).Nail a heavy towel or other fabric over the door to keep the wind out.If you're in Alabama,the dogs should be fine.
Lots of Hay in the dog house. You must have some sort of reliable wind, rain shelter that the dog can retreat to.
Dog house, for starters.
You can also get a heated bed-pad from Pets-Mart if it's really chilly.
Some dogs, like German Shepherds, have an under-coat, and prefer cooler environments. Others, like Dobermans, do NOT have an undercoat.
Older dogs also feel the chill more - just like me!
Maybe an electric blanket? Or a big down comforter it can snuggle down in.
Try a dog house. There are many out on the market. Thow an old rug on the floor of the doghouse,an old blanket, or pillow.
Get them a nice, solidly-built dog house, and put blankets inside for them to lay on. Unless the temperatures get really cold that should do the trick.

Good luck!
Well I live in VA, and our climate's are similar, but we do get snow. A nice size dog house is always necessary, of course, and it helps if they're insulated(and not just the plastic kind you'd find in regular stores.) Bigger stores like petco etc. will sell these types. It helps if the dog house has a swinging doggie door instead of an open entrance to keep it insulated. I recommend lining it with cedar chips, which are available virtually everywhere, and as always, a few nice cotton blankets will help tremendously. Depending on how warm you want your animal to stay, you can also purchase a small heat lamp to go inside the dog house.
Get insulated dog houses, put hay in them, also shredded pieces of old towels %26 blankets. Whole blankets will stink in no time! Never put a heat lamp in there! I worked for a vet %26 we had a huge Dobie come in with burns over 40% of his body. We almost lost him several times. As for the landlord.I crate trained my dogs %26 put the crates in the garage. They were not technically in the house %26 still warm
build them a hut with inslations. Put old clothes or bedding inside the hut. Make sure the floor of the hut is inches above ground so that rain will not goes in.

Don't make the opening too big as the wind will creeps in.
Get the dogs a dog house first of all. Then put dog beds in them with some blankets and then get the dogs some sweaters. Nothing "cute" or "frilly" but some that are actually practical. And don't worry, they do make sweaters for big dogs as well as small dogs. Hope it all works out! And congratulations on having the dogs!
Make sure the doghouses are secure against the elements and that wind cannot make it inside. Have blankets or straw inside for bedding to help them keep warm. Also, since they will need more energy to stay warm, they will probably need more food (and water present at all times of course).
Buy an electric heating pad and put it in their dog house under their blanket .. leave on low ..lead an extension cord to it for power. This should keep them toasty warm in the cold .. As long as they are not dogs that will chew on everything you should be fine!!
When I was a kid my Dad and Grandfather build our doghouse that had that house so well insulation about four inches I think. Also put something over the dog door so the wind won't blow in.

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