Keeping a Dog Outside-New England - Page 1

The weather now ranges between 30-50. It is considerably cooler. Until when can a dog be kept outside fulltime(nite and day)? Some have said keeping a dog outside during the winter and cold months decreases thedog's lifespan. I don't want this to happen. The dog has an igloo house and a shaded run but...

On the other hand, pampering a dog in a heated room 24-7 except for walks and training can't be good for the dog either since it is unnatural.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advance.

As long as a dog has a good doghouse, packed with wheat straw, they can live in any temp. What is dangerous for the dogs, is cold wind or draft. I know that Igloo claims to be cool in summer and warm in winter, but an Igloo without the flap or some type of closure over the entrance is the worst for cold temps and wind. (due to such a large opening)

If a dog was in an Igloo in 20 degree below zero temps and a brutal cold wind was blowing towards the large opening of the igloo, the dog would be in danger of freezing. If your dog doesn't tear the flap door off the Igloo and you pack it with wheat straw, the dog should be warm and snug in any temp.

Many of my dogs must stay outside in brutally cold weather due to the sheer numbers of dogs I care for.  My GSD's seem to thrive the best in cold temps. They enjoy the cold winters more than the hot summers.  Just make certain the doghouse is free from any drafts and wind, and keep it packed with fresh wheat straw and your dog will thrive.

They make heaters especially for the igloo/dogloo style dog houses now and, for that matter, barn style dog houses, too.  I cannot recall the price but, not that much considering the welfare of the dog(s). 

Mine are still outside most nights, all day. No straw in the dog houses yet, no doors (those died the first day) but no wind as yet. They rarely even go in the dog houses yet. Nights forecast below 30 they are crated in the basement or the dog trailer for now on carpet samples, at least till the new building is up. (IF its ever built... big IF considering how little has gotten done so far and the miserable N.E. PA weather right around the corner.) Basement stays over 55 F even when its 5F outside.

I hate winter in PA.

Out of all the breeds of dogs that I own, including mixed breeds, I would consider my GSD's to be the most hearty of all. My GSD's can out eat any of my other dogs, and love the winter.  GSD's are tough dogs. I love my dogs, but I would have to draw the line with a heated dog house. The heat a GSD would generate in a secure dog house with bedding would be toasty as can be.  Like Shelley said, even in cold temps, mine will lay outside while its snowing.

I have just moved from Florida to Michigan and I am on a fast track on learning what to do with my dogs during the winters...I don't have a kennel here so I've refitted my barn for this...My barn is a 30' X 30' building with concrete floors...and I have now had foam insulation blown in...It has cut out all or any wind or air from blowing thru it...I will also add a small heater when I need to...I thought about a wood burning stove for this but right now I'm gonna see what happens during this first winter in the frozen tundra...My dogs are loving the weather up here compared to the HEAT in Florida...I think it's much better for them and probably for me too...We'll see what happens...

~Bob~

I myself, moved from Maine to Florida, and the dogslove the weather we have now, but have to be in house in A/C during summer months.

When in Maine, some of mine lived in a shed, in crates up off ground on pallets, with lots of hay, and they LOVED IT!

They need to be off ground so they have air space between crate and ground, makes for warmer.............or so I was told, when going out in the AM to let out, the whole shed was wicked warm

My thoughts

Rebecca

You may depending on where you are in New England, want to check with ACO or other in your area about new teathering / containment laws.

A healthy GSD can take a lot of cold weather.  I had a light layer of straw in each house and just packed them tonight as it is -3F.  Still pretty warm but it can really drop anytime now and I know they have a good bed down.  Usually on really cold nights below -30F I will repack the houses so the straw is like a den for them.  Door flaps work well if the dog will keep it on.  The problem with a igloo house is the door that is huge as you mentioned.  The ceilings are too high and they are too big in general.  Dog houses for really cold weather need to be small with small openings.  The biggest factor is the roof height which needs to be ideally around 24".  This sounds too low but it keep the heat down where the dog is.  The lip on the door opening of a dog house needs to be at least 6" up from the floor to hold a thick layer of straw in. 

If your igloo house is near a wall, face the door of the house towards the wall about 18" away.  This will help keep the wind out if you can't keep a flap on the door.  Also fill it to the roof with loose straw.  Refill as the straw gets packed and in most of the weather you will see your dog will be fine.  If you dog starts to loose weight and you have to bump his food intake to keep him looking good, your dog is probably getting cold and using too much energy to stay warm. 

While I have not used this dog house, it appears to be one of the best on the market to keep a dog warm.  They even sell a safe heater for it that uses a light bulb or a heating element that does not burn out.  http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-house.html  If you never want to worry about this again this would be a good way to go in my opinion.  Here is the heater link.  http://www.gundogsupply.com/houndheaterii.html

Robin

www.klatolklin.com

Wow. I can't afford $200.+ for a dog house, but the Hound Heater looks pretty cool as long as I could hard-wire the cord in conduit, safely secured, and anchor the dog house. Right now mine are sleeping on TOP of their dog houses. Its only getting down into the 30's at night so far.  Going for fresh straw today.  I'm sure the youngsters will have a field day spreading that all over the place. Maybe they can fill some of those holes they dug this week. Whassup with that all of a sudeen I don't know, but its contagious! Suddenly every kennel looks like I'm going to plant trees. Ha ha ha.

SS