9 Ways on How to Keep a Dog Warm at Night: For Indoor and Outdoor Dog Care
Finding the best ways on how to keep your dog warm at night before winter starts is a must for every dog owner. Even our dog’s beautiful, thick fur isn’t enough to protect them from the relentless winter cold.
There’s a common misconception that a dog’s fur is enough to keep them warm during the night, including really cold winter nights!
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Having this assumption can unintentionally expose many dog breeds to the hazards of dropping temperatures, including joint pain, arthritis, frostbite, and hypothermia.
Dog care for winter calls for two major things: keeping the dog warm indoors and outdoors.
Fortunately, there are practical measures you can take to ensure your pooch is snug and safe, even during winter nights. Read on.
Do dogs still get cold despite having their layer of fur?
Here’s the truth: your dog’s thick fur is not enough to keep your pet warm for all seasons. It’s important to note that several factors can affect a fur’s ability to keep dogs warm during the night.
These factors include:
Dogs have different levels of natural insulation against cold weather, depending on their breed.
Some breeds, like Huskies and Malamutes, are bred for cold climates and have thick double coats that provide excellent insulation.
In contrast, short-haired breeds like Greyhounds may be more susceptible to the cold due to their lack of insulating fur.
A dog’s age can affect their ability to stay warm.
For example, puppies and senior dogs are generally more vulnerable to extreme temperatures because their bodies couldn’t fully regulate the temperature to stand the cold.
Puppies also may not have fully developed fur. On the other hand, senior dogs have thinner coats and reduced metabolism.
The thickness and length of a dog’s coat can vary widely even within the same breed. Dogs with thicker and longer coats tend to have better protection against the cold.
However, grooming practices can also influence the effectiveness of their coat. Regular grooming to remove tangles and mats can help maintain insulation.
A dog’s height can affect how close they are to the ground, which can impact their exposure to cold surfaces. Smaller dogs are closer to the ground and may feel colder because they come into contact with colder surfaces more often than taller dogs.
Additionally, shorter-legged dogs may have a harder time walking through deep snow.
Also very important to note that other body parts of dogs with lesser fur including ears, tail, nose, and paws are still very much exposed to cold.
Does your dog need bundling up? The best way to keep your dog warm during the winter nights is to know the signs of a cold dog (example: dog curling up in one corner, or ears tucked in).
Take cues from what your dog is doing when it’s chilly; here are some common signs of a cold dog that tells you it’s time to warm them up… fast.
Not all dogs will ride the cold like superheroes. When the freezing temperature becomes too much, many dogs will show this through shaking and shivering.
You’ve given the things that soothe them when they’re restless, but they’re still whining and barking. Try wrapping them in blankets and see if there’s a difference.
Pup parents and dog owners, if your dog can’t settle in one spot and is constantly snuggling from one corner to another, it can be a telltale sign that their beds are too chilly for comfort.
Now this one’s quite easy to miss. Before your big and small dogs start making a fuss about the cold, they would first try to warm themselves up using their body heat.
If you notice your dog curled up more than usual, it’s best to cover and warm them up as soon as possible.
A cold dog is sluggish, has reduced energy levels, and is less enthusiastic about their usual activities. The reason for this: the body is diverting energy towards keeping warm, which can leave your dog feeling less active.
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One of the most direct signs that a dog is cold is if they feel cold to the touch. You can check their ears, paws, or the tip of their nose. If these areas feel cold or even icy, it’s a clear indication that your dog is experiencing the cold weather and might need some warmth.
Dogs often curl into a ball when they are cold as a natural instinct to conserve body heat. This behavior is more commonly observed when a dog is sleeping or resting in a chilly environment.
Whether you caught the signs of a cold dog early on, or it took a while to figure out the concern, there are simple, easy steps on how to keep a dog warm at night and during the day.
Sturdy walls and thick carpets won’t stop your dog from feeling the effects of the seeping cold. The great news is that it doesn’t need any complicated process to make sure your dog is warm indoors.
Keep the cold at bay — here are different ways to keep dogs warm while they’re staying in.
A quick note: If your dog is used to staying outdoors, there will be adjustments involved like ensuring the dog won’t trigger other pets or cause a ruckus indoors.
Additionally, you’ll deal with a lot of resistance like a dog scratching the door because they don’t want to be indoors.
Transitioning from the outdoors to the indoors is a big adjustment for you and your dog. You worry about how they will behave inside the house, and they’re confused about how to navigate the new space.
A recent blog I made also talks about how dogs can safely socialize with other household pets (this is a big one).
Both of you might find the situation extremely frustrating.
The transition will call for lots of patience and communication with your confused, bewildered dog.
I always recommend dog parents to go back to the basics of communicating with their dogs to help them speak to their pets without getting stressed and exasperated.
Once you’ve successfully got your dog in, here are some ways you can keep your dog warm inside the home.
The floor can get extremely cold during the winter; your dog can suffer body heat loss when they sleep on the ground. Consider getting heated dog beds elevated from the ground for your dog’s warmth, safety, and comfort.
Dog nesting beds are also an option, especially for elderly and arthritic dogs who feel more pain in their joints.
If your pup isn’t the type to stay on the bed, heated dog mats are another option. Look for the thicker ones that can serve as a protective cushion between your dog and the floor.
Heated dog beds — with their added insulation — are nice. However, if you don’t have one, you can get creative and create a doughnut ring out of blankets.
These could be old sacks, hay, or soft, beautiful blankets! Wool blankets will keep much more heat than most. This may even be an old sweater you’re thinking of throwing away!
For maximum heat retention, place the blankets in a doughnut shape with space for your dog to curl up in the center. With protection from the cold on all sides (and underneath) they only lose heat upwards rather than in all directions.
When your dog sleeps inside a doughnut ring, they can rest without risking life-threatening heat loss and a drop in body temperature.
Munching up an adequate amount of food is crucial to your dog’s comfort during the winter months. Dogs get an extra shield from the freezing cold when they have enough calories.
Since you’re most likely to place the food on the ground, swapping traditional bowls with heated dog bowls is a great idea. Food gets cold fast during the cooler nights, and cold food is unappetizing to dogs.
As heated dog bowls help keep dog food warm, your beloved pet will always have access to ready-to-eat food that will fill them and fuel the much-needed calories to keep them warm.
We had talks with dog owners who were once left perplexed with their cold weather dilemma. They’ve done everything — get heated blankets, made a dog nesting bed, and stacked up blankets for the dogs to use, but their pets still ended up shivering the morning after.
The culprit: the small, unclosed gaps between the door and the floor.
Although the cold coming in from these gaps is no big deal to people, it’s a different story for dogs.
Door drafts block cold air from swooshing into the room where you are trying to keep dogs warm. As this step is pretty easy to overlook, consider adding the drafts before prepping other cold season essentials for your dogs.
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When I put my dogs to bed at night, I gently drape a sizable blanket over them. It’s thin enough for them to breathe comfortably, yet it keeps them warm and toasty underneath, almost like a spacious tent. They’re so content beneath the blanket that they rarely budge until morning comes.
Pyjamas are a staple for people when winter comes, and an extra layer against cold is needed. Imagine what dog pyjamas can do for your dogs to keep them warm?
These dog pyjamas come in any size, but short-haired dogs who need additional coverage benefit most.
Although keeping dogs warm indoors during the chilly season is the better choice, circumstances like behavioral issues, shedding, or your dog’s preference (working dogs prefer the outdoors because they can stay with their pack) can push you to allow dogs to stay outdoors.
If you are wondering how to keep a dog warm at night if they are staying outdoors, I have good news: there are some steps you can take to help them feel warm and comfortable all through the night.
Many dog breeds, including pack animals and working dogs, are low-maintenance — they would gladly settle in a kennel without any problem. It gets challenging when they not only need protection from chilly nights but from pouring rain and snow.
Every dog needs an outdoor shelter from the rain so if you haven’t already put some sort of shelter together, then today is the day. A decent dog shelter that will keep dogs warm at night includes a sturdy and leak-proof roof, an extra layer of insulation on the walls, and a bed or small stacked mattress that will elevate your dog from the ground.
If you’re letting your dogs sleep in the garage, install some heat lamps for additional warmth during the winter.
The jacket and boots ensemble is just what big and small dogs need when taking winter walks where the cold winds blow incessantly.
Choose a snug jacket that can protect them from the cold without getting in the way of their mobility.
Their sensitive paws also need cover and protection, so it’s best to make them wear snow boots whenever you go outside.
Most dogs aren’t fans of dog jackets and dog boots, but they get by eventually.
Begin your dog’s walks at a gentle pace to allow their muscles to warm up gradually. On particularly cold days, consider indoor exercise options.
Be mindful of the potential harm that snow and ice can cause to your dog’s paws, including chapping, cracking, or injury to their paw pads. If you reside in areas with frequent snowfall, consider using canine boots to protect their paws.
After each walk, make sure to wash your dog’s paws to prevent any harm from toxic grit salt or other de-icing chemicals commonly used on roads.
Exercise caution regarding open fires, both indoors and outdoors. Never leave your dog unsupervised near a fire, and always use a safety screen to keep your pet at a safe distance, even when you’re present.
Keep antifreeze well out of your dog’s reach and sight, as it’s highly toxic to them.
Ensure that dogs are kept away from chemical combustibles left around, such as the outdoor BBQ. Always securely lock up all plant foods, anti-weed chemicals, and soil fertilizers. You never know what your dog might get into during the night.
With the help of positive reinforcement, you can help your dogs associate the indoors with good things and make them more excited to sleep inside and stay warm at night.
During the first few days, dogs you’ve successfully ushered indoors will still exhibit restless behavior through camping on the doorsteps, or running around.
The new experience will be terrifying for them – shouting can only do a little. Click here to learn how you can soothe your dog’s jitters all while improving their behavior inside the home.
During the adjustment process of training your dogs to sleep indoors, it’s important to also provide them with a warm bed, an insulated kennel, and a safe shelter should they choose to stay outside.
One of the reasons many dogs live outside is because they haven’t been properly trained to behave inside the home.
If you’d prefer to have your dog inside, but are worried about your dog using the toilet in your home, chewing on your stuff, or getting into things that he/she shouldn’t, I want you to take a minute and check out how I’ve trained over 88,000 dogs to listen, respond, and behave in your home when it matters most!
Check out the Dog Calming Code Here!
~ Doggy Dan 😄
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Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
This post was last modified on 29/10/2023 22:50
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