How to Keep a Dog House Warm in the Winter: Useful Suggestions
Your pet, like you, needs to be warm and cozy throughout the winter. During the colder months, it’s especially important to maintain the dog housing toasty and dry. Keeping your dog’s health and happiness with a comfortable house is a top priority.
However, to keep your dog warm, you must also have the dog house ready. The question is, do you know how to keep a dog house warm in the winter? Here are some of the best methods for retaining heat there throughout the colder months.
Useful Tips for a Dog House
What can you do to prepare a dog house insulated for the winter?
- Repair the cracks in the dog house.
- Move the dog house to a more convenient spot.
- Always make sure the kennel is on stilts.
- Make use of an external covering.
- Get cozy bedding for the pet house.
- Turn up the heat in the dog house.
- Invest in an already insulated premade house.
The normal dog’s core temperature is between 101.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Taking your dog to the vet is a must if its temperature drops below 99 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, you should keep your dog’s home at a comfortable temperature. There’s good news: it’s simple to implement. Here are some things you can do to keep a dog kennel warm in winter.
Fix the cracks in the dog house
Examine the dog house’s state of repair with extra care. In particular, you should look for holes or fractures in the walls. The cold winter air may seep in through the tiniest crevice in the walls, rendering even the strongest insulation useless. Before the winter season arrives, you should get the cracks patched, no matter how minor they may be. You should use non-hazardous materials to plug in any gaps the wind can penetrate. As a result, your dog will be protected from the wind and kept toasty and cozy even in the freezing temperatures outside.
Shift the dog house to an ideal location
The kennel’s placement is crucial in providing adequate protection from the cold for the pet. It’s better to relocate the pet house to a warmer spot when winter comes around.
This may be done on the side of the house protected from the wind, under an awning, or even in the garage. It will help you keep your pet warm in the shelter all winter.
Keep the dog house elevated
The spot where the dog house will go should have warm, dry ground. Cold temperatures can make the earth unusable in some regions. One good way to stop this from becoming a problem is to add insulation under the dog home and raise it up off the ground. Straw or wood chips can be used as a cushion between the ground and the base. The dog housing should be raised at least 3–4 inches from the ground.
Use an outside covering
You may take several measures to protect your dog from the harsh winter weather. Protecting the dog house’s roof and walls from the elements is a smart move. For this covering, you must choose the proper material. The finest house cover is composed of synthetic materials since these provide a barrier against air and moisture, keeping the heat. Sealing tape works great for securing the covering. It can be stored away till next winter and then put back to use. To avoid problems with water damage, mildew, and rotting wood, simply install the covering correctly.
Get comfortable and warm bedding
In addition to the other suggestions, here’s what to put in a dog house for warmth. Investing in high-quality bedding material is essential for providing warmth and comfort. You can get all the materials you need to make your pet comfy bedding on the Internet. You should provide the dog’s home with a bed, blankets, and towels. Any time your dog feels weary or chilly, he or she will be happy to retreat to the dog home and snuggle up on the comfy bedding.
Heat the dog house
There are a plethora of options to choose from when shopping for heating equipment. To keep the dog home toasty on cold winter nights, you can use heating pads. Use PVC tubes to protect electrical cables from your chewing pet. You might also come across mattresses that use electricity. But the greatest product for heating a dog house in the winter is the one that works with your pet’s personality. The use of heating pads that don’t require electricity may be preferable. These pads are made to continuously release heat for a number of hours, keeping the shelter toasty throughout that time.
Talk to a dog house design specialist
Every dog should be treated with the finest of everything, especially in tough climates. You should go straight to an expert if you want a good home for your pet. You may find dog homes and accessories of all shapes and sizes in abundance at online retailers. Have a meeting with a design expert, if available, at your local pet store to receive professional advice on insulating a doghouse for winter or how to create a unique structure for your dog. You may get in touch with these experts by filling out an online form, calling them, or sending them an email.
Buy a ready-made insulated dog house
A ready-made insulated dog house is the best option since it incorporates all our ideas for keeping your dog house warm. These are pricey, but they have everything you could need built in: insulated walls, an elevated platform, a waterproof exterior, and in some cases, even safe built-in heaters. For your pet’s safety, especially if it is not a cold-hardy breed, we advise purchasing an insulated dog home if you want to leave it outside during the winter.
Monitoring the temperature of your dog’s house
You should get an indoor/outdoor thermometer like the ThermoPro TP65, which includes a remote temperature probe if you’re worried about the temperature in your dog’s house. They won’t break the bank and will help you rest easier.
The display unit is placed in a convenient location, such as over the sink or by the back door, and the remote temperature measuring probe is set up in your dog’s kennel.
This way, you can monitor the temperature inside your dog’s home without going outdoors.
The ThermoPro TP65 has a 24-hour minimum/maximum feature, so you can observe how low the temperatures get overnight, and it can also measure humidity levels in the dog’s housing. Keep in mind that your dog should always have access to water, so if the temperature drops low enough for the water in its dish to freeze, you may want to invest in a heated dog water bowl.
If you have many dog homes, the ThermoPro TP65 is an excellent option because it can function with up to three sensors simultaneously.
FAQ About Keeping a Dog House Warm
Here are a few questions you may be wondering to find an answer to. Hopefully, it will be useful.
Can a dog sleep in a dog house in the winter?
Yes, but a dog will require protection from the elements, including cold and damp weather. Give your dog a warm, dry place to rest with an airtight doghouse that is elevated a few inches from the ground and has a flap over the door.
Can a dog house with cedar chips keep a dog warm in winter?
Wood chips – specifically those made from cedar or pine – are another safe option for most dogs. You can give a warm spot by using cedar or pine shavings to conserve body heat.
Will straw help keep dogs warm in winter houses?
Straw is a cheap insulator and provides good bedding if your pet must spend time outside. It prevents moisture buildup and helps the animal keep warm. Hay loses certain characteristics with time which is why you should put a lot of straw on the shelter floor for the animals.
Is a tarp able to keep a dog kennel warm in winter?
Another alternative that is often safe for dogs is wood chips, particularly cedar or pine. The wood shavings you put in his doghouse, whether cedar or pine, will trap his body heat, making it a cozy retreat.
Keeping Your Pet Comfortable
A dog house is the next logical step if you and your family have decided to let your pet inside is not an option. To keep your pet comfortable, though, you should follow the guidelines we’ve provided. Despite the high price, it’s well worth it to have peace of mind knowing your dog is safe from the weather.
How about keeping your dog warm in the winter without using electricity? To what ends did you put your efforts? Please share your experiences, both the good and the bad, especially if they involve methods not mentioned above.
Britta Thygesen
A passionate dog owner and a full-time certified dog trainer. Aspires to make Doggolab a go-to place for all the doggo info. Shares personal experience and professional knowledge.
