Dog Houses Aren’t Adquate in Freezing Weather
Last Friday I put up a post about a Yakima man and his family who were kicked out of their apartment because he reported to animal control that his landlord’s 14-year-old boxer had frozen to death.
The dog’s body had been laying outside its dog house and covered in snow for about 5 days.
The landlord kept the boxer outside on a short chain connected to its dog house 24/7. The temperature in Yakima stayed below freezing for about 10 days before the dog’s death. It was often below zero at night.
Since then I’ve seen a few discussions about whether or not dog’s should live outside, especially in the winter. Several people said that hay and blankets in the boxer’s dog house should keep it warm.
Not Biologically Adapted
Veterinarian Ernie Ford recently posted a video examining how cold it gets in a dog house by staying in one for 4 hours.
At the beginning of the video the temperature outside the dog house is is 14 degrees. The temperature in the dog house is 25 degrees.
After an hour the temperature in the dog house drops to 21 degrees. After 4 hours the temperature in the dog house is 17 degrees and 8 degrees outside.
Dr. Becker notes that it’s a calm night, but on windy nights the wind chill would lower the temperature even more. Note also that he’s in a well-built dog house with no cracks or openings that could let cold air inside.
After spending 4 hours in the dog house, Dr. Ford said, “No dog is biologically adapted to handle this type of cold.”
He also said dogs left outside in extremely cold weather suffer immensely, especially dogs with health problems and older dogs.
This video dispels the notion that dog houses adequately protect against the cold.. It may be a few degrees warmer than the temperature outside, but in subfreezing weather, the temperature in the dog house will still be unbearable for any length of time.
What do you think?
Maybe somebody should inform Yakima animal control about these facts as I understand the same man also has a German Shepard that is chained up outside and Animal control did nothing even though the mans other dog already died. Maybe all those people should spend a few nights in a dog in freezing weather.
Animal control knows about the other dog but won’t do anything because, they saw, it has adequate food, water, and shelter. If they wanted to take it they could but the law is too vague.
That is nonsense, I live in Alaska and I have seen hundreds of dogs live to be 14 or 15 yrs old, living their whole life in a dog house. Dogs live in properly insulated dog houses at sustained temps. of 50 below and more..
Sure, if a dog has an insulated, heated dog house it will be warm. Very few people have them though. And I don’t know what kinds of dogs you know live outside but if they are huskies/malamutes they are bred to tolerate cold. I’d never keep a dog outside when it’s 50 below though. No dog should be outside in that weather in my opinion.
Sled Dogs are what you are comparing to dogs that have little or no insulating fur undercoat…..YOU lay out in the cold WITHOUT hand and toe warmers and WITHOUT gloves, socks, hat/hood, and shoes/boots ~ just in a fur coat and in straw on plastic or wood……..AND YES, even sled dogs NOSES, EARS, and PAWS SUFFER. Even the IDIDAROD RACING DOGS WEAR BOOTIES.
((my Siberian Huskies lived to 23 years and NOT JUST a shortened 14))
If I go sit in a half a million dollar home on the floor, even inside..with NO HEAT..I would probably be uncomfortable too. A dog is fine outside as long as you do it the right way..I mean yes. They are animals but still need to he treated humanely…but the main part of that sentence was ANIMAL. If there is an attempt to insulate and a heart that isn’t made of ice..I think it would be almost impossible to NOT build a warm place for your dog to stay on nights when it is cold. I mean okay. If you live in a place where it’s a constant single digit temp at night..or teens even
Then yes..the dog should be able to come inside. Also depends on the dog. Siberian husky sleeps in the snow. And gets snowed on while it sleeps. Then wakes up and pulls wieght. So breed is a huge factor in this article. J hate to say it..but if your brain can rest easy with a loved part of the family outside in a bare bones dog hoise with no creature comforts whatsoever. Then that is not a human that is an animal who.should sleep outside and have hos dog taken from him. I’m in the middle of upgrading my dogs outdoor house (which he almost always wants to.be in unless were in the middle of a blizzard or it’s raining and storming like crazy! I mean lighting and thunder every 39 seconds. Stays in a 10′ long by 7′ wide by 6′ in height..8″ foundation posts on all corners and 2 In center. Sounds extreme but it took 2 and a half hours. There 12″ deep 8″wide holes with cement mixed un the whole..and a J-bolt sunk into the wet concrete. Once dry I placed my 4×4’s across. Nailed down..even set the nails even know it was being covered then used no more than 5 wheelbarrows of 3/4″ QP stone. Poured spread ab 3″ deep..compacted with a pushable cement roller. old metal fencing as rebar about 2″ from ground 2″ from surface..built thisnslab inside my foundation posts with bottom posts screwed into side of slab with concrete screws and anchors. of A simple 4’by 5′ by 4.5′ oak treated and insulated DOG HOUSE. I have a dog house heater from Amazon that was 130$ well stowed away in no reach of my dog..some 1″insulation foam boards on the floor secured correctly and at the least a moving blanket. And then a decent doggy door/wind breaking wall and I think a lab or a pit bull or any dog besides a toy breed would be more than fine in something like that. Oh and a small light outside the house and in the house..along with one mini ring outdoor camera with his bed in view. Which all together with an echo show was 80$. So pretty much this guy is talking about lazy animal owners. Dogs are okay outside if done right.
PERIOD.
OH AN.PS I HAVE A STRAYCHED TAPR AS A ROOF. NOTHING WANTS TO KNOW IT HAS NO.COVERAGE FROM ABOVE.
I have a Rat terrier (About 5-6yrs old) that I brought home to foster because he was very aggressive towards people and animals due to the abusive life he has lived. I’ve gotten him comfortable with the human family members but he and my other animals still have conflict. I have a German Shepherd that’s a senior & a pit mix that’s about 4, I also have 3 cats. So I can’t bring him inside for everyone’s safety his included. We are slowly showing progress, but in the meantime he’s outside. He has a nicely built dog house, insulated with a light inside and also a dog house heater, plenty blankets for cuddles & if it get colder I also put a sweater on him. I’ve also wrapped the doghouse in thick plastic on the outside. I live on the coast in Alabama, so it doesn’t ever snow really down here but it does get cold & idk I feel there’s still things I can do to make the doghouse warmer for him as he always looks cold to me. Every time I check the temperature inside the doghouse I can feel warm & cold spots. Due to the specific requirements of the heater I had to build the doghouse a bit bigger then I wanted to. I was thinking perhaps I could put plywood inside to create a wall and section off a large corner part of unneeded space & fill the space cavity in with more installation. I also want to add he does have flaps over the interior opening & another on the porch opening. Anyone with any other suggestions please let me know as I don’t want my little buddy suffering on cold nights. Also what are your thoughts on the safely to a heating pad mat for dogs? I’ve also considered that as well. Thank you for any help you can give. Another note: because of his aggressive past I’ve been informed that I can not adopt him out, so he is now forever mine. I’m fine with that as long as I can keep him happy, healthy & comfortable. Allowing animals to suffer when there are always better things we can do to help them is unacceptable. Again thank you for any advice & tips you can offer.
Thank you for saving this dog! As long as there are warm spots in the doghouse and he has plenty of blankets and a sweater he should be fine until it gets below freezing. I wouldn’t use and electric heating pad – too dangerous. You might want to add as much insulation as you can. You can also see if there are any rat terrier rescues near you. They should be able to find him another home with no other pets. Good luck!
Thank YOU UUUU FOR THAT COMMENT!!! How hard is it to bring your dog inside and keep it warm keep it alive and not suffering the bitter cold what is wrong with people
I want to get an igloo with heated pad in the garage with dog bed and moving blankets it dose get cold here and snow but I am trying not to get rid of animals since my wife has terrible allergies to the dogs that has built up in time to a major problem any other suggestions would be appreciated it is a Russian Shepard and a Catahoula
I agree no dog should be left outside in extreme cold or extreme heat even if their dog houses have heating or air conditioning.
I agree no dog should be left outside in extreme cold or extreme heat
KEEP DOGS INSIDE WHERE ITS NOT COLD