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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Could my dog be cold at night?

38 replies

craftyminer · 15/02/2022 22:21

My springer spaniel sleeps in his crate in the kitchen at night and I'm wondering could he be cold. We have a thermostat thing in the kitchen that's linked to my phone. I woke up cold last night and turned the heat on from my app (so from bed). It said the kitchen was only 13 degrees. Should i be tucking him in with a blanket?!

OP posts:
spotcheck · 15/02/2022 22:27

Does he have a blanket? I would absolutely have an extra blanket in on cold nights.
I had an old folded duvet for my boy when nights got cold

tillyandmilly · 15/02/2022 22:30

Why is he in a crate in a cold kitchen ? - my lovely dog has a fluffy dog bed in my bedroom!

Iheartmysmart · 15/02/2022 22:34

My cocker spaniel wears a jumper to bed when it’s really cold especially when he’s just been clipped. He can choose where he sleeps and if it’s really chilly he makes himself a nest out of the blankets on the sofa.

Bebeschitt · 15/02/2022 22:34

We use an old double duvet (with old covers for easy washing) and she crawls under a layer at bedtime. She totally disappears and is still covered when the first person gets up.
Can you donate an old duvet or go to a charity shop for one? Even if he isn't an oddball like my dog, he might appreciate a nest.

Honeyroar · 15/02/2022 22:36

Our kitchen gets freezing cold at night. We put fleece rugs on the dogs at night and an extra blanket for them to snuggle into if they want.

You could put a blanket over the crate. That would help.

Original poster
craftyminer · 15/02/2022 22:37

I would LOVE him to sleep on a lovely doggy bed on the landing and have tried that but he's so restless and wanders around all night nudging people. He's like a child who needs to be put to bed. He has a blanket in his bed but i don't actually put it over him. I will from now on and i suppose he can wriggle out of it if he gets too hot.

OP posts:
FantasticFebruary · 15/02/2022 22:37

He'd be much more comfortable on your bed with you... how can you resist?

bjjgirl · 15/02/2022 22:38

Don't let him in your room! Cover the create with a blanket and pop a duvet in his bed,
He will be fine

Original poster
craftyminer · 15/02/2022 22:40

I have a blanket over the crate but not over the front part. I suppose that provides some insulation. Will deffo tuck him in from now on.

I really would love him to sleep up here with us but he honestly doesn't sleep. A few times I've put him to bed and not locked the crate properly and without fail he's up nudging me and then leaping off the bed indicating he wants to go to bed. (His own bed).

OP posts:
WaltzingToWalsingham · 15/02/2022 22:40

Hot water bottle, with a cover on?

Original poster
craftyminer · 15/02/2022 22:43

I feel like a hot water bottle would be hard for him to move away from whereas a blanket he could just move from under it.

OP posts:
Cherrysherbet · 15/02/2022 22:47

My three sleep in bed with me and dh! They don’t care at all if we get cold when they hog all the duvet!

Definitely give extra blankets!

BGJO · 15/02/2022 22:51

Ddog has just recently started scratching to get under the covers of a night time, he snuggles right until the back of my knees and I love it Smile

SirVixofVixHall · 15/02/2022 22:54

@BGJO

Ddog has just recently started scratching to get under the covers of a night time, he snuggles right until the back of my knees and I love it Smile
I really miss my old doggie doing this. Ddog that i have now doesn’t like my bed.
jowly · 15/02/2022 22:55

I think he's trying to tell you he'd prefer to be closer to you OP

Our old girl pretty much sleeps where she wants. In her bed at the foot of ours mostly.. sprawled across the floor if she's hot, or jumps up and snuggles up in the early hours in winter

Love her 💛

Sunnytwobridges · 15/02/2022 23:11

My two sleep in the kitchen as well in a crate. All of my other dogs have slept wherever they wanted two but these two are restless and wouldn't stay put all night and they would wake me up. So I always put a blanket in their crates that they scrunch up so they can snuggle in it.

lisaandalan · 15/02/2022 23:17

Mine all sleep with us, soon get used to not fidgeting around. X

kittenkipper · 15/02/2022 23:22

1- don't forget that dogs have fur coats. The idea that they need loads of blankets etc is very modern. 13 degrees with a blanket, in a blanket covered crate, with a body covered in fur is fine. Is he crying? Whinging? Or does he happily sleep through the night in his crate and you are assigning human thoughts and assumptions upon him? 13 degrees for a dog is fine unless he is telling you otherwise.

  1. Please please please don't give him a hot water bottle. Should the worst happen and the bottle burst the scalds and pain are not worth it. Dogs don't know not to crush/ move it with their best "hand" ie- their mouth. It's long since I worked in a vets but it did happen (mainly to puppies who cried in the night and then used the bottle as mother and presumably tried to suckle) and it's not a risk Id take.
  1. A crate is a sensible place to have him sleep. A crate or in your room with a lead nearby is best practice. Basically if a fire were to break out, if he's in a crate he can't run and you/ the fire brigade can find him. In your room with a lead you can get him fast without him hiding. In worst case scenario's dogs panic and hide- under beds/ behind wardrobes/ wherever they can- and best outcomes always come from homes where the dog is in x place or with the owner. Keep him in the crate if he can't be next to you.
USaYwHatNow · 16/02/2022 00:03

Our pooch sleeps in a crate downstairs in the kitchen with an insulated blanket over the crate and lots of blankets inside her crate.

I'd love for her to sleep with me, however we have a jealous cat and they wind each other up overnight, leading to her getting over excited and peeing on the carpet and them generally making a racket. She also does the same as your dog but rather than nudging everyone, she likes to sleep in between legs which is uncomfortable on the hips!

When she's in her crate, she sleeps well throughout the night and the cat gets a bit of peace to come and go as he pleases.

We tried to let her have free rein of the house and she ended up pooing and weeing everywhere multiple times a night, I think she genuinely feels safe and secure in her crate.

NewYearCalavicci · 16/02/2022 00:11

Can you rasie his crate a few inches off the floor , if its anything like my kitchen the foor is much colder than a few inches higher.
a few brick/old books or a couple of thick door mats Obviously make sure very steady and can't fall.

Branleuse · 16/02/2022 00:17

Spaniels have long fur so hes probably ok as long as hes off the ground a bit

Susu49 · 16/02/2022 00:27

You can get self heating blankets for dogs and cats. These are typically fleecey and have a thermal foil lining inside which reflects body heat back to them. I've used them for outdoor cats to lie on before and theyre pretty good.

You could also warm up his bedding before bed by putting them on a radiator or something.

And if you're still concerned I'd look at getting a teepee or a covered bed for him which will help trap his body air around him.

A sheepskin to lie on in bed will also be really snug- you buy seconds direct from suppliers which are sold at a discount for pet use.

ErrolTheDragon · 16/02/2022 00:30

Our dog is impossible to sleep with (as I know from holidays) fidgeting and snoring - he sleeps downstairs in the kitchen. It's a bit warmer than yours but he's a 16yo shorthaired dachshund so not as thick fur. I cover him at night but he usually gets out for a drink - but then buries himself again. He's got a furry blanket on the bed, then a 'duvet' which is actually a thin old pillow, then an old cot blanket over that. The pillow having a bit of structure makes it easier for him to burrow under than blankets that can get too bunched up.

Honestly, make sure yours has some suitable bedding and he'll be fine.

TheSongAboutMe · 16/02/2022 00:35

My dogs would be cold, I’d be freezing.

We set the thermostat to 19 overnight at this time of year so it doesn’t get too cold for them. And they snuggle up to each other and obviously have bed/blankets.

Hydrate · 16/02/2022 00:39

Can you put a heated dog bed in the crate? Or could he wear a dog sweater?