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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

Keeping a dog warm

34 replies

OldSpeclkledHen · 07/11/2023 15:59

Any help:advice please!

Recently rehomed 7yo Heinz 57 (mostly terrier) and I thought this dog parenting would be a piece of p!ss! (After owning horses for 20 years 😂) How wrong was I?!

So my house is bloody freezing, and last night it was supposed be about 6/7 degrees (but in reality it was a lot colder)

I did relent and put on his Ruff n Tumble drying coat (after swearing to myself dogs don't need coats!) as poor chap was shivering (mean mum) even with heating on (he's quite lean so no fat to help insulate him)

I've ordered him an Equafleece today, but I'd really only like to use that in the depths of winter when it's freezing- ALL the time! (As in I don't want him to get used to wearing it now - and then not feel the real benefit in January time iyswim ...?

Do people use old duvets as beds? He does have two dog beds, but I'm just a worrier, and I want him comfortable... and warm!

Pics for dawg tax (and because he's scrummy 😂)

Thanking you in advance 😊

Keeping a dog warm
Keeping a dog warm
Keeping a dog warm
OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 07/11/2023 16:03

If its that cold at night, I'd put the equafleece on him, and get a pet bed heated pad for his dog bed - we got one for an elderly cat who slept in the utility room by choice and it made a big difference to her and was v cheap to run. As a terrier, he might burrow into a folded duvet which is worth a try

Bananaman123 · 07/11/2023 16:11

I always think of how miserable I am when my hands and feet are cold so I constantly check my dogs paws and ears and if cold give her a blanket. In fact she’s currently on the sofa next to me fully under a warm blanket. I buy the soft ones from primark or teddy from dunelm. She’s a rescue and lived in a freezing barn so I never want her to feel cold. If she’s in the house alone I’ll put the heating on timer for her too

TheCompactPussycat · 07/11/2023 16:15

He's a gorgeous doggo!

My dog absolutely loves her cozy cave. She only gets out of it to either lie in front of the fire or curl up on an armchair. She has one downstairs for during the day and one up on our bedroom floor during the night. There are loads on the market but we got these ones 5 years ago and they are still going strong.

Snoozer Cozy Cave® Dog Beds - Snoozer UK (snoozerpetproducts.co.uk)

Snoozer Cozy Cave® Dog Beds

The Snoozer Cozy Cave® is the bed that started it all – the original dog cave bed! Provides sense of security Warm, soft sherpa interior Premium cover fabrics Stylish colours and patterns Made in the USA One-year warranty Ready to find the Snoozer Cozy...

https://www.snoozerpetproducts.co.uk/collections/snoozer-cozy-cave-dog-beds

Lavender14 · 07/11/2023 16:20

Our boy is in a crate at night in the warmest room in our house.

In winter I put a cover over the crate for extra insulation to make it more like a den and we use lots of old thick fleecy throws for bedding so he's well up from the ground and can snuggle under them if he needs to. We tried him with actual dog beds and he just destroyed them but he's fine with blankets.

I just focus as well on trying to keep the room warm for him, thick curtains and blinds, it's our kitchen so use of the oven etc helps along with the radiators and heating works on a timer so we can have it on for a bit overnight so it doesn't get too cold.

Could you crate train and then insulate the crate? Would give a smaller area to need to heat.

RoseDog · 07/11/2023 16:22

My dog wears her equafleece in the house when it's cold and she sleeps under the duvet between me and dp at night 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not the help you were looking for 😂

IVFNewbie · 07/11/2023 16:23

Do you have a slow cooker? Keeping that on at night whilst you're cooking would take the edge of the cold off.

jlpth · 07/11/2023 16:25

I'd have him in bed with you

BeadedBubbles · 07/11/2023 16:28

Could you crate train and then insulate the crate? Would give a smaller area to need to heat.

Please don't do this. I always think it must be awful for dogs to be locked up and unable to regulate their own temperatures where possible by moving to warmer/cooler places in the house. Or coming to find you if they feel unwell.

My dogs move around on a night - snuggle up to us if they're cold, move to different dog beds if they're uncomfortable, lie on flagstones if they're hot etc.

If your dog is shivering then you really need to do something. As a previous poster said, you can get heated pads for dog beds. I'd also give them an old duvet to snuggle into. Or you could always let them on your bed to steal your body heat!

margotrose · 07/11/2023 16:37

My beagle feels the cold and we have loads of thick Sherpa type fleece throws on the sofa for him to burrow under - he lives under them at this time of year, normally snuggled up with a cat or two for extra warmth.

He doesn't like wearing jumpers so we don't use those but he does sleep in the bed with us at night so he stays warm that way.

flexigirl · 07/11/2023 16:41

We put a hot water bottle in with our whippet in his little bed when we first had him ( until he was sleeping between us in bed where hes really cosy now 😂

Lavender14 · 07/11/2023 17:27

BeadedBubbles · 07/11/2023 16:28

Could you crate train and then insulate the crate? Would give a smaller area to need to heat.

Please don't do this. I always think it must be awful for dogs to be locked up and unable to regulate their own temperatures where possible by moving to warmer/cooler places in the house. Or coming to find you if they feel unwell.

My dogs move around on a night - snuggle up to us if they're cold, move to different dog beds if they're uncomfortable, lie on flagstones if they're hot etc.

If your dog is shivering then you really need to do something. As a previous poster said, you can get heated pads for dog beds. I'd also give them an old duvet to snuggle into. Or you could always let them on your bed to steal your body heat!

@BeadedBubbles my dog is able to come and go from his crate as the door is open. It's also big enough that there's space for his bedding section and for him to lie on the plastic base if he got too warm. We've the biggest size for a medium dog so he's lots of room to move and sprawl. Its just used as a cozy space, he's not locked in (plus he can undo the lock himself if the door was closed.)

It's easier for a dog to stay warm in a smaller den like space than an open room.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 07/11/2023 17:28

Mine had a haircut yesterday so is now sporting his woolly jumper 😂

JayAlfredPrufrock · 07/11/2023 17:29

My dog is my hot water bottle.

AuroraForever · 07/11/2023 17:36

We have a Heinz 57 rescue too! We’ve tried a jumper but when we put it on him he freezes like a statue until we take it off. So we have fleecy blankets on every sofa, chair and bed as he visibly shakes when he’s cold. He snuggles himself in and will kick them off if he gets too hot.

hattie43 · 07/11/2023 17:48

RoseDog · 07/11/2023 16:22

My dog wears her equafleece in the house when it's cold and she sleeps under the duvet between me and dp at night 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not the help you were looking for 😂

This

GrittyTunnocks · 07/11/2023 17:50

Lavender14 · 07/11/2023 17:27

@BeadedBubbles my dog is able to come and go from his crate as the door is open. It's also big enough that there's space for his bedding section and for him to lie on the plastic base if he got too warm. We've the biggest size for a medium dog so he's lots of room to move and sprawl. Its just used as a cozy space, he's not locked in (plus he can undo the lock himself if the door was closed.)

It's easier for a dog to stay warm in a smaller den like space than an open room.

Show quote history

We do this for boy Weimaraner. Crate is next to the radiator and so cozy I actually want to sleep in there myself. He moves from there to other options of normal bed, rug, upstairs landing etc. seems to work ok as long as old lady weim doesn’t get in there first. Once she’s in, he’s got no hope.

Jewelspun · 07/11/2023 18:47

He's only little. Get him a cave bed.

Puppytrashedmysofa · 07/11/2023 19:03

RoseDog · 07/11/2023 16:22

My dog wears her equafleece in the house when it's cold and she sleeps under the duvet between me and dp at night 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not the help you were looking for 😂

This.But on top of the Duvet🙂

Autumn1990 · 07/11/2023 19:09

I had one almost the same. It snuggled up to the bigger dog mostly. Fleece coats are ok but an old duvet in a cover and folded into a pad is usually a favourite bed. As long as they are not a chewer it’s fine and it’s easy to change the cover to keep it clean. Current elderly lab sulks when he’s not got a duvet.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 07/11/2023 19:10

Thank you for paying the Photo Tax. He's a stunner! 😍

As well as the suggestions of old duvets/fleece blankets/having him in bed with you, I'd like to add putting a think mat under his bed. It will help to keep his bed so much warmer.

StEtienne93 · 07/11/2023 19:12

My dog wears a house coat in cold weather, when the heating isn't on. I also put a warm snuggly blanket on her in the night, which she does stay underneath if it's chilly. Remember than they do have an inbuilt fur coat, so already have an extra layer than us.

JenniferJupiterVenusandMars · 07/11/2023 19:16

My rescue has this bed in front of the radiator, the choice of at least 5 chairs/sofa, the rug in front of the log burner, the wooden floor if she gets hot and a double thickness dog bed behind my chair. She moves around as she feels like, including crawling up under my throw on the recliner.
I don’t think she does too badly really 🙄😁
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Washable-Mattress-Calming-Anti-Slip-90x60x7cm

DonPeggyJoan · 07/11/2023 19:17

Awww what a beautiful dog!

Original poster
OldSpeclkledHen · 07/11/2023 20:46

Thanks everyone!

Unfortunately in bed with me is not an option, the cat HATES him enough as it is, so upstairs is hers, downstairs is his sigh

He had a hot water bottle today (wrapped in old blanket) and seemed happy with that, but it's not a long term solution

He is crate trained, so will invest in a crate to create a cosy space and maybe a duvet then ... There's plenty blankies around too 😂

Thanks every one, glad am not going soft in my old age 😂

OP posts:
Idratherbepaddleboarding · 07/11/2023 20:55

I have a lab who hates being warm so don’t have the cold issue but he does prefer his double duvet to a dog bed because he likes to sleep on his side with his legs out. The only downside is the duvet takes up a lot of space! At night he sleeps between us on top of the covers.