How to keep your dog safe outdoors during the cold winter

Outdoor dog ownership has come under attack in recent years, mainly because of winter conditions. However, it can also be done responsibly for the well-being and health of the dog.

Keeping a dog outside is not necessarily inhumane. In fact, for certain breeds of dogs, winter outdoor housing is perfectly acceptable because of their temperament and physical characteristics. We are not referring, of course, to small companion dogs or short-haired greyhounds for example. Many dog breeds prefer the freedom of the outdoors and are not bothered by harsher weather. Examples include herding dogs, sled dogs and nordic breeds. The story is also that not everyone has the opportunity to keep their dog indoors, however much they love it. Now that winter has really arrived, we’ve put together some important facts about keeping and caring for dogs outside. Here’s how to keep your pet safe through the winter.

Always have somewhere to retreat

One of the most important elements of responsible outdoor ownership is not just to let your dog out (or worse, tie them up) in the garden to fend for themselves the elements. All dogs need a good kennel and enough room to move around, as exercise keeps them warm. What makes a doghouse good or suitable for your pet? It is important that it is made of a material that is sure not to harm the dog. It should be roomy enough so that the dog can not only fit in it but also stand up, turn around and reach their full height. In winter, however, this is just the basics.

It’s important that it’s well insulated, preferably from underneath. So even if you have a limited budget for materials, make sure you can build a strong and durable doghouse for your pet. Ventilation is just as important as insulation, so don’t forget that! Another important consideration is to make sure that the doghouse is protected from rain and wind, and that it is cleaned thoroughly from time to time.

We also asked Dr. Edina Vada, a veterinarian, what she thinks is important in a dog house. She highlighted the following:

If possible, a doghouse should be insulated, relatively warm, protected from wind and rain, not too big (so the dog can curl up in it without leaving a large, area of nothing next to themselves), but not too small. Some are heatable. They are also very good, but you have to make sure that they are not overheated because just like dogs in the house, dogs outside are not good for the temperature difference.

Alternatives

As well as they can withstand the elements, they need a place to retreat to, where they can dry out and warm up a bit. If you think that your pet’s current home is not up to standards, try to improve it as soon as possible. If you can’t improve the situation at the moment, try to arrange for your dog to be able to go into the hallway if they feel the need.(Or somewhere safe and sheltered from the rain and wind, such as a woodshed or tool shed.)

It is also worth mentioning how to make your dog’s house more comfortable and functional. Although blankets and covers may seem like a good idea at first, unfortunately, they are not the best choice in wet and cold weather. Instead, straw or wood shavings are often recommended. That is because they dry out faster, don’t retain moisture and don’t freeze. At least not like a wet blanket that absorbs the rain that has run off the dog.

You also need some kind of pad under the puppy so that they not laying on the bare dog house, because obviously that alone is not enough. If you have a puppy that doesn’t chew things up, you can put in a dog bed or “vetbed” to keep them warm underneath. But if they chew things up, it may not be worth buying. In such cases, straw or hay is fine. With these, care should always be taken to ensure that they are sourced from a good source and that the internal and external de-parasitisation is continuous throughout the winter

– summarised Dr Vada.

Water can freeze and food can get drowned in water if you’re not careful

The topic of winter housing cannot be closed without talking about the situation of water and food. We won’t go into the feeding habits right now because of space limitations. You can read more about them for example in this article. It is advisable to place the feeding and watering bowls under cover. The latter requires special attention, as it is well known that in winter the water surfaces outside can easily freeze.

It is also important to change your dog’s water regularly (ideally twice a day, but at least once a day). However, when it comes to an outside doggo, a little extra care is needed in the winter months to ensure that fluids are always available. It is usually recommended that you take lukewarm water outside so that it doesn’t freeze so quickly. But Dr Vada warned of the dangers of water that is too warm:

If your puppy is outside all day, don’t bring lukewarm or even warm water from inside. You might think that this will be good for them because they won’t catch a cold and it will warm them up a bit but it’s not that simple. If you have a dog in a very cold place, out in the cold, warm or even lukewarm water can scald their throat. And that is definitely not good. So, I recommend that we offer a to us, slightly colder, cool water to a dog that is always outside.

You can also add some insulation around the water bowl. Or, you can consider buying heating pads to put under water bowls (specifically recommended for animal water bowls). It is worth adding that this is only safe for dogs that will not chew the cable. True, you can’t know this in advance, but you probably know your pet well enough to decide.

 It is also important to remember that even in harsh weather, a dog needs their owner’s company, whether they are kept indoors or outdoors. So don’t let a day go by without going out to play and pet them, apart from feeding and watering. Spending time together also gives you the opportunity to check that everything is OK with them and that they don’t need a warmer hiding place. Again, we would like to stress that almost all outdoor dogs need a daily walk, so don’t forget this!