Winter is knocking at the dog. When the winter is inevitable, you must make the necessary preparations and precautions to keep your dogs warm. If your dogs are habituated to staying outdoors most of the time in summer, you must take extra considerations to keep dogs warm in winter.
Keep Dogs Warm in Winter: Can Dogs Get Cold?
Dogs are very similar to human beings in body structure and behaviour. Like us, dogs can get cold during winter if we do not take adequate care of them. The dog’s fur provides a considerable amount of protection, but this is not enough for extreme cold and long periods of time. You must make necessary preparations for the winter ahead.
Certain dog breeds, such as the Siberian Husky, Golden Retriever, Old English Sheepdogs, and Newfoundlands, can protect themselves from cold weather. Conversely, Beagles, Chihuahuas, and Greyhounds quickly lose heat and require protective clothes.
Signs That Your Dog Gets Cold
As a dog owner, you must check carefully your dogs to identify the signs of cold. The most common and noticeable signs are as follows:
- Initial shows discomfort.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Shivering.
- Hold their legs up.
- Barking or whining.
- Refrain from walking.
- Tuck their tail up.
- Behavior change.
- Lethargy.
- Lack of consciousness.
- Weakness.
- Refrain from eating or drinking.
10 Helpful Tips On How To Keep Dogs Warm in Winter
1. Never Keep Your Dog on an Empty Floor
You must provide floor bedding for your dogs during winter. Floors become cooler rapidly in winter, and a bare floor may reduce your dog’s body temperature and cause cold or other respiratory problems.
2. Surround the Dog House with a Blanket
Many people keep dog houses or temporary kennels outside the home, on the balcony, lawn, or the roof. During winter, when the environmental temperature decreases, you must take preventive measures for your lovely pets. If possible, keep the dog house or kennel inside a confined room. Otherwise, you can surround the kennel with a blanket or clothes to reduce the access to cold air.
3. Serve Your Dog Warm Food in a Heated Bowl
Liquid dog food becomes cold in the morning or night. You must serve it after it has been adequately warmed in a microwave oven or burner. Warm food also has many health benefits, such as being easily digestible, germ-free, and healthy.
4. Use a Stop Drafts to Door
Doors have a space at their bottom for easy movement. During winter, a considerable amount of cold air enters through these gaps. The cold air makes the dog vulnerable by reducing the room temperature. A single-stop draft to a door can solve the problem. The stop drafts restrict the entry of cold air into the dog house.
5. Covering the Dog With Big Banket Before Sleep
During extreme cold, you can provide a warm blanket for the dog, especially during sleeping time. The dogs must be habituated to sleeping with blankets. You can buy dog blankets from Amazon.
6. Give Proper Shelter at Outdoors
Most dogs spend their time outside the kennel or house, on the lawn or playground. During winter, you must provide a shelter to protect them from snowfall or fog.
7. Provide a Winter Jacket and Boots
Working dogs need winter jackets and boots while working on snow or glaciers. Dog jackets provide adequate heat support by keeping the body temperature at a specific level. Dog jackets may also be used during walking or jogging at the park.
8. Be Gentle with Exercise
Dog exercise must be comfortable and regular. Excessive exercise to warm the body will hamper standard body mechanisms, and dogs will become weaker.
9. Be careful With Your Dogs Near Open Fire
Many dog owners allow their dogs near the fireplace in winter. This is very helpful for the dogs to maintain their body temperature at a comfortable level. However, you must be cautious that the dog does not go close to the fireplace. Dogs’ fur is dry and highly flammable.
10. Closely Monitor Dog Behavior
Dog behaviour monitoring is one of the best tools for identifying abnormalities. During the first days of winter, you must observe your dog’s behaviour, feeding patterns, and sleeping habits. As an owner, you can locate the problem and respond to the dog’s needs.
Final Talks on Keep Dogs Warm in Winter
Winter is crucial for dogs. Dogs in temperate countries are habituated to it, and certain breeds of dogs need extra care and management during winter.
I have highlighted basic management features for your precious dogs’ upcoming winter management. You can contact me or see other articles on my website for more information.
