BRNDL Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 So, the temperature is dropping overnight and my wife wants to bring the dog indoors into the heated house. At the minute the pup lives in the conservatory and the temperature usually mimics that of the outdoors. If at all, freezing, frost or snow should I need to bring my dog into warmth overnight? What do you guys do on cold winter nights with the dogs sleeping arrangements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Unsure about pups,but my two springers live outside all year round, they sleep in a dog kennel raised off the floor with a baffle plate in and rubber conveyor belt flooring,if below freezing I will put shredded paper in also,they have been ok to -16 or thier abouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Well my lab is 13 months. She has a proper bed with blankets ect for warmth if needed. I am guessing leaving them open to the elements toughens them up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJL4 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Until a recent spate of dog thefts in the area all my dogs were outside in a kennel/run all year round and thrived on it. They now also sleep in a conservatory (including a 6 month old Lab pup) and I foresee no problems with the cold. Labs very quickly adapt to cold weather and if anything when kennelled prefer being out than in as they will often find inside the house too warm. DaveL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Unsure about pups,but my two springers live outside all year round, they sleep in a dog kennel raised off the floor with a baffle plate in and rubber conveyor belt flooring,if below freezing I will put shredded paper in also,they have been ok to -16 or thier abouts. Where do you get the shredded paper at? I work in an office so I have access to as much as I want, but I have never tried this as bedding with my cocker. Do they not drag it out into the run? My cocker stays out all year round, I would be scared to take him inside as it would be like a hurricane hitting the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) Get the shredded paper from work,only use when freezing. Straw rags or anything similar will do. They cant drag it out as its in the sleeping compartment with a baffle - draft plate in. Dogs live oustside and people inside are my thoughts on the matter,after all its bad enough cleaning up after myself nevermind two working not pet springers. Edited November 7, 2013 by Albert 888 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Get the shredded paper from work,only use when freezing. Straw rags or anything similar will do. They cant drag it out as its in the sleeping compartment with a baffle - draft plate in. Dogs live oustside and people inside are my thoughts on the matter,after all its bad enough cleaning up after myself nevermind two working not pet springers. I don't have a baffle on the sleeping compartment. But if he drags it out, I could always clean it up the following day. I must try the shredded paper soon, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scutt Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) Don't use rags or old towels etc the dogs can chew them up and swallow strands and these can get tangled up in the gut a dead dog can be the result . When really cold I put the dogs into one kennel and they heat it up with body heat .Straw and the like does make a mess in the run but if you make the doorway into the kennel smaller buy placing a board along the bottom of the entrance this can help keep the straw in. Edited November 7, 2013 by scutt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Well my lab is 13 months. She has a proper bed with blankets ect for warmth if needed. I am guessing leaving them open to the elements toughens them up? Can 100% tell you your Lab will be fine outdoors as long as its out of the wind and rain and it don't spend half its life indoors in front of the fire (which isn't wise). My Lab comes in the house for short periods but soon gets too warm and wants to go back to his Kennel for a proper kip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) Dogs are very hardy and as long as their housing is dry and out of the wind they will be fine with the cold temperature. They are also very adaptable, so if your missus wants to treat it to a night in then there's no harm done - nothing wrong with the whole family buying into the 'pet dog' bit. Mine are both workers, but they are also family dogs. There are strict boundaries, of course. edit: Must learn to spell check first Edited November 7, 2013 by Paul T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remmyman Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 So, the temperature is dropping overnight and my wife wants to bring the dog indoors into the heated house. At the minute the pup lives in the conservatory and the temperature usually mimics that of the outdoors. If at all, freezing, frost or snow should I need to bring my dog into warmth overnight? What do you guys do on cold winter nights with the dogs sleeping arrangements? 'Working dogs' need to be conditioned physically to inclement weather. As has already been said dogs need to live outside for the majority of their time so long as their quarters are draught/weather proof. It's also essential to towel them off before they go to bed for the night! Shredded paper,wood shavings etc are OK if they are changed regularly, particularly if damp. There's also far more chance of unwanted visitors to when these mediums are used. For my money a proper 'vet bed' is the perfect bedding, great insulation even when damp,easily washed and dried (quick turn around time) and unattractive to mites/fleas etc. Any vet will tell you that so long as the above conditions are met then any working breed of dog will live a longer ,fitter and healthier life kennelled outdoors due to their coat being thicker, less thermal shock due to sudden changes in temp and a more natural environment Regards Remmyman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) 'Working dogs' need to be conditioned physically to inclement weather. As has already been said dogs need to live outside for the majority of their time so long as their quarters are draught/weather proof. It's also essential to towel them off before they go to bed for the night! Shredded paper,wood shavings etc are OK if they are changed regularly, particularly if damp. There's also far more chance of unwanted visitors to when these mediums are used. For my money a proper 'vet bed' is the perfect bedding, great insulation even when damp,easily washed and dried (quick turn around time) and unattractive to mites/fleas etc. Any vet will tell you that so long as the above conditions are met then any working breed of dog will live a longer ,fitter and healthier life kennelled outdoors due to their coat being thicker, less thermal shock due to sudden changes in temp and a more natural environment Regards Remmyman Why do you think it is essential to towel them off ? , I was always led to believe that they are better to dry naturally as toweling actually just pushes water through the top coat into the undercoat making matters worse . As for the OP I think you would be doing your lab more of a favor by getting him outside rather than thinking of bringing him in doors . A labs coat will soon take on a different condition when living out and will be far more comfortable during those long cold days sitting in a hide etc, mine is just about 8 months and he has happily been living out in a kennel since he was 12 weeks old. As has been said just give him a draft free sleeping quarters and he will be fine. Edited November 7, 2013 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remmyman Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Why do you think it is essential to towel them off ? , I was always led to believe that they are better to dry naturally as toweling actually just pushes water through the top coat into the undercoat making matters worse . As for the OP I think you would be doing your lab more of a favor by getting him outside rather than thinking of bringing him in doors . A labs coat will soon take on a different condition when living out and will be far more comfortable during those long cold days sitting in a hide etc, mine is just about 8 months and he has happily been living out in a kennel since he was 12 weeks old. As has been said just give him a draft free sleeping quarters and he will be fine. Apologies for not being clearer. By'towelling off' I was talking of 'blotting' a truly wet dog by a couple of passes with the 'grain' so to speak. Once a dog is given a once over for any injuries/thorns etc, is fed and put to bed as it were, it will spend a good while grooming itself. Surprisingly they will lick themselves virtually dry over a surprisingly short time. Regards Remmyman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Thanks guys...she will remain in the conservatory! Ideally I would like to kennel her but it is not achievable with her in doors chipping in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 All my dogs, lab, springer and cocker live out in the kennel. They love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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