Just a question does anyone know a way of keeping a 9 week old pup warm outside. It stays warm here most of the year. But for of the next month or so it will be cold. And she gets short walks and has to go to the bathroom. And she acts like she is freezing outside. I know about jackets. But she also is growing like a weed and I would be buying jackets every week. Any suggestions would greatly help.

How cold is cold?

Stephanie

It's Texas, really? It isn't that cold here. The coldest it has been thus far is well above freezing. On an extreme day during December or January it might get in the 20's. The pup will be fine at 9 weeks as long as you are not leaving it out for a prolonged period of time without shelter.

I know they look all sad and shiver but they will be fine.

It is about in the 40's in the morning. I also live right on the water so colder and a lot more windy. I just take her out early because I leave early for work. But even in the evening she is cold about 1600 it is already cold. Because I live on the water it is always colder. She just shakes real bad and does not want to play. But I guess y'all are right she is indoor most of the time I live in a apartment so she gos out to play and train and use the restroom. I live in Seabrook, TX.

 Quote: trevor morris

Stephanie

It's Texas, really? It isn't that cold here. The coldest it has been thus far is well above freezing. On an extreme day during December or January it might get in the 20's. The pup will be fine at 9 weeks as long as you are not leaving it out for a prolonged period of time without shelter.

I know they look all sad and shiver but they will be fine.

I agree with Trevor Stephanie, I live in a place where sometimes it is so cold -45c I've seen when the dog goes for a pee it freezes before it hits the ground, urine icicles! .. Well just kidding on that part but it can be still darned cold! So IMHO 40f is really not something I'd be concerned about.

That being said most dogs should not be left outside for long periods in freezing weather - like humans, they can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite. Safe to say most dogs (outside of hardy Northern breeds like working mushing Malamutes or Canadian Eskimo dogs then they get aclimatized to it) need adequate shelter from the elements and insulation against cold weather. Most PSD Labs and GSDs are kept in outside kennels at their handlers homes just so that they are aclimitized to the weather as they need to be able to work in all types of weather.

I mostly keep my Malinois inside but my old Malamute was an outside kennel dog.

So if you have a kennel dog that has to be outside for extended periods of time this is what I did. I had an insulated home made dog house for him and I got a bale of straw to use as bedding. The straw really works well to insulate a animal from the cold and they usually don't tear it apart or eat it. Like they could with say a blanket or even a dog bed. You just have to keep refreshing it every couple of weeks in the winter as it breaks down with the dog treading and lying on it constantly.

The dog always needs a source of fresh H2O and when it is frozen in a the bucket they can't drink it. So that is big problem if you need to leave a dog in a kennel all day. You can get these water heaters that you can place in the bucket they are like small hot H2O tank heaters that you plug in. They work well but you have to be careful that the dog doesn't chew the wire. One thing that people over look is antifreeze I know of a few dogs that I know that have lapped up antifreeze it is TOXIC! If a dog is thirsty they will drink anything, and antifreeze is just to easy for them to get into. So keep the lid secure and clean up spills pronto!

If you need to keep you dog in a crate in a vehicle when it is cold. You need something on the floor that insulates them from the floor of the crate and you need to use a old Duvet or sleeping bag that you can throw over the outside of the crate. They can easily go the normal time in a crate as their own body heat will heat up that small space, it works the same as a insulated dog house. Remember about wind chill as well! So don't transport them in a open vehicle like a pick up, trailer etc as the wind will magnify the cold.

I found that my old Malamute would eat a lot more when it was cold too, I know he burnt a lot more energy when it was cold the same as I would working outside in the cold.

Keep warm everybody!

Stephanie,

We only have a couple more mornings in the 40's and it's suppost to warm up, so I wouldn't worry about going out and buying a jacket just yet. Your pup is just getting over being sick so it could be why she is reacting to the cold right now.

Thanks everyone for the help. I think she will live she is indoor all the time thanks

Peggy we might have to meet one day. I love your dog were only about 20 mile from each other

sounds good to me

That would be fun Pm me I will give you my info. Maybe we can find a good park half way.