 What is too cold?
#258413 - 12/02/2009 09:16 AM |
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Reg: 12-24-2008
Posts: 178
Loc: NewMarket, Al
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What temp is too cold for your dog to be out? Of course if its
below 60 I'm freezing. Luna loves the cold. I put cedar shavings
in her igloo and she pushed it all out and lays on the shavings
outside her house. My last Rotti did the same thing he pushed
out all the straw and laid on it outside his house to. I feel
bad that when I'm at work she is outside for 10 hours in her
kennel which is partially enclosed and she does have her igloo.
Maybe I'm being just a little to cold minded.
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Betty Reavis ]
#258435 - 12/02/2009 12:46 PM |
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Reg: 12-16-2007
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Loc: oklahoma
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I think it depends on what kind of coat they have.
Yote my husky is happier the colder it gets but Loki my hound shivers below about 40.
I think it also depends on if they are wet or not.
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Jennifer Lee ]
#258443 - 12/02/2009 03:07 PM |
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Reg: 12-24-2008
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Loc: NewMarket, Al
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Jennifer; Luna is a standard coat white gs. The temps tonight
will dip to the mid 20's. She sleeps in the house at night but
will go out in the early morning. I agree with you about dogs
that get wet, but Luna's kennel is my porch so not likely to get
wet. I worry about her being out when I'm at work and was wondering at what temp would be considered risky to be out in for
a number of hours.
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Jennifer Lee ]
#258445 - 12/02/2009 03:15 PM |
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Reg: 12-04-2007
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Loc: Upper Left hand corner, USA
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I think alot of it depends on environment, conditioning, and the dog. All dogs need to have opportunity to get dry and out of direct breezes in a place where they can increase/maintain their temperature. A well designed doghouse usually will do the job for just about any breed with fur (not single coated breeds) and enough mass to maintain body heat.
I walked out the other day to see my lab asleep in a 4 inch deep mudpuddle with her head on a rock pillow. It was 45 degrees and not windy, she has a perfectly good dog house available to her with lots of straw, yet she chose the mudpuddle. Five degrees cooler, or windy and she's usually sleeping in the doghouse.
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Betty Reavis ]
#258447 - 12/02/2009 03:22 PM |
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Reg: 12-16-2007
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Loc: oklahoma
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I don't know if there is an exact temperature. It depends on the dogs coat, size, body condition and shelter options.
Do you have another option for her on the coldest days?
Or could you add a heat lamp, heating pad or other source of warmth if you are worried?
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Jennifer Lee ]
#258448 - 12/02/2009 03:31 PM |
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Reg: 10-07-2009
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Loc: Denver, Colorado
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I've kept my dogs in during the day when the temperature is in the teens and the sun is not out (my own rule of thumb).
I did get home from work yesterday, it was cold and had started to snow. The old blanket I had put in the dog house was in the middle of the yard and looked like it was a good source of fun all day--a busy dog is probably a warm dog...
She was not in the dog house, but laying on a big pile of snow! I figure if she gets cold she'll figure out where to go.
BTW- medium coat white GSD
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Marcia Blum ]
#258449 - 12/02/2009 03:59 PM |
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Reg: 12-24-2008
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Loc: NewMarket, Al
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Marcia: I know what you mean abought blankets, Luna tore hers into a zillion pieces. so I switched to shavings.
Jennifer: I can't trust Luna with anything electric. She is now
22 months old and her body condition and coat are great. However
she still acts like a puppy especially since the weather has
gotton cooler.
Melissa: I have a mental picture of your dog in the mud puddle.
Luna is also a water lover and plays in her #4 wash bucket I use
for her drinking water but she plays in it regardless of the temperature. Since she is such a little devil maybe the cold will
cool her off!
Thanks for all your input.
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Jennifer Lee ]
#258451 - 12/02/2009 04:26 PM |
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Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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... Or could you add a heat lamp, heating pad or other source of warmth if you are worried?
This is probably the best thing I ever bought for my senior:
http://leerburg.com/742.htm
The cord is completely wound around with steel coils, and the mat itself is sturdy sturdy sturdy. It's also shaped in a way that it would be extremely difficult for the dog to pick up ... the sides spread out, kinda, so there is no place to get a grip to flip it. (You can see this design on the link.)
It's not hot hot ... it's just warm. You can put the wooly fitted cover on, but it would be fine not to. (My dog still lies on it when the cover is in the wash.)
I know I sound like an ad. I wish I had had this for every senior or OA dog I ever owned. If I had a dog in a barn or kennel, he would have this in part of his space. 
I have the big one, which easily fits two dogs if they cooperate. 
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Betty Reavis ]
#258452 - 12/02/2009 04:26 PM |
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Reg: 04-29-2004
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Loc: Northeast
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It was about 32' this morning in CT (the coldest morning so far) & my dogs were crazy nuts,as opposed to just nuts, when I took them over to the field to run. They were screaming,way more than usual,on the way. (Just thru the woods & over the hill behind my house,if it wern't such a steep hill I could walk over) This is the temp that they like the best. They were out in the yard this afternoon laying on the wet ground & loving it. Can't wait for the snow..they love the snow.
MY DOGS...MY RULES
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Re: What is too cold?
[Re: Anne Jones ]
#258455 - 12/02/2009 04:54 PM |
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Reg: 11-25-2009
Posts: 39
Loc: Calgary, AB
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I think conditioning makes a difference as well, if the dog is always outside during the day they get a winter coat. My dogs have always been outside dogs during the day and come in at night. They have a dog house they can share and my old GSDx usually sleeps in a snow bank. If it gets really cold (-25 degrees celsius which is about -15F) with major wind chills I will keep them inside but that is maybe 5-10 times a winter.
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