Hi everyone,
I wasn't sure where to put this.

I live in Vermont (land of 5 below without the windchill.)

I plan to keep my dog inside. What is the "proper" care of a dog in the winter? I know GSD's have a double coat and can withstand the cold somewhat.

Do you put sweaters/coats on the dogs? If so, at what temperature. What about boots/shoes?

Please forgive my ignorance - I grew up in the heat.

Carolyn

Writing from Maine... no sweaters, you will get bit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, my dogs are house dogs. They like it when it is cold out. Their coat insulates them and they are only out for short periods of time anyway. The only breeds I see have problems are short coated dogs like pugs or boxers..

Maine,
WOW! I heard it is beautiful there. (We haven't been yet).
So, you don't put sweaters on them at all? Ok.
what about their feet? Isn't it possible for the snow to "burn" them after it reaches a certain temperature?

At what temperature, should it just be "potty and back in?"

Carolyn

I live in a northern climate and my dogs are living in the house. My airedales usualy love the cold and snow. Sometimes we use the botties because it keeps the snow from balling up between the toes. My thin skined pitbull however will not stay outside any longer then she has too. But she will still go for a walk or a run outside in the coldest weather. She wears a coat when the weather is realy cold.

I was told if you use a 60 watt lite bulb in a protected fixture in thier doghouse it would be enough to keep them warm. also a flap on thier door to keep the wind out. I taught Max to open the back door to let himself in. I can't get him to close it though. then again I havn't been able to get my kids to do it either.

Do you really want to sleep with the light on all night <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ? And lets not forget that heat travels UP. In the long run it is much better and cheaper to get a dog heating pad. That said, the light bulb thing is not uncommon.

Fredericton, New Brunswick, CANADA here! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Land of -30 CELCIUS (approx -20 F.)...
My Dobes and Giants spend most of their time in their insulated sleeping boxes (inside large runs)in our barn. At -10 C. (14 F.?) in the sunshine they run for a few hours in our compounds. The Dobes shiver a bit more quickly than the Giants, however I've never put clothes or footwear on them. Far too embarrasing! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> We always run them with a mate so they will exercise each other to keep warm. We have also found supplementing with a small cube of beef fat helps them to maintain a good weight and keeps their coats gleaming! As with any thing new, good conditioning and climatizing is important. You're far better off to allow him/her a little outdoor discomfort when you have an option, than to have it imposed on them by accident when they're not used to it at all. By accident, I mean, car accident or power outage... it can happen!
Happy snowman making! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Tammy

dogs have two eyelids per eye, an inner and outer. its for fightin and sleepin anywhere <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I like the heating pad idea, but as far as my wife is concerned , Max is the heatin pad <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

when it is really cold you will know when they want to come back in anyway. I do remember last year when we had a really bad cold snap that my female was out to pee and was standing on three legs to do it. That is cold. I suppose booties would be an option there, but in that weather I am not exactly in the mood to be outside either, so we just spend a bunch of time indoors.