When the cold winter winds start blowing, you start thinking pretty seriously about how to keep an outdoor dog warm. Knowing how to keep our fur babies cozy and warm throughout the cold season becomes super important when the temperature drops outside.
Most dogs love to be outside at some point in the day – whether it’s playing and exercising on a long winter walk, or curling up into bed for the night in an outdoor kennel. But when temperatures drop, it’s time to take extra precautions and be more alert to your dog’s well-being and ensure their warmth and safety.
7 Tips On How to Keep An Outdoor Dog Warm
For most dogs, playtime and walks are their favorite time of the day. It’s their chance to let out all that extra energy, stretch their legs and bond with you.
You may worry that in the winter, your dog being outside in the cold does more harm to her than good. The truth is that by knowing how to keep your outdoor dog warm, you can ensure that she’s safe and enjoys her time out in the cold. Here are some tips to keeping your dog warm outdoors:
Tip #1 – Know Your Dog
There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to keeping your furbaby warm and safe in cold weather. It’s important to consider some factors regarding your dog’s physical well-being and habits.
If your dog is used to spending more time in a heated indoor space such as your home, consider that he will feel the cold in the same way you do. His size, weight, breed, hair length and hair color are also important factors in determining how well he can adapt to colder weather conditions. Darker colors attract sunlight better than lighter colors.
Long-haired and larger dogs like Huskies, Pomeranians and St Bernard’s are able to withstand much more severe weather conditions than Greyhounds or Chihuahuas, for example.
Plus the age and health of your dog will affect how much energy she uses to keep herself warm.
Tip #2 – Correctly Groom Your Dog
During the winter months, consider adapting your grooming method to suit the colder weather.
It’s always best to let your outdoor dog grow his hair to its full length in the winter. Your dog’s coat is his primary way of keeping warm, so avoid trimming it during the cold months.
When bath time comes around, remember to use warm water and wash your dog inside. Try to dry his coat fast and don’t let him outside until his hair is no longer damp. If the weather outside is chilly, your dog’s hair can freeze when it’s wet, and that can lead quickly to hypothermia or frostbite.
Finally, pay extra attention to your dog’s paws. You may want to trim the hair around the pads so that ice doesn’t build-up and cause unnecessary cold to your dog’s feet. It’s also a great opportunity to check for anything that may have become lodged in his paws and cause harm.
Tip #3 – Consider Warm Dog Clothing
Although you may feel embarrassed dressing your dog in a winter jacket, it might be a great option to help keep them warm during cold spells.
Jackets and jumpers usually work best for dogs with thin and short hair, but can occasionally cause overheating for long-haired dogs, particularly if they are very active during their outdoor playtime.
The QUMY Dog Boots Waterproof Shoes for Dogs come in eight different sizes. They also have rugged traction to avoid slips and are more comfortable than other bootie brands.
Tip #4 – Heated Bowls
In really cold environments, heated bowls help your dog enjoy constant access to water without fear of it freezing or being uncomfortably cold for him to drink.
Since heated bowls use electricity to power the internal heater, it’s a good idea to find a bowl that uses a chew proof chord. PETLESO’s Heated Dog Water Bowl features an anti chew plastic tubing to protect the power cord, and the bowl holds up to two liters of water.
Tip #5 – Adjust Your Dog’s Food
If your loved one is primarily an outdoor dog, he may be using a significantly higher amount of energy just to keep warm during winter. With the advice of your veterinarian, it may make sense to increase their food intake to make up for the extra calories burned throughout the day and night.
Tip #6 – Limit Your Time Outside
You can take all the precautions possible and dress your dog from head to toe, but sometimes it may just be too cold for your dog to be outside.
When the weather drops to extreme temperatures, it can put your fur baby at risk of illness and even death.
Consider cutting your walks down and always keep an eye on your dog while he’s outside in these extreme cold conditions.
If in doubt, bring them in for a few hours and let them warm-up again. An indoor dog enclosure is often the best option for smaller, shorter-haired dogs or for times when the temperature really drops too low.
Tip #7 – Know The Signs Of Danger
Sometimes the weather can drop drastically in just a few minutes. You might leave your dog outdoors for longer than intended and accidentally put her at risk. Check her ears and tail tips for signs of frostbite, which include discoloration, blisters, swelling and pain to the touch..
Other symptoms of hypothermia are shallow breathing, decreased heart rate, confused walking, dilated pupils, and blue gums and inner eyelids.
6 Tips On How to Keep An Outdoor Dog Warm in Its Own Dog House
Once playtime is over and it’s time for some rest, there are plenty of ways to make sure your dog comes back to enjoy a warm and cozy sleep in his outdoor dog house.
Tip #1 – Choose The Correct House for Your Dog
It may seem obvious, but customizing your outdoor house to your dog’s needs is the simplest way to keep him warm inside his dog house.
Here are some universal methods:
- House Style – Choose a house with a sloped roof that reaches over the entrance to avoid snow or rain from entering
- House Size – Use a dog house big enough for your dog to stand up without hunching and allow him to turn around comfortably. That said, extra space gives opportunity for a colder environment, so make sure it’s not too big.
- Door – The door should be large enough to allow him to enter, but small enough to stop too much cold wind blowing inside. Protect the door with a piece of carpet or plastic.
Tip #2 – Dog House Location
Where you place your dog house can have a drastic effect on how much heat it conserves.
By placing the dog house close to you home, you’ll block the wind from blowing into the dog house at least from one direction.
Raising the dog house 6 inches off the ground also makes for a warmer sleeping space. You can use cinder blocks or hay between the ground and dog house to give it that extra height.
For your peace of mind, it’s a good idea to be able to monitor the temperature of the dog house. With a thermometer inside the dog house you can easily keep tabs on your fur buddy.
The ThermoPro TP65 Indoor/Outddor Thermometer in particular is not only a wireless thermometer, but also checks the humidity inside your dog’s house. And it has a 24-hour minimum/maximum feature, which lets you see how low the temperatures drop overnight.
Tip #3 – Insulation
Insulation is a key factor in keeping the cold out of your outdoor dog house. Some houses come with pre-built insulation. You’ll want to make sure the floor, walls and roof are properly insulated to keep cold air out and warm air in.
Using weatherproof plastic wrap will stop rain and wind from entering. Similarly, repair any holes or gaps you find in the dog house. Foam sheets or foil faced insulation work well as permanent fixes.
If you use woodchips or blankets inside the dog house, it’s important to replace them whenever they become wet or dirty. You can maximize the warmth of the blankets by circling them into an O shape that your dog can enjoyably curl up into.
Avoid using straw inside the dog house itself, as straw can harbor sarcoptic mange mites.
Tip #4 – Share Your House Heat
If your dog’s house is close to your home, you can use dryer duct to direct heat from your house into your dog’s house. This will heat the air inside your dog’s house.
Using something as simple as dryer duct, you find a good place to withdraw and direct warm air from your house into your dog’s house. It takes some DIY skills, but not super difficult to do.
Also a fan near the entrance to your vent can help push the warm air in your house thru the duct into your dog’s house. The warm air can still make it into your dog’s house without a fan, it will just get there slowly.
Tip #5 – Electric Heating Options
When it comes to outdoor heating ideas for dogs, there are several electrical items that will really ramp up the temperature.
- Heating pads or kennel mats, unlike heated dog beds, are used to add extra heat to your dog’s outdoor house.
Place them between the floor of the dog house and the bedding or blankets that are used for extra warmth inside. You can also place them under the kennel itself in slightly warmer conditions. Or if you dog really likes warmth, place it on top of the blankets.
- Heat lamps and heaters are a less common option due to the concern of your fur buddy burning himself on the lamp or heater. But they are adapting to the market.
There are some great heaters on the market that take into consideration your dog possibly burning herself. The 
Tip #6 – Non-Electrical Heating Options
For those who feel their pet wouldn’t be suited to electrical cables and products, there are a few ways you can introduce heat into your dog’s kennel without electricity.
The K&H Microwavable Dog Bed Warmer is a non-toxic pad that lasts up to 12 hours. It’s a great simple choice for overnight.
If you like DIY projects, you can also fill a sock with rice and stick it in the microwave for a few minutes. When it’s nice and warm, it’s the same as a hot water bottle to see your dog through the night!
How To Keep An Outdoor Dog Warm At The Right Temperature
Every dog reacts differently to colder temperatures.
But as a general rule most dogs will be OK in temperatures above 45 F. Below this, and some dogs may begin to feel uncomfortable. Smaller dogs with short hair should be closely monitored once the temperature drops to around 32F.
When the weather drops below 20F, keep an eye out on your dog. In this temperature, hypothermia and frostbite can quickly occur.
Here’s a great cold weather safety chart put together by Pet Plan to visualize when cold is too cold for your dog:
By knowing how to keep your outdoor dog warm in the winter, you’ll give him the ability to enjoy playing and sleeping outdoors even when it’s cold. With a few simple adaptations, you can rest easy knowing your dog is safe and warm outdoors.