Caring for Outdoor Dogs In The Winter

Our winters' can be very harsh especially for outdoor dogs. It is important that dog owners who choose to have their dogs outside take special care in the colder months to ensure their dogs health.

Short haired dogs should not be left outdoors over the winter and long haired dogs should be groomed properly to prevent any debris from affecting their natural insulation.

Proper shelter is one of the most important factors; it is essential to the health of the dog for their dog houses to be properly equipped with enough bedding to protect them from the cold.

The first step is to raise the dog house from the ground or at least place down a mat between the bottom of the floor and the bedding to protect from the cold earth.

You should put blankets and a minimum of 8 inches of straw but the more straw the better.

If you want to go that extra mile you can put straw around the outside of the dog house and place a tarp over top. That will ensure your pooch is nice and toasty warm.

Make sure you regularly change the bedding to prevent it from becoming dirty, wet and mouldy. If a dog is uncomfortable they are more likely to become sick and exposure to mould can cause a variety of illnesses like skin infections or sometimes even permanent respiratory problems.

The opening to the dog house should never face the wind. For extra protection you can install a doggie door but may need to incorporate some training in for the dog to be comfortable using it.

If the dog is afraid and refuses to enter the dog house it can be fatal for the him/her.

Using the pooches favourite treats or toys can be a great positive method for luring the dog in and out and teaching him to enjoy his time in his dog house.

Some people choose to have heating in their dog houses.

I caution owners on installing heating systems without professional guidance. Loose cords can be very hazardous to a bored or curious dog that decides they might be a fun chew toy.

If you do have a heating system remember not to keep the dog house too warm. The dog needs to stay properly acclimatized to the weather. Consistently shocking their systems with drastic temperature changes is a sure fire way to make them sick.

The cold weather of winter causes the dogs systems to work harder to regulate their body temperature. A good quality dog food and extra food for a higher calorie intake will be needed to sustain health.

Fresh water daily is just as important as the food. Snow and ice will not suffice. Dogs can become dehydrated in the winter as easily as in the summer. Be sure to check his/her bowl often to make sure the water has not frozen.

Make sure that you keep anti-freeze inaccessible to dogs at all time. The sweet taste can be attractive to a dog but will be fatal.

Salt should not be used in areas the dog may walk. If the dog walks on the salt and then licks his feet he could end up burning his stomach, esophagus and the pads on his feet.

Should a dogs pads become dry and crack from the cold petroleum jelly can help soften the pads of the feet and prevent further cracking.

Cold temperatures weaken a dogs' immunity to all ailments. With winter there are even more things to check for such as frost bite and hypothermia.

Outdoor dogs are part of peoples' lives.

Please remember when making the decision to have a dog live outside that responsibilities do not change as an owner.

Dogs are very sociable, pack animals and need to feel a part of a pack to be properly psychologically healthy. Training and quality time spent with their pack is still essential even when the wind is blowing and we are in freezing temperatures.

Adding another dog to the equation may help. An outdoor dog doesn't have a choice to come inside to be with his/her owner because the weather is bad,

In turn the owner should never use weather as an excuse not to spend time with their dog.

If weather is a concern for a person not to be outside than why not consider having the dog brought in at night even just in the front foyer. It is very simple to train a dog where his "place" is. Then a person would have piece if mind that the dog won't be wandering the house getting into mischief. Hearing his/her pack speak and move around the house will help to satisfy their "pack" mentality, and who knows a person may learn to enjoy the extra company.

Consider this; we have all heard stories about the persons house who got robbed while the outdoor dog slept somewhere in the yard. Because we know dogs instincts tell them to protect their territory; often people are frustrated when their dog did nothing to protect the house.

The dog was actually doing their job. If a dog is never allowed into the house, it is not part of the dogs territory therefore he has no need to protect it. The dog would actually rather have the robber unload the entire house as long as he didn't come into their dog house.