A dog house or kennel is a good choice for an outdoor dog; but during winter, temperatures can dip below freezing. Generally, a dog uses its body heat to warm a dog house, but during this time, it’s wise to ramp up the warmth with some extra additions to your dog house or kennel area.
So how do you keep a dog house warm in the winter? The list provided in this article will supply you with ample choices, helpful ideas, such as insulation, heated dog mats, and bedding to keep your dog cozy through the cold temps. Plus, ideas to warm up an outdoor kennel.
How To Insulate a Dog House Or Kennel
When insulating a dog house or kennel, there are several different avenues you can take. Listed below are different solutions for insulating as well as keeping your dog house warm.
#1 Hay or Straw
Hay or straw is a great alternative to keeping a dog house insulated. Though it can be messy, it will provide your dog with well-needed warmth. For dogs that tend to chew up blankets or dog beds that contain stuffing, hay is a suitable alternative, plus, is generally safe if accidentally consumed.
However, it is recommended that you change it often as hay or straw has a proclivity to mold, especially if subjected to moisture. Moldy hay or straw is not healthy for your dog and could potentially cause respiratory problems.
Hay and straw can also be useful as insulation in a kennel whether it is an outside kennel or combination indoor/outdoor. It is easily changeable, and inexpensive.
#2 Raising Your Dog House
Another beneficial insulation process is lifting your dog’s house off the ground. The ground holds the cold and will transfer it to the floor of the dog house. Raising your dog house off the ground is easy. A few bricks or boards placed underneath will provide that added insulation. Also, placing a tarp underneath a raised dog house will give additional insulation.
#3 Install Insulation
A fancier and more expensive way to insulate a dog house, is to actually apply dog house insulation. It’s similar to house insulation.
This might be difficult, but it will be worth it. Insulation such as foam or fiber insulation can be used inside the dog house. After the insulation is in place, it is necessary to cover it up with plywood or some other building material. Putting insulation in an already built dog house could be more trouble than it’s worth. However, if you are building the dog house yourself, insulation installation is a step you might want to consider.
#4 Add A Door to The Dog House
Adding a flap or door to your dog house will keep the cold air out and the warm air in. This can easily be done by securing a towel or plastic flap to the outside of the dog house with clips or screws.
#5 Purchase Pre-Insulated Dog House
If you are not a do-it-yourself type of dog owner, you might consider purchasing a pre-insulated dog house. These dog houses are a wonderful alternative, and some even come with doors to keep the warmth inside. They are well made and will last for years.
#6 Blankets/Dog Beds
Blankets and dog beds are useful in a dog house. If your dog can refrain from chewing on them, they provide additional warmth to the dog house and allow the dog to snuggle in and under the covers. Providing a dog bed also creates a barrier between the dog and the floor allowing it to retain more heat.
#7 Heated Dog Mat or Electric Blanket
If your dog is not a chewer, heating mats and electric blankets are useful. However, they do require electricity, and a possible extension cord.
With heated blankets or mats, you are free to control the temperature, allowing some much-needed comfort in freezing temperatures.
These heated items can be used in a dog house as well as an indoor, outdoor kennel. They are a good option but could raise your electricity bill a bit higher which is worth considering.
They should not be used if your dog tends to chew. Besides destroying the blanket or mat, it could potentially be dangerous to your dog, especially if it bites into a live electrical cord.
#8 Heater
If you have an indoor, outdoor kennel you can always use a radiator heater or other form of electric heater to keep the inside portion of the kennel warm. A dog’s temperature regulates at about 38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celsius. To maintain their regular temperature, they need their environment to be at least 10 degrees Celsius.
Again, heaters also run off electricity and can potentially raise the cost of your electric bill.
#9 Spray Foam or Insulation Rolls
Other kennels have an indoor, outdoor area for dogs. If so, it’s easy to insulate the indoor area with common spray foam insulation or insulation rolls. You still want to make sure that the insulation is covered with plywood, sheet rock, or any other building material so it is not consumed by the dog. Additionally, indoor, outdoor kennels are already lifted off the ground and have a wood floor. This allows for better insulation when keeping your dog warm.
In conclusion, any form of bedding or insulation will contribute to keeping your dog house or kennel warm during the colder months. Keep in mind that a smaller space is also easier to heat than a larger one. If a dog is sleeping in a small space, the heat from their body, and the additional items such as bedding, blankets, or mats, will retain the heat more efficiently.
Your dog is important, and you want it to be as comfortable as possible. If it is outside, it needs to have a means of shelter and warmth. Dogs are tough, and quite adaptable to the elements, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need a safe, comfortable space to get out of the weather.
Just taking a few extra steps to keep your dog house or kennel warm during cold temperatures could mean the difference between a happy, healthy dog, or a miserable one.
Related Question/s
What Temperature Should a Dog Kennel Be?
At least 10 degrees Celsius to maintain a dog’s natural temperature.
What Can I Put in My Dog’s House to Keep the Dog Warm?
You can use a variety of items such as blankets, dog beds, straw or hay, or even heated blankets or mats. Insulation is another method to maintain the heat in an outside kennel or dog house.