Cold Weather Health

[Timber_blaze]

My dog is a six year old black lab mix. She's lived outside her whole life, so I know she can survive cold winters, but I worry about her anyway. Our winter nights can get into the single digits, but mostly stay between 10-30 degrees for low temps. She has a plastic dog house with a dog bed for warmth. I don't have a garage to bring her into, but I really don't like bringing her into the house when the temperatures drop dangerously, because being in a warm house all night just ruins her tolerance for the cold. I've been thinking about buying a dog coat for those cold nights. Horses are blanketed all the time in the cold with no problems. I was wondering if blanketing Emma at night would be safe or not. Could she hurt herself getting tangled up in the blanket? Could she just tear it off and chew on it? Is there a better way to keep her safely warm? Thanks.
Emma

Type of coat I'm thinking of buying.
Type of house Emma lives in.

[FairyDogMother]

First I would ask why you have a dog if it has to live outside alone 24/7?
I don't think wearing a coat is of any consequences for her either way.
If she's a chewer, she'll chew it. If not, I doubt it will make much difference in single digits at night.

I think it's terribly cruel to leave a dog outside in frigid cold like you say you've got there right now

[Dignity]

growing up we had a dog that lived outdoors 24/7 - she lived to be 18 with that lifestyle. Every year we got her 2 bails of straw and she had a heat lamp in her house - but her dog house had 2 rooms (my dad had built it so snow couldn't really get in to the main part of the house (aka room 1)) and that's where the heat lamp went so she wouldn't burn herself on it.

[UnDun*]

Its not cruel to leave a dog outside in the cold. It's cruel if you leave a dog that cannot handle extreme temperature outside, without protection, or food and water.

I live in Alberta where we are in -40 temps. a good 4 months of the year. Tons of farmers have labs, that live outside all year round. As long as you have a good quality dog house with straw (never blankets or beds as the snow melts and freezes into them) and it's the proper size for your dog you will fine. Of course, have food and water available at all times.

The dog house you have looks fine. You don't want one that is insulated as the dog will sweat then go outside the house and freeze. I would pack it full of straw for your dog

I imagine a coat is fine, but remeber with horses they really dont have much other than tendons and bones in their legs, which are exposed. A dog I think has a bit more, and their extremeties are a bit more fragile.

I have a siberian, who is made a bit more for that kind of weather than yours, but he LOVES being outside in winter. Your doggy does not have the tail and coat for such extreme temperature as he does, but yours will be fine to -20.

If you are concerned, heat lamps are wonderful. With your breed, he/she may not end up sweating like my husky would.

I just feel like doggy coats are one of those things that should be worn when watched only, but thats just my opinion. They cant slip out of them as easily as a collar if they did get into a bad situation.

[Dobified]

I personally do not agree with leaving a dog outside in the cold but where I live it is extremely cold, much colder then in Utah.

If a dog has proper shelter, food and water available and is not a short haired dog such as our Dobes are a dog can do well outside a long as it get the attention it needs as well.

Make sure the house has insulation, there are warm blankets for your dog to lie upon and there is fresh not frozen water ( you can buy heated bowls ). You can also buy heaters specifically for outisde dog houses ( I personally do not like heat lamps as I have known of too many fires they have started ). You can leave a dog coat on your dog however you risk your dog eating it, getting tangles or caught on something etc. Best to have the heated house and warm blankets for warmth.

[Reyven]

I would agree with the straw if you are going to keep him out there. It is a great insulator!
More dogs then less would love to tear into a blanket that is kept on them if you're not around. I don't really think a blanket would be needed if you pad the dog house with straw though

[UnDun*]

Yep, straw is the way to go. Never blankets or beds, the dogs will bring in snow (if you have snow where you live!) to the house, lay down and it will melt and then freeze into the blankets and beds, making it colder to be in the house.

Those with horses, its the same idea. If your horse sweats with their blanket on, or lays in it's pee, then goes outside it will freeze and their blanket is no longer a layer of warmth, but a layer of ice.

[Moo]

Dogs don't sweat, but condensation from breathing can be a problem.

[UnDun*]

^ Just using how horses sweat can freeze into their blankets is similar to the freezing the snow will do into the dog's bed/blankets.

[Timber_blaze]

Thanks for all the advice. It sounds like straw makes the most sense, so I think I'll try that. In my defense, there is a reason I leave her outside. I got Emma when she was 5 years old. She had lived outside her whole life up to that point with no shelter but the dog house, and intermittent food and water. She still gets anxious when she's inside too long. When I got her, she gained about 15 pounds in the first month, and when I took her to the vet for her shots, he said she was at a great weight. I know she's perfectly healthy the way she lives, but I would like to make her more comfortable. Thanks everybody.