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Posted by	Topic subject: what to do to keep a dog warm outdoors, overnight..?
GoodboysBaddogs Member Posts: 217 From:Los Angeles, Ca. Registered: Aug 2003	posted 11-05-2003 07:46 PM h e l l o Everybody! Anyone keep their dog(s) outdoors, overnight?? If so, what kinda things do you do to make sure he's/she's/their warm & comfortable? For the most part, my buddies stay indoors w/ me, especially durring these cold nights of winter. Their funny; early in the morning hours, i'd say around 5 to 7 am, i'll notice them watching me to see if i'm awake noticing them trying to sneek up in my bed. I won't let them know that i know what's going on, & eventually i'll let them do their thing & sneek their way up onto my/"our" bed. LOL! I make sure their comfortable & warm w/ blankets and pillows & stuffon the carpet/floor, & they still wanta sleep w/ me! Weirdo's they actually have m o r e r o o m on the floor where i set up their blankets & stuff. Actually the 1st couple of times i knew they were doing this was when i was dead asleep, and in the morning i would find myself waking up w/ an AB & Pei in my bed, basically sleeping on me!!! IP: Logged
nern Member Posts: 889 From:NY, USA Registered: Oct 2002	posted 11-05-2003 08:52 PM The only time my dog stays outdoors overnight is when I take her camping. She sleeps in the tent with me...usually curled up comfortably under my sleeping bag. IP: Logged
Maisey Member Posts: 585 From:Portland, Oregon US Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-05-2003 11:24 PM LOL..I got a kick out of reading your post, my dogs have also never slept outside, even camping, they are in the tent with us. It was cute to read you describing how they sneak into bed....it dawned on me that not everyone lets their dogs sleep in bed with them..what a concept! If I made mine actually sleep on the $80 bed I bought them, I'd have so much more room in my full sized bed!!! We have a 9 pound Poodle, a 45 pound Aussie X and a 65 pound Catahoula X ALL of which sleep on the bed. The Aussie sleeps on my hubby's legs or next to them with his head resting on his legs, the Poodle sleeps curled up next to his chest, and the Catahoula sleeps between my legs with his head resting on my tummy and sometimes the two cats we have sneak in the mix somewhere. In the summer the dogs sleep on the floor a bit more, but in the winter they want to be snuggled up with us. They have heated dog houses, even a regular one thats enclosed real well would be good with blankets. They also sell electric blanket type pads for dog houses. The thing I find to be difficult is that if the dog is outside all the time, they get an appropriate coat for that temperature, if they are inside all the time they keep a less dense coat. It seems to me that if they are inside most of the time they won't have an adequate coat to keep themselves warm when you do put them outside. I could be wrong on that..it's just how it plays in my head. My vote is for you to scoot over and quit being a bed hog, let then snuggle in and share the blankets! Grins, Maisey IP: Logged
charmedagain Member Posts: 240 From:uk Registered: Aug 2003	posted 11-06-2003 03:51 AM The only time my dogs go outside is for there walk or to the backyard which i leave the door open so they can come in and out.. I find leaving a dog outside over night is not nice but thats just my opinion... My dogs sleep in my room or wherever there is a heat source they dont like the cold they big wimps really and mine are german shepherds heheheheh... But if a dog is kept outside a well insulated and heated dog house should be ok IP: Logged
Jamiya Member Posts: 501 From: Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-06-2003 06:23 AM My in-laws used to stuff a dog house full of straw - I mean, really stuff it full. Their german shepherd mix would push his way in and sleep in there. Apparently, it was so warm that he would come out steaming. My father-in-law said you could stick your hand in the house and feel how warm it was. Our terriers that were outside would cuddle together in a box full of straw. When we were down to one dog, she slept on a heated mat. I, too, am of Maisey's opinion that a mostly inside dog does not grow the coat they need and become accustomed to the cold outside. That was an issue when I was wanting to bring our dog in after work and overnight and have her stay outside during the day while we were gone - I was afraid she would lose her winter coat and would be even colder. There's really no reason I can think of to make an indoor dog stay outside at night. You can always crate them if they are not reliable inside while you are sleeping. I think the dog would prefer a crate in your bedroom to being outside. Jamiya IP: Logged
honeybear Member Posts: 373 From: Registered: May 2003	posted 11-06-2003 08:18 AM I would say if they sleep outside make sure they have plenty of bedding, I would neverlet my dogs sleep outside, except Jake gets hot in the summer and like to go out in the middle of the night and stay out for about an hour. (It would be nice to get a full nights sleep) - OMG Maisey, how do you have room! I also have the 80$ beds they never use, Wylie, my 50# mix sleeps on the endof the bed on my husbands side thank God, Jake all 100# will sleep at the top above my head, luckily in the summr he sleeps on the floor because it is too hot. and the Cat usually sleeps on my husband chest, and I do have a King size bed. I bought my 1st LL Bean bed 6 years ago and is still going strong. I bought another one when we got Wylie but she destroyed it, after that I kept buying the Costco specials, but they never lasted - then last year I invested in another LL Bean bed. Well, I dont like it, they changed their filling and it clumps all up, the old one has one continous fill. I called them up the other day about this and they said even thought it has been a year they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee and that I could send it back with a full refund. Wow now thats service! Even the dogs dont like it because it makes noise when they nestle, so I think I will send it back Honeybear IP: Logged
Jamiya Member Posts: 501 From: Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-06-2003 08:34 AM Alas, my husband no longer lets my cats in the bedroom. He has declared it a cat-free zone, sort of like the cats need a dog-free zone. He really doesn't like my cats. I'm not sure why, because 90% of their qualities should make them perfect pets in his opinion. It's too bad, because I really miss my purring scarf at night. The dog sleeps in her crate in our room. There is no question of letting her out, yet. She destroys things just by looking at them. Not to mention I think she would still have accidents inside if she found it convenient. I have a nice crate mat, but I haven't put it in. She likes to pull fluff off anything and everything that is....well, fluffy. This includes towels, tennis balls, stuffed toys, carpet - you name it. Since she liked to lay on tile so much when it was hot, the mat in her crate now is sort of like a rubber-backed towel. I used to leave it rubber side up, so it would be smooth and cool. Now I have it flipped over - although I'm not sure how much difference it makes since she has chewed numerous LARGE holes through it. The really odd thing is that she doesn't chew on ANY of her toys that we put in her crate. Even a greenie goes untouched in her crate, but when we let her out she will gobble it down. Apparently there is some sort of rule that the only thing she chews in her crate is her bed. She got ahold of her old bed a few days ago, where I had retired it. It is too small for her now - one of those circular carpet beds. There is blue fuzz all over the family room now to attest to what fun she had with it. I have a sheepskin mat I am thinking of putting in now that it is colder. It's not padded, really, but it is a rubber-backed layer of sheepskin. It wasn't very expensive so I would like to see what she does with it, but frugal hubby says she still chews too much. I probably will put it in soon anyway. Our bedroom is one of the warmest rooms in the house anyway (although not quite as warm since the waterbed heater broke). My husband is descended from a polar bear. Jamiya [This message has been edited by Jamiya (edited 11-06-2003).] IP: Logged
jeminn Member Posts: 166 From:Colorado, USA Registered: Jul 2003	posted 11-06-2003 08:48 AM goodboys- when I worked at the kennel we had indoor/outdoor runs for the dogs. The inside part of the runs were in a heated building and each run had a nice bed elevated off the cememt floor, and usually some kind of bedding, or rug in there, so it was pretty comfortable. Some dogs though just slept outside in the elements and seemed perfectly content curled up in a ball. When it got really cold though we locked them indoors at night. My husky and our old lab loved to sleep outside in their doghouse, and we always stuffed it full of straw in the winter. But, they were inside dogs too- and I preferred it that way. I always worried about them outside in the winter and usually they slept inside. But, during the day when they were out they loved to bury themselves in this bale of hay and it was warm as toast in there. We also stacked bales of hay around their dog house to insulate it and made sure they had plenty of sunshine during the day. Once they are in your bed, though- it is pretty tough to have it any other way. IP: Logged
Maisey Member Posts: 585 From:Portland, Oregon US Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-06-2003 10:13 AM Honey bear, I bought this bed at PetsMart for Witt, cause he is soooo heavy I was hoping he would like it. It's huge and round and made really well. It has an orthopedic pad on the bottom and then the big pillowy top. It's cover is denim and comes off to wash, under it is another cover, that way if the one is being washed the second is there. My 9 pound Poodle loves it! He looks like a marshmellow sleeping on a giant cloud. Witt sleeps on it sometimes but he squishes all the way to the side up against my bed and wants my hand to hang down and rest on him. Ya know...when I got him he only weighed 13 pounds so sleeping on my chest was ok with me, I liked it even, all snuggling and puppy breath..mmmm but then he decided Clifford was his mentor and he grew. When I couldn't breath anymore, I insisted he sleep at the end of the bed, but he always manages with great stealth and sneakiness to get between my legs and rest his head on my tummy. I'm crazy about the big lug and as big as he is, he is still a baby at heart and quite sensitive(so i tell myself)so...he gets to sleep on me. (and I am thankful I didn't get a great dane puppy)I consider myself lucky that the rest of the animals can't stand my tossing and thrashing around at night and have chosen my hubbys side of the bed. Witt just stands up, waits for me to quiet down and settles himself again. My husband says it's funny when he does this, he lets out huge sighs and yawns but doesn't seem irritated. This was Witt's first bed, he picked it out himself. I stopped at the feed store to buy grain for my horse, and of course had to look at the doggy toys and show off my new puppy. I had my hands full of stuff and my purse etc. and was trying to get to the register but felt like Witt was pulling against his leash. The people standing at the register started laughing so I looked back and there was Witt dragging this huge stuffed lion, he had got it off the bottom shelf and it seemed important to him..and so darn cute that I bought it for him. He has had a love affair with the lion ever since. Nobody else can touch it, nobody else can sleep on it or look at it. He has long grown out of it, but he still drags it around and he does like to sleep on top of it in the family room. There is not one tear in it either. He also still drags around that baby blanket, it is in shreds, but it's his, and lord help anyone who looks at it. IP: Logged
debslegacyofgold Member Posts: 50 From:Post Falls,Idaho Registered: Oct 2003	posted 11-06-2003 12:28 PM In the winter time my dogs sleep in the house ..the aussie in her kennel and the lab anywhere in the house except in bed or on furniture...usually a blanket on floor next to me...where ever i sleep...in the summer my house is tooo hot so they want to stay outside....We lived in a place that the land lord had a big huge dog house wall to wall carpet on inside with a doggy door and he put a 60 watt light bulb inside and it stayed really nice in there for them..and it was big enough for 3 big dogs to sleep in and have plenty of stretch room. was a real nice house..think im gonna have hubby build one like that someday..u never know when something might happen and the dogs have to stay out cuz you couldnt make it home. at least they would have a nice warm place to sleep. ------------------ Cowgirls live hard, ride hard,and love forever!! IP: Logged
honeybear Member Posts: 373 From: Registered: May 2003	posted 11-06-2003 12:57 PM Maisey, Witt is darling! too bad they have to grow up. Wylie is like that with 2 of her toys she has her cloth frisbee and a Bite the Man, it is a fleece shaped man and all H**l breaks loose if Jake plays with them which he only does this to get attention. I will check out Petco for a new bed Honeybear IP: Logged
3Dogsihave Member Posts: 17 From: Registered: Aug 2003	posted 11-06-2003 04:59 PM Just wanted to share a story about my husky. She loves to be outside in the winter and when I get home at night she goes out to potty, well i usually end up having to drag her in. She would love to stay out all night but her mean mommy wont let her! Anyway one night she came in an some how unhooked her collar. Guess she showed me! IP: Logged
GoodboysBaddogs Member Posts: 217 From:Los Angeles, Ca. Registered: Aug 2003	posted 11-06-2003 06:51 PM MAISEY: Your 1st message was hilarious too! You know, i have to stay the BiG-Bed-Hog-King or else i'll loose my reputation & respect from my doggs... LOL! Seriously, i do scoot-over, & i find myself doing this A-LOT overnight, when i should actually be in deep-sleep--lol. I actually don't mind them sleeping inside, in bed w/ me, i actually like it (especially when they've just taken a bath ) but like i said it can be uncomfortable moving around and sleeping in awkward positions. The first couple of times i would wake up w/ like back-pains, or some body part would be akeing(sp?). I'm getting better at it though. I think my bodies adjusting. Anything for the doggies right!?! Funny... About the coat situation that you mentioned; i also think that too. That's one reason why i posted this "post" in the 1st place. I love it when they sleep in w/ me, but i want them to "be dogs" too, you know, & do their duty sort-of-speak, lol. I don't want then to totally become "indoor" working/sporting dogs--LOL!! I don't want them to forget what their good at. Being great guard dogs, outdoors. For the most part i'll be keeping them in "on" me when the night-temps get ridiculous, but when it's a "normal" cold winter night, their gonna have to step it up & be GoodboysBaddogs outdoors.... IP: Logged
susan_cude@hotmail.com Member Posts: 81 From:Santa Maria, Ca. Registered: Nov 2003	posted 11-06-2003 10:05 PM You people crack me up!!!! I can see a small dog like my casey sleeping in bed with my husband and myself, but I can't imagine having medium to large dogs sleeping in bed with us. How do you get any sleep? hehehe I used to have beautiful big half akita and half german shepard...love of my life! he's gone now. Anyway i would let him come inside once in a while when hubby wasn't home, but couldn't imagine him in our bed...besides they shed so badly in the summer, and I'm a clean freak.....You guys are too funny!!! I see nothing wrong with it, just couldn't do it myself....Sincerely, Susan IP: Logged
Maisey Member Posts: 585 From:Portland, Oregon US Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-06-2003 11:14 PM Oh the excuses I could come up with LOL! Witt being a Catahoula is a single coated dog, he really doesn't shed much at all, Darby is a Poodle and doesn't shed, Dooley is the only one who really sheds, he likes to be vacuumed! He stands in front of me while I run the hose over him, it works pretty well actually. They all get baths every week to two weeks, they are flea free and I keep a light throw blanket on top of our comforter, I throw it in the wash every couple days. You are probably right I may just be crazy, I don't know how to explain in words the way I feel about my dog Witt, there is a connection between us, it feels right to be that close to him. He goes everywhere with me, including work. It would seem odd or wrong to me to put him outside at the end of the day given how much time we spend together during the day. I don't know if it sounds pathetic or not...but for me, Witt is the "steady" in my day, when I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, too busy to see straight, stressed out etc....just reaching over to touch him or feeling him nuzzle my leg is enough to make me smile. He doesn't argue with me or talk back(well not often), he only offers me love and acceptance, he doesn't hold a grudge when I make a mistake, and he makes me laugh. I injured my back a while back and now and then I have periods of down time...guess who keeps me company? There have been days when I couldn't get up off the floor, he didn't complain about laying there with me, so I don't complain about him laying in bed with me. Dooley is just as awesome as Witt, but really is more my husbands dog, he bonded to my husband very strongly. Darby loves my girls best and would pretty much go home with anyone who smiled at him. Witt makes no bones about who his heart belongs to and how could I not love that? Those are just my personal reasons and I may sound nutty for them, but I'm a happy nut. =) IP: Logged
LottynTrike Member Posts: 64 From:Murfreesboro, Tn, USA Registered: Oct 2003	posted 11-07-2003 09:03 AM You know just a couple of days ago i found out that not everyone lets their dog sleep in the bed with them!!!! I couldnt sleep if trike wasnt there!! I just dont feel right if Trikie is not on the bed with me! She is my baby girl and she is so spoiled!! SHes a beagle, so shes not that big but OMG shes a BED HOG!!! she HAS to sleep right next to me! (usually back to back) so if i move over to get more comfortable or what not, here she comes too! It gets so bad that i have about a inch of my queen size bed left to sleep on! Its great though! wouldnt change it for the world. Everynight when i go in my room trike follows behinds lays down on her dog bed for a minute and then whimmpers a bit to let me know she wants up on the bed! (she cant get on the bed by her self becasue she is missing one of her back legs) I get her on the bed and she is happy as can be!!! IP: Logged
MaydaysMom Member Posts: 87 From:MO, USA Registered: Nov 2003	posted 11-07-2003 01:23 PM Maisy you crack me up. My Chopper has a little lamb almost like that he is the same exact way with. I try so hard to get him to sleep on the bed with the rest of the pack but that is his securtity blanket and it must be atleast 3 feet away from the other dogs at all times Mayday my pit cuddles up next to me and stretches out to share my pillow and blanket. Tootsie my chihuahua sleeps on top of mayday and leans against me. Sade my am staff foster sleeps on my feet (such a good girl) and the 3 cats sleep in between my husband and I. Its quite a sight. Maydays a real mommas boy has been since the day I layed eyes on him. He goes with me everywhere I go. I wouldnt know how to have an outside dog. I think I would have the seperation anxiety. Goodness its so nice to hear about so many spoiled pooches. IP: Logged
susan_cude@hotmail.com Member Posts: 81 From:Santa Maria, Ca. Registered: Nov 2003	posted 11-07-2003 08:01 PM I loved the stories of comfort that your pooches bring to you. "IT'S WONDERFUL" I feel the same way about my two...they bring such joy to our lives...God knew what he was doing! that's all I can say about it. Please don't think I meant any harm about your dog's sleepin with you, I didn't! mine sleeps with us also, but they are small, that's all i meant. I just thought it was funny!!! I needed that! Susan IP: Logged
Maisey Member Posts: 585 From:Portland, Oregon US Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-07-2003 11:41 PM No worries Susan, I knew what you meant. Smiles, Maisey PS I tried to explain to Witt that he weighs 65 pounds and is heavy...he thinks I am exagerating. [This message has been edited by Maisey (edited 11-07-2003).] IP: Logged
dogangel Member Posts: 75 From:Brewton, AL, USA Registered: Aug 2003	posted 11-08-2003 12:55 PM Well, THIS is the best way I know to keep them warm on cold (and not only) nights.... P.S. - I was lucky that time, they let me actually fit in and share the (their) bed... http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Nov/20031185251445914866279.jpg IP: Logged
Maisey Member Posts: 585 From:Portland, Oregon US Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-08-2003 01:45 PM lol dogangel, now see....I see plenty of room there at the bottom of the bed for a husband to squeeze in. IP: Logged
dogangel Member Posts: 75 From:Brewton, AL, USA Registered: Aug 2003	posted 11-09-2003 09:36 AM Well, Maisey, I have to admit that sometimes he does. Most of the times though, he quietly retires to the doggie bed or the doggie pillows that lie around forgotten all over our bedroom and the livingroom... Or if he makes it to the bed first, then I have to be contented with one of those pillows.... IP: Logged
Jamiya Member Posts: 501 From: Registered: Sep 2003	posted 11-10-2003 07:00 AM Your husband sleeps in the doggie bed? HAHAHAHA!!!! Jamiya IP: Logged

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