Just like humans struggle to keep themselves warm in winter, dogs experience the same problem as well.
Theirs is even worse because they don’t live inside. Most dog owners are forced to allow their pooch to stay indoor even though they don’t like the idea.
The thing is, you don’t have to bring your furry friend inside to keep him warm. There are ways to keep him warm outside, and you’ll learn some of the ways in this article.
How to keep dogs warm outside?
To keep your dog warm, you should insulate and modify his house, get him a jacket and dog boots, get his toys heated, and cover him up with a thick cloth when he’s asleep. We suggest that you also press the cloth just before you cover him with it. This will get the cloth warm. One more thing, when taking your dog for a walk, it is better to jog/run more than walk.
Ways to keep your dog warm even if he stays outdoors
Get him a jacket/sweater
When you notice that your dog is feeling cold, it may be a good idea to get him a jacket. If you can’t knit it, you can buy it.
And if you’re not financially buoyant enough for that, you can wrap a thick piece of cloth around him.
To make the outfit complete, let him wear some socks as the floor may be cold too.
Modify his house
Block all the air vents. You must insulate the house to prevent cold air from coming in.
You may also run a socket into the house so that you can light it up with a heat-radiating bulb.
The roof of the house has to be slanting. That way, snow will not stay on it.
It is necessary to raise the floor of his house. If the floor is in contact with the ground, it will be cold.
You can either raise the house or pour some straws on the floor of the house.
Wear him dog boots
Being cold should not stop you from taking him for daily exercises. You only need to improvise.
To prevent him from stepping on a sharp object or ice, let him wear his boots.
Also, during the days of winter, it will be better to jog or run more than walk. Running or jogging keeps both you and your pooch warm.
Heat his toys
There are dog toys that can be microwaved. These toys are designed to retain heat much longer than ordinary toys.
Once the sun goes down, it may be time to warm your dog’s toys. You may place the toys inside the microwave and time it.
The best time to do this is before you take him out for an evening walk, jogging, or running. He’ll come back to warm toys.
Press his cover-cloth
Even though he’ll push it away later in the night, it’s good to cover your dog with a thick piece of cloth while he’s sleeping.
It is even better to press the cloth with your pressing iron to make it warm before you place it on your pet.
Top signs your dog feels cold
Before delving into the heart of the issue, we need to let you know a few signs that your dog will show when he’s getting cold.
You need to understand the signs because dogs can’t talk and won’t be able to tell you that he’s cold. Knowing the signs will help you ward off the onset of hypothermia.
Sudden changes in behavior
You may notice a drop in your dog’s mood. He’ll no longer be as lively as he used to be. Try and play with him, and you may notice a certain degree of reluctance.
Although this sign alone does not infer being cold, if it appears with some of the other signs below, frostbite may be lurking around.
Hunched posture with a tucked tail
This is exactly how humans react when they’re feeling cold. So, when Fido does that, it is a clear sign that he’s cold. Do something about it immediately.
Taking paws off the ground
You hardly walk around without footwear, so you may not know that some flooring can be cold. Unfortunately, dogs don’t wear anything on their legs.
When the ground feels cold, they’ll stay off the ground or lift their paws. You may need to get him some socks.
Not wanting to take a walk
This is what dogs love most. They wag their tails when they sense that you’re about to take them out for a walk.
But if your little friend refuses to go out, he must have a good reason. And if cold strikes when you’re already outside, he’ll try to turn back and go home.
Refusing to leave his house
Normally, you don’t call your dog twice before he dashes towards you.
If you call him several times and he stays put in his house, refusing to come out, he might be saying “Madam/Gentleman, can’t you see it’s cold outside?”
Try to show some understanding.
Shaking or shivering
No explanation needed here. This is the confirmatory sign that your dog is cold. This sign alone confirms it.
Barking or whining
If he does any of these two or both, it is a sign that something is wrong. If he shows any of the signs above in addition to barking or whining, then it’s clear that he is cold.
So, do you really need your dog to freeze first before you act?
If it’s cold, everyone will be cold including him. You don’t really need to see your dog shaking before you take any of the steps discussed down below.
Here are some signs of hypothermia:
- Dilated pupils
- Lack of mental alertness
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Muscle stiffness
- Loss of consciousness
So, better do the tips mentioned earlier to avoid making your dog reach the hypothermic state. You might regret it in the end if you act longer than you should.
Conclusion
Once winter arrives, apply the tips above to prevent cold. You don’t have to wait till you see him exhibiting some signs of cold before getting him warm.
Hypothermia is a life-threatening ailment. Prevention is always better, cheaper, safer, and more effective than cure.
Thus, keep your dog warm before he starts freezing.