Winterize a Dog House
When the weather becomes colder or inclement weather increases, which can be as early as September depending on what part of the country you reside in, do not forget your dogs when you winterize, especially if your dog spend time indoors in the evenings or at night. It is a common misconception that dogs won't freeze and that nature made them better able to handle extreme weather conditions because their coats become heavier, etc. during the winter. Here are some tips for ensuring that your dog house is warm and that your pet will be protected.
Instructions
1. Where you place your dog house can make the difference in how cold it gets inside. You want to make sure that the opening or doorway to your dog house is facing the south or west (preferably the south), as the coldest air and wind typically comes in from the north and northeast during the winter.
2. Also consider attaching a thick rubber flap to the top of the doorway on your doghouse and that hangs close to the bottom so your dog can go in and out easily and to help protect them from the cold winter winds or conditions like snow or sleet that could blow into the structure.
3. Check every few days to make sure the bedding in your doghouse is clean and dry. You want to use wood shavings, straw and hay for bedding.
4. According to the Salem Animal Rescue League, you should avoid using old blankets, rugs, or newspapers for bedding in your doghouse as these items pack down easily, becoming less comfortable for your dog and therefor providing less warmth.
5. If you have a wooden garage or outdoor shed, you might consider having a doggie door installed so that your dog can go into the garage at night to keep warm and sleep. You could close off a small area so that when if your dog went inside they would be contained to a specific area and be unable to wander all over the place.
6. Make sure your dog house is as airtight as you can make it on the outside to keep cold air and wind drafts from getting inside where your dog will be sleeping. You can purchase liquid sealants to paint on the outside of your dog house with a paintbrush or roller.
7. You can even purchase standard roof tiles, which come in a variety of colors, and nail them onto the outside of your dog house and on the roof, or measure your dog house for siding. Both roof tiles and siding will help insulate your dog house as well as helping keep out cold air and inclement weather.
8. Make sure that the interior space in your dog house is the right size, since according to the Salem Animal Rescue Foundation, the size of your dog house should allow your dog to sit completely up and to stretch out when lying down. .
Related posts
Build a dog house for your extra large dog.Building a basic dog house for an extra large dog can be quite easy if you follow a few simple steps. Of course, if you have a dog you love to pamper, yo...
Parenting a St. Bernard puppy is full of playfulness, adventure, and training successes and mishaps. Potty training is usually the first behavior any owner wants accomplished, especially for a dog...
Even dogs that are bred for winter conditions can benefit from some warm shelter.Ideally dogs should be inside with their families, especially when the weather turns cold. However, for various rea...
Take your pit bull for a walk daily.If you let it, your pit bull will be constantly underfoot, wanting to be in the middle of everything. The breed loves attention and, in order to keep your pit b...
Get a doghouse for your Sim pet so that it can breed.The Sims 2 computer game was a great improvement on the original Sims, because there were many more opportunities for personalization in 2. One...
