What is a good way to help my dogs stay warm while outside during the day?
I live in Michigan, and it’s actually unseasonally warm right now, and when it does get very cold I let my dogs stay inside while I am at work (can’t do it all the time, they love to distroy everything I own) so while I am at work (about 8 hrs a day) they are outdoors in a 10×10 covered dog kennel with 2 large, insulated dog houses. My dogs are both lab mixes, one about 45 lbs, and the other about 65 lbs. Any interesting suggestions on how to help them stay warm while I am at work during the day?

May 18th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
pine straw in their house.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
A goose down jacket would be nice
May 18th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Put doggy coats on them. I bought one for my dalmatian the other day and she loves it.
May 20th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Use straw in their houses.Give them something to eat before you leave & fresh water.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
My dogs have always been outdoors during the day while I’m at work. They have a large fenced yard, dog house, covered porch, and trees to protect them. But they are “furry” breeds with heavy coats. Not little yappy dogs that would freeze. LOL
Your labs should be fine.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:49 am
Get some hay for bedding. Also a light bulb generates heat when lit.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:03 am
My Grandfather was a fox hunter and He dogs to keep warm.
Ideal here.
In your dog house make a seperate dept. and put in a heat bulb to keep them warm. It works! but, make sure you make a little dept. with some holes in so the heat can get thru it. and this way the light is not bright in the dog box. put it in the back so you can get to easy from the back when make a hole to put the heat bulb. also, don’t get a high power heat bulb. low power will work great. His
hunting dogs stay out all winter and the house was plenty warm all the time.
hope this helps.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:26 am
Would suggest buying them a sweater,or you can possibly make one for them yourself.Get a large sweat shirt,or sweater measure the length of your pet and cut the arms out of the sweat shirt and two holes in the front area where the front legs of the pet can go through.The cuff on the sweat shirt,or sweater make a good neck area and the sleeve will fit securely over the body part of the pet;therefore keeping him/her warm.
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Put some hay in the dog kennel, as well as an old blanket for them to lay on. You could always get them sweaters!
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:35 am
Here in Indiana the winters can get pretty cold too but many dogs survive extremely well outdoors. Most owners seem to use either hay or straw for bedding along with an old blanket.Its also a good idea in colder areas to put some straw or hay bales around the sides of the dog house as added insulation as well. Labs are sturdy dogs & should survive a few hours outdoors regardless of the weather as long as they have somewhere cosy to snuggle up to sleep!!
May 24th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
just put a worm blanket in each so the;ll be nice and toasty……..
May 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am
add a bale of straw or hay to their dog house. this will help with the warmth. you maybe able to get one at your local feed store.