The American Beagler Forum

Hey all...I'm in Indiana and we are suppose to get really cold here this weekend,,SOO I went and got heat lamps and I have straw and quilts in there boxes but when I get out there of a morning a few of my beagles look like hell,,,,,eyes all squinty,tiried lookin' I bring them in the house and warm them up with food etc,,,and they seem fine,,,, but what do you all do in really cold states,,Michigan etc....let me know cuz' I dont get alot of sleep when its cold from worring about them dogs suffering,,,,Thanks Shannon

wvduece wrote:when it gets real cold here in wv i put 2 dogs together n that helps them stay warm i have put 3 in same run they seem real cozy when i go out to my kennell jb

I also kennel dogs together to help keep them warm. Also lots of straw (although I would recommend woodchips) make sure your dog house has a flap that covers the opening and make sure to up there feed and keep water available at all times. It also helps if you put meat scraps or fat or some grease in their food. They burn a lot of energy just staying warm so the extra food and fat helps. And I have yet to have a dog freeze to death so I think you'll be ok. I wouldn't worry about bringing them into the house unless unless it dips below zero. I used to worry like you do but this is some advice I got from the guys on here and in 3 years I have not had a problem.

I use 2" styrofoam on the walls and double it on the floor and flat roof, wrap the styrofoam inside and out with 1/2" plywood, have legs holding it up 8" or so off the ground and I make the roof removable in case I want to clean inside or get at the dogs.The house is only 10" high inside at the back and 15" high in the front inside, about 36" long inside and about 24" wide inside, with a small 10" square door. I've built 2 of these over the last 8 years and if you seal it up good so ants can't get in it'll last a long time. When it's down in the - 10 range outside, it's still about the same as the dogs body temp. 90's inside the house.Very warm, with one or two dogs. I tach a porch on the door in the winter facing 90 degrees to the side to keep some wind out, but they usually prefer to be able to view outside while laying in the house so this only goes on in the dead of winter. When I first put the porch on my female wouldn't go inside untill it got down to 10 degrees, she just dug a hole and slept outside until then. She liked to watch the yard that bad.I would go outside in the morning and you couldn't see her, her back was level with the ground and had a layer of frost on it. That's why I remove the porch door in the not so cold temps. The house is built like a cooler, all styrofoam overlaps in the corners, no 2x2 or 2x4 in the corners, just a couple of carriage bolts going through each wall to hold the inside and outside together,same with the roof. I picked up most of the styrofoam from friends in the constrution trade, I stock up untill I have enough to build one. I don't have to worry about them getting cold at all. I had these inside a pen and with a chain attatched to it.

Those are all great suggestions. I feed extra alot extra and fill the dog house up with straw. Two dogs per kennel.

When I go out to check on them I feel their belly and they are always nice and warm.

I use a wood pallet to make an air gap between the house & ground & fill the pallet with hay. Double up the dogs & plenty of hay in the houses. Flap over the entry. Mike

the best investment i ever made for my dogs was the seneca kennels insulated houses with doors and the light inside for heat the houses are big enough to keep the water bowl right inside and no need for a heated bowl there above ground kennels are worth the money

They probably look like hell cause they can't get no sleep with that light shining lol j/k. I use cedar chips and straw and my hounds act fine.

backyard beagler wrote:They probably look like hell cause they can't get no sleep with that light shining lol j/k. I use cedar chips and straw and my hounds act fine.

THAT'S FUNNY

i put a heating pad,and blanket in with my pups this keeps them from getting cold put the pad under the blanket so they dont chew the cord i use a few pillow cases

I use old apartment size freezers, stuffed with straw. Best dog houses I've ever used.

hey shannon we picked up chest frezzers that people were throwing away. i cut the door out where the motor is so they have o step up into the house. then i put a divider
(wind breaker ) so they have to step down into where they sleep. this has worked so far. and is pretty cheap. all i had to buy was the paint. so it don't look to hillbilly i have a few more that i need to make. hope this helps. josh

Thanks for all the reply's ,,the light in there eyes is funny,,, The freezer idea is a good one,,I will keep that in mind cuz people are always tryin' to give us old frig's and freezers,,,,The problem here is the older beagles seem to suffer more than the younger ones? Well I hope winter ends soon,,,,So good to here from you Josh and Steph,,,,,How are them babies doin'? My oldest baby turns 20 today! Thanks to everyone! Shannon

If you plug that freezer in in the summertime- you have A.C.!!!!!!!!!
GREAT idea about that freezer!!!

I have to agree with the earlier post from Frankie. I have three seperate Sennecca Above Grounds, two two dogs unit, and one whelping kennel. My dogs are always ready to go in the morning and never seem to be bothered by the cold. I do keep them doubled up and use plenty of cedar bedding on my two dog units and have a heat light in my whelping unit.

Ryan