The American Beagler Forum

I have 2 pups that are 4-5 months old and the temp for the nest two days for lows here are going to be 13 and 3. I just moved them out to a ground kennel. The dog house is a plastic men. or large dog house from TSC. I have a plastic flap on the door and plenty of straw. I jusr moved them out of a 4x4 above ground with a 2x2 house attached. Where should I keep them at with the low temps? My father-in-law says they will fine in the ground kennel, but I am worried that the hous maybe to big from them to stay warm.

Steven

I would keep them above-ground myself, but if they are out of the wind, have plenty of straw, and each other, they should be fine in the TSC house or the above-ground. One thing I would do, though, if you decide to keep them on the ground. I would get that house up on a skid or something -- and stuff some of the straw under it. The ground can still be cold through the floor of the house.

And make sure they have water a couple of times per day. They will freeze quicker if they become dehydrated.

Wouldn't hurt to buy an extra half-dozen bales and stack them around the dog house too. But like Bev said... get the dog house up off the ground a little and make sure they get water.

Ditto on the extra bales of straw. That will really help keep the body heat in and be extra shield against the wind.

I still have a 250 watt heat lamp w/a red bulb on mine at a safe distance so they can't reach it or get too hot; they probably would be fine without it, but it adds extra comfort; I have it shining into a dog house.

All good suggestions, dry straw bedding and out of the wind is the key. I have been using a product called "Snuggle Safe" it is a heating disk that is put in the Micro wave for 3 minutes, then i put it in an old pillow case, and just put it in with my pups, stays warm for 12 hours. Works great, gives that extra comfort level. I have three 4 months old pups, and they were out playing in -5 degree temps this morning, so their not to stressed about the weather lol.

If you bought the Petmate Indigo Dog houses, you are in good luck, I didn't get mine from TSC but they sell them, I have a 5 month old pup in one that is medium, my two females share a large size one, been single digits here and they are fine, I think they come out to cool off, lol. You want to leave the dogs doubled up if you have a big dog house, I kept my females in the medium forever but gave that one to the single dog, less room for his body to heat, like everyone says, straw in with them and they will be fine. Mine were out rolling in snow on the concrete this morning so it can't be that bad, lol.

I use the Seneca above-grounds. I have 2 double run kennels (4 runs total) and this is what I've done to combat the cold:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=43879

Since it has dipped into single digits, I am using alfala hay instead of cedar. So far they seem to be comfortable. Our high was 2 degrees today. Tonight it will dip to -7. The heated water bowls have done their job so far. I will report this evening when I get home from work if they are still keeping the water thawed.

Here is my setup; you can see the pups out stirring with the temp. at 1 (one). Brrrr...

Mine are so spoiled, lol. They sleep crated in the kitchen which is kept at 64. This morning I did put them out a 6:30 am and it was 13 below zero...they were out for about ten minutes while I made their warm breakfast. They are out for an hour or two at at ime max in cold temps like this well they are my show dogs and they aren't raised outside so nthey probably don't have the coat like you guys keep on yours either. Right now they are all out there loving it except for two bitches who I basically have to pull out of bed in the morning....hmmm...sounds vaugely familiar, lol

The water in the bowls was still flowing yesterday when I got home from work. That surprised me because i thought they were only good down to a certain temp (above zero). The new lamps mounted to the roof of the boxes don't make the boxes "toasty" per se, but they do bump the temps up inside as compared to outside, and you can feel the heat off them if you're within 8 or 10 inches of them. Combined with the dogs' body heat and straw, I think they are doing okay.

This was the best thing I ever did for the kennels:


Those halogen light canisters are a painted heavy metal, and they have glass covers so the dog can't get to the bulb.

How do you keep them from chewing the cord?

That cord is flush with the ceiling; it doesn't swag down. A dog would have to go way out of it's way to chew it. If she finds a way, my guess is she'll only do it once. (lol)

Bev wrote:That cord is flush with the ceiling; it doesn't swag down. A dog would have to go way out of it's way to chew it. If she finds a way, my guess is she'll only do it once. (lol)

''Good point, lol!

Bev (or anyone), do you know what the temp. is in your houses with the light? I ask because I have a similar set up & I've been wondering what the temp is in the box when it gets down to -5 degrees. I have an insulated dog house with a light bulb metal box heater inside, a spring loaded door and shavings. I'm putting 2 dogs inside it when it gets real cold. I've been wondering what the temp is inside the box, with the 2 dogs & the light bulb heater, when it gets to -5 degrees outside. I'm just curious, I haven't tried putting a thermometer inside. I know guys in the far north have said a well insulated box with a good door is all thats needed, so I'm not too concerned. This is my first year using this set up. I originally set it up this year, as a winter home, for an old female I had, but she died late summer. Again, just curious what type of heat these light bulb heaters put out?