If you have pets that normally stay outdoors, then you know that when the cold of winter comes that they sometimes need a warm place to spend the night. That warm spot can be inside a mud room or the garage, but it protects your pet from the rain, snow and wind. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare a winter retreat for your dog.
Sometimes it is cold even inside a garage or mudroom. A well designed dogs bed will help to keep your pet more comfortable. Even an old blanket or towel beats nothing at all for the dog to sleep on. These materials help to insulate the pets body from the cold concrete floor and to keep him or her warm during the night.
If it is still too cold even in the mudroom or garage for your pet, you may want to consider adding a portable space heater. Just be sure that it is away from anything combustible, and that the cord is not somewhere that you pet could chew into it or knock the heater over. Most of these heaters do have an emergency switch that will turn them off if they are tipped.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts to keep the room clean and your pet dry when they come inside the house, there will be wet muddy messes in the room. A hoover wet dry vacuum is the perfect tool to clean up the mess. Once most of the water and mud are picked up, you can use an old towel to completely remove the remainder of the mess. The vacuum can also be used to pick up excess pet hair that may be left in the room.
If there is no place inside for the pet, then he will need a well built dog house. The house needs to be the right size to give adequate room for the pet but small enough to keep body heat inside. A waterproof flap over the door will help to keep heat in and wind, rain and snow outside of the house. Add some wood shavings or straw to give your pet dry materials for making his own bed and staying warm during the cold night.
Be sure that your pet has plenty of food for the cold winter days and nights. You should feed a larger portion than normal as the cold requires more calories for your pet to survive than would be needed on the warmer days.
If the temperatures have dropped below freezing, be sure that you have provided fresh water for the pet. The cold winds can cause dehydration and put your pet’s health in danger.
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