Heating on for dogs

[HTP99]

Bit of a strange one, our 3 are left for a while during the day whilst we are at work, given how cold it is currently during the day and the temp does drop in the house, not sure how low TBH but too cold for us and I don't mind the cold, should we have the heating on but set low, say 14-16 degrees just to keep a bit of warmth in the house?

I have Googled this and the general view is, as dogs run hotter than humans 4-5 degrees hotter, heating on isn't needed, just wondered what others thoughts were, especially given we are around -1 during the day currently?

[GliderRider]

The breed of dog plus the type and length of coat they have must be factor here. Some Welsh farmers have their sheepdogs sleeping out of the house all year, whilst a very short haired breed, such as a Staffie would be a lot less happy with this.

[ChevronB19]

Ours (frugs) seem perfectly happy with the house at 10oC.

Having said that, they also love the log burner and blankets, but equally happy out in the snow.

[HTP99]

ChevronB19 said:

Ours (frugs) seem perfectly happy with the house at 10oC.

Having said that, they also love the log burner and blankets, but equally happy out in the snow.

Mine are 2 small Yorkie/Jack Russells, both with a reasonably long (read, messy) and thick coat currently and a Frenchie; very short coat.

All are fine outside on a walk, I took one out this morning and it was -5, however when out they are obviously moving about so will be warmer.

When home and relaxing the Frenchie generally goes under the stairs, there's a "dog den" with baskets and blankets and I should imagine it is generally warmer in there, the other 2 snuggle into the sofa between the cushions plus there are blankets which they could snuggle into if they wanted.

I think I'm worrying too much.

[Douglas Quaid]

Dogs live outside. They don’t have central heating outside. They’ll be fine.

[Kes Arevo]

10°C is perfectly fine for dogs, especially inside.

If you are extra worried,you can buy a heated kennel pad,which are basically rubberised electric blankets that they can lie on.

You are over worrying, but we all do that.

[andrebar]

Kes Arevo said:

10°C is perfectly fine for dogs, especially inside.

If you are extra worried,you can buy a heated kennel pad,which are basically rubberised electric blankets that they can lie on.

You are over worrying, but we all do that.

Yeah 10 is a perfectly safe bet for dogs. Don’t let them fool you into thinking they’re actually cold by constantly seeking out the warmest spot in the house. Mine do that all the time & the easiest way to move them is to pick up the leads when it’s -5 outside.

[BoRED S2upid]

Douglas Quaid said:

Dogs live outside. They don’t have central heating outside. They’ll be fine.

Our Jack Russell is a rescue from Cyprus he hates the cold, ice and snow. Blanket is all that’s required though.

[Boosted LS1]

Douglas Quaid said:

Dogs live outside. They don’t have central heating outside. They’ll be fine.

Only where their owners have no consideration for their well being. Some breeds are hairless and so are their dogs.

[ZedLeg]

I set my heating at 16c all the time

Your dogs will be fine though, they’ll just find somewhere cost to curl up if they get cold.

[lizardbrain]

I think they are very adaptable.

My dog seems to hate the cold, and gets grumpy if moved to a cold bit of the sofa.

But occasionally gets trapped in the conservatory and seems
happy sleeping out there at well under 10 degrees, and take some persuading to come inside if woken up.

[Saleen836]

ZedLeg said:

I set my heating at 16c all the time

Your dogs will be fine though, they’ll just find somewhere cost to curl up if they get cold.

My dear departed Lab would take herself upstairs and get under the duvet on my bed, of course when she heard me pull on the drive she would be led in her own bed in the dining room, it was the brown hair in my bed that gave her away

[General Price]

Saleen836 said:

My dear departed Lab would take herself upstairs and get under the duvet on my bed, of course when she heard me pull on the drive she would be led in her own bed in the dining room, it was the brown hair in my bed that gave her away

A likely tale.

[smithyithy]

ChevronB19 said:

Ours (frugs) seem perfectly happy with the house at 10oC.

Having said that, they also love the log burner and blankets, but equally happy out in the snow.

Same with our Pug, he loves playing on the snow (we do put a coat on him though) but over winter this has been his favourite spot:

[Snow and Rocks]

Dogs are incredibly adaptable (within obvious breed limitations).

Our oldest Saluki Cross lived comfortably in the heat of the Muscat sun for her first year and is now perfectly happy in a draughty old stone cottage halfway up an Aberdeenshire hillside.

She comes XC skiing, climbs munros all year round and was happily running around the garden at minus 20. She does now struggle a bit if the temp goes above mid 20s (absolute minimum in Oman) but i'm sure she'd soon acclimatise if we moved her back.

I wouldn't worry about it in the slightest.

[Red9zero]

Our 12yr old Westie has a metal plate in his leg and a touch of arthritis too. We have a heated blanket on the sofa for him to lie on. If he gets too warm he can move off it, but he normally stays on it, snoring away.

[PositronicRay]

One dog doesnt feel the cold the other one just gets under a quilt if necessary.