Is it OK for a dog to sleep in a cold room?
In most cases it’s best to keep your pets indoors in cold weather. Never leave them unattended outdoors for extended periods and bring puppies, short-haired dogs, and kittens inside when the temperature drops to seven degrees or lower.
Is too cold for a small dog?
If it dips below 32 degrees, your dog(s) should be indoors with you. If it’s too cold outside for you, it’s too cold for your dog! Even in the coldest of weather, your dog needs fresh water to drink!
How do I know if my dog is too cold at night?
As long as your dog has a soft bed to lie on, and as long as the room temperature remains above freezing, dogs are unlikely to get too cold. The dog will curl up and snuggle down, its own body heat sufficient for a good night’s sleep.
Making sure you have a dog bed that’s fit for purpose is important. It doesn’t come much cosier than a Topology bed – these can be raised off the ground, to improve ventilation and prevent the bed becoming too hot on a warm floor or too cold on a chill
y one. They also have zip-on covers than can be changed easily if a defrosting dog soaks them.
A high quality dog blanket can help, too – especially if your dog has a kennel or crate outside. Your dog will snuggle under it, or push it aside, just as you might do with a quilt, helping to keep the perfect temperature throughout the night.
Note: only very hardy breeds can cope with an outdoor crate or kennel in the winter, even if it is fully weatherproofed.
What Your Dog’s Sleeping Position Reveals About Their Personality, Health and Character
Some dogs love rolling in the snow, while others are happy to sit out the cold weather in the comfort of a centrally heated house. For the snow-lovers, thick fur is definitely an asset. Breeds such as Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes, bred for life and hard work in cold climates, will have no problems at all with the average British winter.
Hardy breeds with thick coats, such as German shepherds, Poodles and Golden retrievers, will love their cold weather walks, too. Thin coated breeds such as Greyhounds and Whippets, and small dogs such as Chihuahuas and Yorkies need to be protected from the cold. Puppies, older dogs and ill dogs may need extra care in the winter, too.
Whatever the breed, never leave it outside in very cold weather, as even a hardy dog can succumb to the chill if its body temperature gets too low.