How cold is too cold?

[mdunc8]

I'm finishing up a run along the side of our house for our pup. Assuming she doesn't destroy the yard trying to dig herself out, we're planning on leaving her out while at work. At what temps do you guys keep your dogs inside? For what it's worth, she'll have one of those igloo looking kennels. At some point I may put in a doggy door so she can hole up in the garage if she likes.

 

[LopeHunter]

I had dogs as a kid. If the water bowl was freezing then we would open the slot that led from the run into the garage that was nominally heated to 40F or so. If you provide an outdoor igloo for each dog then should not be much larger than the dog so warms up faster for the dog when is inside there staying out of the wind.

You can make a trench and place a plastic board below surface to restrict digging out.

 

[Deleted member 18333]

Depends on breed. I had a lab that I would leave outside all the time I was as work. I worked nights in SW Wyoming so it was not uncommon to be 10-15 below zero, occasionally colder. I currently have a Brittany that I would never try that. During the day he does fine until it gets below zero. Both had dog houses that I don't think they ever set a paw in.

 

[mdunc8]

We've got a golden retriever. She's got a nice field coat (i.e., not super thick) and is relatively slender compared to the typical goldens you see as house pets.

 

[choc dogs]

I left field labs out most of the day in approx 10-20 degree weather, of course we had two of them and they shared a kennel, and a "dog house". I used 55 gallon poly drums filled with hay, and it wasn't uncommon for both dogs to share the same house when it was really cold. I think if I was in your situation, I'd think about keeping her out of the weather under about 25.

 

[mdhunter]

I have had "outside" dogs but we moved to a house that an outside kennel wasn't an option. Since then we crate train our dogs when they are pups. Keeping them inside with a crate to sleep in is a great backup to nasty outside temps. You are fortunate that you have a run to keep them in while you are away from home also.

 

[tom338]

My 5 dogs are outside dogs, they never come in. They grow a nice thick coat every year and shed it out for summer. I have houses for each dog and put hay in the house. I do have the kennel against a building and the kennels are on the east side. Keeps the wind off for the most part and had the roof extended over the kennels. Ive raised dogs outside all my life and never had a issue. But they need to stay outside all the time so they grow the winter coat of hair. -20 and you can see the dogs sleeping right next to the opening of their house.