How To Keep A Dog Warm At Night [Best 5 Strategies To Try]

Dogs may have thick coats, but that doesn’t stop them from getting a little cold. Some breeds are especially prone to harsh weather conditions and get a little chilly when the weather drops. There are certain measures when you can take in order to ensure that your dog stays nice and toasty – here are the best ones:

The most effective methods to warm your dog are:

• Keep your home heated, even when they are alone.
• Consider investing in a specialized pet heat pad.
• Move your dog to another part of the home if possible and required.
• If appropriate, offer your dog warm protection against the elements.
• Limit time outside during the day in times of cold weather.

Taking the necessary steps to give your pet a safe environment will keep them happy and healthy.

Of course, it is important that you familiarize yourself with what is too cold for your dog.

This threshold will vary greatly depending on the breed of dog (where they originate and what type of coat they have).

For example, what is ideal for an Alaskan Husky is not going to be okay for a dog with minimal fur which originates from warmer regions (chihuahuas, for example).

You also don’t need to go through extreme measures during the fall or spring the moment that the weather starts to change.

If you live in a region of moderate weather, you probably don’t have to worry about too much.

You also need to be careful that you don’t do anything too dangerous or extreme. Burning yourself or your dog in the process of trying to keep them warm is also not a great idea.

How To Keep A Dog Warm At Night

We understand that you may not want to let your dog sleep in your bed with you.

So, here are five of the best strategies that you can try to help keep your dog warm throughout the night:

Keep Your Home Warm

It can be tempting for you to do what you can to limit the costs of your home heating.

However, this should not be done at the expense of your dog and their well-being. Be sure to warm all parts of your home, with special attention to areas where your dog sleeps.

Be sure to heat your home throughout the day and also throughout the night, for a sufficient amount of time.

Turning the heating down too long before bedtime is one way in which your dog can become cold at night.

It’s important to recognize the signs that your dog is getting cold. When you notice this, take measures to improve the heating of your home.

Turn on radiators for longer periods of time, and be sure to turn them on in areas where your dog likes to spend time.

Consider the season and plan ahead accordingly. Be sure to monitor for upcoming and drastic changes in climate as this can catch you off guard.

If your home heating isn’t adequate, you may want to consider investing in a space heater. They are easy to use and affordable.

Just note that you should be careful about which model you buy and be sure your dog isn’t at risk for burning itself.

The better heaters, like the product above, have safety measures in place to prevent your dog from getting burnt or exposed to any other risks.

Of course, your home should not be a sauna, nor too hot for your dog either. This can cause complications by itself.

However, if you start to feel cold more often than not, then chances are your dog is feeling the same!

Get A Specialized Pet Heat Pad

Of course, hardwood or tile floors will always be a little cold. While you can invest in a nice pair of socks or shoes, your dog is a little more limited in what they can do.

Instead, you can make sure that you have a nice and comfortable environment for them. Give them a nice, warm bed and some nice, comfy blankets.

It will help keep their body heat in and give them padding against any cold flooring.

The same can be said by giving them a little “home.” You can always get them a fleece bed with extra padding which will also provide extra comfort.

There are also specialized heating pads that have been designed for pets that sleep in colder parts of the house.

All your dog needs to do it to sit on the pad and it will instantly provide them with heat.

You can adjust the temperature, set a timer for the heat pad to go on and off and they are also fully chew resistant to prevent damage and your dog from damaging them.

Heating pads are an excellent solution because your dog can easily get up off the pad and find a cooler area if they get too hot.

This ensures that they are not exposed to too much heat where they can also suffer or experience negative issues like dehydration,

Remember, too much heat is also not a good thing either!

Move Your Dog

Not all houses are heated equally. Nor does heat move around the house the same. The truth is some rooms and areas of the house are colder than others.

Some rooms and areas are even colder with measures in place to improve the heating.

You should be sure to check the temperature of where your dog sleeps at night at all hours of the day. It might be that come night, the temperature is considerably less than during the day.

It can also be that after the heating goes off or during the night, the temperature plummets. So while you put them to bed in a warm environment this may not be the case come the morning.

For this reason you should consider moving your dog to a warmer part of the house if possible.

You may have a room or space that has better heating, does not have a draft or is just naturally warmer.

Dress Your Dog Accordingly

If you need a heat source that is a little more travel-friendly, you can consider getting them forms of clothing.

You can get anti-slip dog socks on Amazon which are great to purchase if you have a lot of tiles in your home or flooring that gets too cold.

The socks are available in a number of sizes and serve multiple purposes. They are insulating and keep your dogs paws clean.

As an added bonus, it helps keep your flooring from getting scratched and damaged.

When you just need something to lounge around the house in, a sweater is a nice fix for the chilly weather – just like with us humans!

This is a fun one because they come in all sorts of chic patterns and styles to chose from. You can even match your dog!

Keep in mind that not all dogs need this. In some cases, they may even be pretty uncomfortable and cause them to get overheated.

You may also notice that your dog rips it off or is super stressed out by them, you should consider not using them. Animals with no fur may need to get used to it though.

There is one major setback though, they are not waterproof.

If you bring your dog outside wearing a sweater and the weather takes a turn for the worst, they can get soaked and then consequentially freeze.

They are better off running around naked at the point, than with a soggy sweater. Even if it’s just snow and not straight water, it can melt which can lead to the sweater getting soaked.

Jackets, on the other hand, are designed for the weather. They are both wind and waterproof which makes them much safer to travel outside in.

They keep your pet warm, dry, and comfortable. They are also easier to put on for the most part in comparison to sweaters.

They just Velcro on over the body of your dog and require little to no movement and wiggling to slide them into a tight-fitting garment.

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As they are meant for outdoor wear, they also limit the amount of grime and dirt that gets tracked into the house from the outside walks.

Limit Time Outside

Another thing yous should be sure to do is try to limit your dogs exposure outside during the day in cold conditions.

It can be very difficult for them to handle the same amount of time that they can when the weather is nicer.

But more importantly, it can be difficult for them to later warm up!

This doesn’t mean you should totally stop letting them go outside, but limit it a bit and be careful to be mindful of how long they are staying out. Especially when there is a lot of ice and snow on the ground!

Of course, lots of dogs love a little snow and love to play around in it. A Husky or St. Bernard may yearn for the long, close exposure that they were bred to thrive in.

On the contrary, your little miniature greyhound my struggle a bit to maintain his shivering if it gets too windy outside.  

They can’t tell you exactly what they like, so you can try to do a bit of research over your particular breed.

Even if you have a mutt and you aren’t really sure what breed your dog is, there are still lots of ways for you to deduct how they are handing the pending conditions.

For one, learn to recognize the signs of your dog getting cold. As soon as you notice that they are getting cold, it may be wise to consider cutting their walks short.

It may be tempted to use other methods of warming, but you need to always consider your animal’s safety as the first priority.

The latter methods are safe and simple ways in which you can get your pooch as toasty as they’d like without overdoing it or putting your house at risk.

In Summary

Keeping your dog warm at night is very important for their health, happiness and well being.

While different breeds of dogs can handle cold weather differently, they all experience a threshold that you need to be cognizant of.

Consider that where you live, different seasons and times of the year all affect how your dog responds to the cold.

As does their age, your home, and the temperature that your dog is genetically adapted to.

As a dog owner, one of your responsibilities is to keep them warm and safe at all times.

Do your research and find out what temperature your specific breed of dog does best at.

Beyond this, invest in some of the strategies above. Thankfully these are affordable and practical things that you can do to quickly remedy and boost the temperature of a cold home.

Related Guides:

• Do Dogs Get Cold At Night? [This Is What You Need To Know]
• Should I Let My Dog Roam The House At Night?
• Where Should My Dog Sleep At Night Time? [What Is Optimal?]
• Why Has My Dog Started Pooping In The House At Night?
• Dog Throwing Up Only In Middle Of Night [Why & What To Do]
• Can Dogs Have Night Terrors? [Everything You Need To Know]