Preparing For Winter Hopefully there isn't already a thread for this, (I looked at the stickies too!) but does anyone have advice for keeping warm in the winter? My baby will be 5 months October 22 and is still just under 2 pounds. I wasn't quite expecting him to be this small! What temp would you guys think is too cold for the little guy to be outside? I have been taking him potty outside, but if it's too cold I can put puppy pads down. I just don't want to confuse him. I will be buying him hard sole boots, I bought a coat for him, and he has plenty of sweaters. Just wondering if there is anything specific I should make sure of for the outdoor gear. Also I just bought a self warming blanket. He wants to snuggle on a heating pad but obviously that's too dangerous, are there any other doggie safe alternatives? I will be keeping him inside in the warm as much as possible obviously, and again sorry if this has been asked a jillion times. Just want to make sure he stays safe! |
Well, here in Houston, our winter temps usually crash below a staggering 40* in winter....maybe in a really BRUTAL winter, we will freeze our butts off as the temps plung to a bone chilling 30*....and I can remember a couple of freak winters where the entire city was immobilized with temps that plunged to 18-20* for a staggering 14 days in a row!!!! I am envious of those of you with cool days experienced these recent days...we are still in 88-96* here in Houston!!! Needless to say, I can not offer any valuable information on how to ready yourself for brutal winters....but I enjoy reading all the information that is absolutely stunning to me!! Who in the world knew you had to shovel snow off the ROOF of your house and garage!!!!!!! Who in the world ever thought you had to unearth your ENTIRE car, buried totally in snow!!!! AMAZING!!!! |
Doesn't matter if a question has been asked "a jillion" times--it's always new info to someone beside yourself and a great reminder for many others! Sounds like you have your tiny baby covered---:D sorry, couldn't resist--! But you'll get excellent suggestions from experienced, cold-weather owners! |
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I have a wood platform that raises the doggy bed up off of the floor a couple inches. I have a heating pad, which is specially (very low temp) for small Dogs. I just slip it under the platform and it works well. It sets on the floor and never touches the platform or bed material. Also, they have devices which plug into an electrical receptacle, that sense temperature. Plug it into the wall, and the heating pad into it. You can set any temperature you want for it to come on and energize the pad. |
We have a special doggie heating pad that lays inside the doggie bed with fuzzy blanket on top of that. Buddybear is now sleeping on my bed so this will be for his day use if I have to go away from the house for a little while. It sounds like you have everything planned out. Buddybear doesn't take to the puppy pads, he chews them and shakes them to pieces..........which I wish he would use as he Hates going out in the rain and snow. He doesn't understand and I don't know how to get it through to him. |
They sell dog warming pads on Amazon, I am sure Pet Supplies Plus, PetCo and Pet Smart also sell them. I do not use warming pads, I have a big boy, 12 lbs. Here in N.E.Pa, our avg. winter day temps are below 28 degrees to -7. And yes I have had to have my roof shoveled a couple of times lol. You can use T-shirts to keep your baby comfy indoors. I keep my indoor temp at 75 (I like it warm) I also use a humidifier so my boy's skin doesn't become dry. I suggest start now getting your baby use to wearing the boots. Cody uses the back yard to potty unless snow has accumulated to a foot or higher, in those cases he has to use the back deck, I walk him for exercise only. No walks if temp is 30 or below. I am sure others will be along to offer up suggestions on the warming pads. |
Living in FL, I have some sweaters for Bella, but that is about it. We will see how she likes the cooler weather as it gets here. |
We have spent the last few winters in NC with minimal snow. When we lived in Michigan, we shoveled an area for Dinky outside. he was always fast, hurried back inside and burrowed under blankets. |
Same here. We're not known for winters in Mississippi; however, it has gotten really cold (0-20) degrees these past couple of years for about a week (the dreaded polar votex). This causes major problems here with the pipes in homes -- they are just simply not insulated for that type of weather. We have to leave all the doors to cabinets open, leave water dripping in the sinks, and insulate the spigots outside. Our Zeus LOVES cold weather and despises the heat. It snowed a little here last year, and we couldn't get him back inside. He ran from us. He absolutely loved it; then he would stand at the window and whine to back out. We have several sweaters for him. I also bought a "winter" harness for him. It has sherpa on the inside and wool on the outside. I also bought him a doggie "coat." It has sherpa on the inside and weatherproof material on the outside. I don't think these two would suffice for the north though. These were in a Tuesday Morning here for $6.99 and $8.99, respectively. But honestly, I think people up north would laugh at my "winter" coats! I, myself, wear shoes with no socks all year and don't own a coat, so I just can't understand. Good luck! |
A picture 1 Attachment(s) Here is Zeus in our winter snow last year! |
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Definitely Jkpal! Double trouble for sure! |
If he is doing well w/ potty training and is going outside potty really well, I would truly *not* risk confusing him by introducing the pads...bc you could regret this. I think you sound really well prepared for winter and it will go great. |
One thing I'd like to recommend for winter is either doggie boots or paw wax. Personally, I like using "musher's secret" because neither Magnus/Zoey will put up with doggie boots. This is also to protect their pads from the salt that'll be spread to melt icing on sidewalks/roads. |
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