How cold is too cold...

tbne22 · Post by **tbne22** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:10 pm

...to leave a lab outside at night?

thunderhead · Post by **thunderhead** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:26 pm

That depends on the quality of his dog house. If it is well insulated, and is protected from any drafts, and is not too big inside, and has plenty of warm bedding such as straw that is in good condition, then I think it can be quite cold and the dog can stay comfortable.

tbne22 · Post by **tbne22** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:56 pm

appreciate the info...she has a wood house/chew toy that fits her pretty snug with plenty of wood chips but the house isn't very "air-tight" so to speak. we're in the south and we'll have a few 20 degree nights but not many... just curious...new lab ownere here...

thanks again...

thunderhead · Post by **thunderhead** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:18 pm

If you can find some bales of staw to use, they would have better insulating qaulites over wood chips. With enough bedding to make a nice little nest, I think you will not have any problems unless it turns realy cold.

Post by **ezzy333** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:10 pm

My dogs always stayed out in weather that was down in the 30 below range. They should have a good house that not only protects from the rain but also from the wind and plenty of good straw or hay bedding. A lab should handle 20 degrees as long as it is dry and out of the wind very easily. My house dogs go out for the day in 20 degree weather.

Ezzy

oakcreek · Post by **oakcreek** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:25 pm

All my dogs stay outside in barrels with prairie hay in them. I face them so they wind doesn't come in the door. It was down to 0 degrees the other night. THey all turned out fine, last year we had some below 0 temps and they were fine then as well.

tfbirddog2 · Post by **tfbirddog2** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 7:52 am

I have a heat or brood lamp in my dog house, between them and the lamp it runs about 70 to 80 degrees even when it was -22 out.

gonehuntin' · Post by **gonehuntin'** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:08 am

I don't think you can get too cold for a Lab. When we had our kennel in Idaho, they had insulated dog houses with Marsh Hay for bedding. Many times in a blizzard, you'd look out and there'd be 20 lumps curled up and covered in snow sleeping on top of their dog houses. A Lab can stand a LOT of cold.

tfbirddog2 · Post by **tfbirddog2** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:39 pm

My lab too likes to sit out during blizzards she sit on top of the house where she is over the lamp. She was born during a lat winter blizzard so she has never had a problem with cold.in fact will out she out hunts the two gsps in the snow and cold.

Post by **ezzy333** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:35 pm

Probably more dogs have trouble with the heat than the cold but you never here much about that.

Ezzy

AZ Brittany Guy · Post by **AZ Brittany Guy** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:03 pm

oakcreek wrote:All my dogs stay outside in barrels with prairie hay in them. I face them so they wind doesn't come in the door. It was down to 0 degrees the other night. THey all turned out fine, last year we had some below 0 temps and they were fine then as well.

I am now using 55 gal plastic drums with field hay and it seems to be working fine as long as the back of the drums face the wind / rain. I tried one drum with the K9 Kondo door which is nice but pricy when you have 5 drums. Do you or anyone have an alternative for a dog door?