Red Fox Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 What's best to use in a crate to keep a dog warm at night? My poor Ridgie has a space blanket over his crate (reflective tarp thing to retain heat), normal blanket over that, padding between the tray and mattress, polar fleece blanket, full size minky blanket and a chilly dog sweater on and he's still waking up cold at 4am! I'm not keen on the heated pet beds that will take up the entire crate, but thinking either a small heat pad http://www.whelpingsupplies.com.au/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=274. Are these suitable for inside crates? What kind of heat do they put out? Or perhaps a snuggle safe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 is the crate in a cold room ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 It was really cold last night. What about a doona igloo you could stitch up a bag out of a cheap doona? I sometimes use a wheat bag - because I figure not too much harm if my EH decides to dig it up and chew on it, but it wouldn't be very warm by 4am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 AS well as the spca eblanket, I would get a BIG doona from opshop or somewhere, and insulate the crate over the space blanket :) That works really well! Obviously the MOST important bit of a crate to seal/cover is the bit near the floor ..as this is where the drafts will be sneaking in.(cold air sits at floor level.) I buy lots of mattress protectors, old electric blankets and doonas from the opshop ..and they hold the warmth well :) The other thing, which probably would be messy in the nth degree is shreddedpaper, in which teh dog makes a nest ..so on all sides they are protected/insulated :) We do similar here with raw wool ... the dogs have such a cosy nest :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Not really. It's in my (carpeted) bedroom next to the bed. I don't use a heater so the house is cold - but certainly not freezing. It's been getting down to 0 degrees overnight and will get a bit colder as we move in to winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 (edited) I can't do the shredded paper but will put a thick wad of newspaper between the tray of the crate and the mattress tonight to insulate it from the floor. The blanket I have over the top is large but not as thick as a doona so might swap it for something heavier. The space blanket is wrapped tightly around and zip tied down to the ground like a crate cover though. eta, the minky is pretty big too and pushed up enough around the sides to snuggle into. He's just really feeling the cold this year! The Mali on the other hand pushes her big pink minky to the side and sleeps on the canvas mat on her back. Edited May 16, 2012 by SecretKei Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Hamlet just has his polar fleece coat on, and he sleeps on a shadecloth bed with a blanket & pillow ..it is very cold in my room, too- I have a window open!..it was -2 here this morning... ..If he doesn't move around much. or chew..maybe make him a 'sleeping bag' using a BIG doona ?, to be used in the crate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Hamlet just has his polar fleece coat on, and he sleeps on a shadecloth bed with a blanket & pillow ..it is very cold in my room, too- I have a window open!..it was -2 here this morning... ..If he doesn't move around much. or chew..maybe make him a 'sleeping bag' using a BIG doona ?, to be used in the crate? He doesn't chew at all so that helps. Not sure if he'd stay in/under a sleeping bag or not. I tucked him under a blanket last night and he managed to kick it off at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Not sure if he'd stay in/under a sleeping bag or not. I was thinking of a big doona shape which would fit inside teh crate ... so he can't really get out of it? An open side near the door , but floor/walls/top enclosed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Snuggle Safe hold their heat well :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flame ryder Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Beans as in bean bag beans are really warm. My Chinese crested Mojo make's himself a cosy nest in a bean bag. Mojo doesn't chew things up luckily...but if a dog did rip up a beanbag it would be a catastrophe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 if a dog did rip up a beanbag it would be a catastrophe. *nods* Mitchell did that the first time he was in a boarding kennel .. his nice custom made doggie beanbag bed .....The kennel owners thought it was a white Christmas!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VJB Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I bought a snuggle safe when my dog was a puppy, but I stole it and use it every single day for myself. :) They are great, but I think a doona and some blankets to snuggle with would provide some good warmth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 After all that he seriously can't be cold?? As for the tarp thing, replace with a blanket it's obviously not working anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 After all that he seriously can't be cold?? As for the tarp thing, replace with a blanket it's obviously not working anyway. Well you wouldn't think so. Makes me think that the cold is rising up through the ground... The tarp/space blanket is this http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=218&ParentCat=254&string=space All-Weather Space BlanketMPI OutdoorsThe original Space® brand blanket, this All-Weather Blanket evolved from an insulation material developed for use by NASA in the Apollo program. The blanket is a four-ply laminate of clear polyethylene film, a precise vacuum deposition of pure aluminum, a special reinforcing fabric, and a layer of colored polyethylene film. This blanket's unique insulating capabilities allow it to reflect or retain over 80% of radiated heat. In the hot months when you're outdoors with your dog, face the reflective side out to keep sun and heat away. In the cold months, cover your dog's crate with the reflective side facing in to keep available heat in. This blanket is 5' x 7' and weighs only 10 oz. It is waterproof, windproof, compact, lightweight, durable, and has grommeted corners. Great for sunshade, windbreak, or ground cover at agility trials. To clean, simply wipe with a damp cloth or sponge. Thanks Gretel / VJB, might grab a snuggle safe and try it out. If the dog doesn't like it I'll keep it for myself instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Stick him in your bed - problem solved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I have one of these for the small dogs over night, it says it keeps warm for 12 hours - I think more like 8. http://k9direct.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24&products_id=24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Spots Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Having the same problem at the moment with the whippets in Qld, despite pj's polar fleece, 2x wool beds, and crate covers the little one wakes me up 3 x per night. Arrrggghhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooch Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Shredded newspaper in a doona cover or sew up a blanket. When it gets a bit smelly, throw out the newspaper and wash the cover. Great insulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 i have just ordered 3 snuggle safe's for mine, just waiting for my sis to post them from the USA :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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