Whiskeys Mum Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Hello ...... just after a few extra opinions here We have a 1.5 year old ridgeback x kelpie, 40kgs with a short ridgeback coat He was a rescue dog so we have only had him for 6 months. He has been sleeping outside at night time since we got him, and seems happy enough with that, but now that it is winter I am not sure if I need to bring him in? If I do it will only be for the winter months, then he will be out to sleep again. He has a large deck only open on one side, and a huge hammock bed with lots of blankets, and a weatherbeeta quilted coat, so that is about all I can do for him when he is outside. When I get up in the morning, his body feels warm but his head and feet are cold. He doesn't whine or complain when I put him out to bed, but I hate to think of him laying out there freezing at night. If I do bring him in to sleep for a treat, he seems restless during the night, and wakes up a lot earlier than if he is out. Do you think Brisbane winters are too cold for him to be out at night? Or am I just being a sook p.s he gets plenty of time inside with us, whenever we are home and awake he is by my side, so he is not a live outside dog. Thank you for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosetta Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Brisbane is freezing at night at the moment. The difficulty is bringing him in at night now and then putting him outside again when it warms up - too confusing for him. If you really will not have him inside permanently then I would set up a proper enclosed kennel for him that is set off the ground a little and continue with the warm coat and blankets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivory & Beau Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 If he seems happy out there, than being inside, then I'm sure he will be fine over winter. My dogs are outside during the day, and now come in at night recently because it has been quite wet this winter in Perth. I have no doubt I have broken the dogs and they are going to want to be in every night now! Plus we have a 14 year old Lab, so he needs extra warmth over winter. We can't let Zeke and Ivy in, then leave the two youngest outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 If he's used to being outside then he will be fine - but please, not in a hammock bed! His body heat can't warm up the whole atmosphere. Get him a proper kennel or just rig up roof & sides in some way - don't need to be weather proof as he's under the porch roof, but definitely draft proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Have you got an outdoor table on your patio? Put his bed under it and throw a nice thick blanket or an old doona over the table to make it in to a cosy cave for him :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) If he must sleep outside he needs an enclosed area or kennel so there are no draughts. Edited July 2, 2014 by Dame Aussie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskeys Mum Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Thank you for your advice. We have tried 3 different doghouses for him, all plenty big enough and made of different materials, and he wouldn't step one foot in them .... even for a treat! I tried to convince him for a good couple of months and he was still mortified at the sight of them ..... perhaps something from before we rescued him? We got him a hammock bed as I was told that it is better for their bones if their body is off the ground?? He does also have a large cushion bed as well, but he chooses the hammock bed over this one most of the time so that is where I have put the majority of his blankets and pillows. The "table cave" is a great idea, but unfortunately our outdoor table has a support/footrest beam underneath so he would only have a half table cave which I don't think would be big enough for him.He is tucked in the back corner of the deck, so is pretty sheltered from the wind there as there is a bit of furniture and covered BBQ between him and the only open space. My husband thinks he is perfectly fine out there otherwise he wouldn't be happy to go to bed at night, but I figure that if I am still cold all rugged up in clothes or in my bed right now then surely he must be too ..... not the best logic I know, considering we're different species, but he's still my baby :) I am thinking maybe I can do a compromise, and let him in on freezing nights like we are having now, but have his bed in the rumpus room, right by the glass doors on to the deck, then he is still close to his normal outside spot, and not in the bedroom with us, so perhaps that will make it easier to put him out again when it warms up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Given he is under a patio your other option would be to add a heated bed pad on to the top f his hammock bed. They had some quite large ones for sale at the reject shop a few weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosetta Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Yes I would bring him in and review the situation later when it warms up - you may find it is no trouble to have him inside at night. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranga Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 When we lived on the Northern Tablelands we had seriously cold winters (minus ten and eleven) and our blue cattle dogs all slept outside in kennels filled with hay. If I gave them blankets they dragged them out and slept on the open ground :) Our Labrador used to come inside at night and when we let her out she'd go and roll in the frost! Every winter I used to get her a large cardboard box and fill it with blankets on the verandah. She'd snore her way through the night very happily :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Most of our dogs are outside ... they most often do not use kennels, but dig a lovely bed in the sand ... I think if you can put a tarp or piece of carpet UNDER to stop the air flow thru hammock, and then use a couple of polar fleece - or WOOL blankets (check opshop) ... Dogs are MUCH more comfortable in a hollow space , rather than a flat , human like mattress - as in a hollow , any cold breeze goes over them ., the sides/base stay warm from their body .and when they curl up , most of their back is cuddled by the sides of the hollow :) That's why dogs/bears etc have dens ... to conserve body heat . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivory & Beau Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Most of our dogs are outside ... they most often do not use kennels, but dig a lovely bed in the sand ... I think if you can put a tarp or piece of carpet UNDER to stop the air flow thru hammock, and then use a couple of polar fleece - or WOOL blankets (check opshop) ... Dogs are MUCH more comfortable in a hollow space , rather than a flat , human like mattress - as in a hollow , any cold breeze goes over them ., the sides/base stay warm from their body .and when they curl up , most of their back is cuddled by the sides of the hollow :) That's why dogs/bears etc have dens ... to conserve body heat . Off topic a little but my English Pointer is a big boy and he curls up in to a tight ball when sleeping outside on his doggy bed. I'm always amazed at now small and tight he can curl up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Most of our dogs are outside ... they most often do not use kennels, but dig a lovely bed in the sand ... I think if you can put a tarp or piece of carpet UNDER to stop the air flow thru hammock, and then use a couple of polar fleece - or WOOL blankets (check opshop) ... Dogs are MUCH more comfortable in a hollow space , rather than a flat , human like mattress - as in a hollow , any cold breeze goes over them ., the sides/base stay warm from their body .and when they curl up , most of their back is cuddled by the sides of the hollow :) That's why dogs/bears etc have dens ... to conserve body heat . Off topic a little but my English Pointer is a big boy and he curls up in to a tight ball when sleeping outside on his doggy bed. I'm always amazed at now small and tight he can curl up. They do , don't they ? keeping that hairless belly from losing too much warmth .... instinctively . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivory & Beau Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 They do , don't they ? keeping that hairless belly from losing too much warmth .... instinctively . I didn't think about it like that! EPs do have a hairless belly. I call him my bendable puppy hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juice Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Have you tried the kennels with the removable lid? you could take the lid off and see if he goes in, then perhaps put it back on when he is used to it? I have mine up on pallets with doona's inside, and they also have the heatable discs you put in the microwave, they are still warm in the mornings. If the kennel is a no go, what about a crate outside, you could put his bed inside, then if he takes to it start to gradually put a cover over it. I had a RR x who wouldn't stay inside to sleep either, just got restless and kept asking to go back outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 (edited) If you're freezing, the dog is cold, bring him in. Edited July 3, 2014 by sas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumof4girls Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Brr it is freezing here at night , I'd either have a nice cosey kennel with a flap or give in and have them inside .. My guys are inside ,they keep my toes warm :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskeys Mum Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Thanks all for the advice. I am hesitant to try any more dog houses after spending a fortune on the last couple which he wouldn’t go near and I had to sell again for half the price! I have always been against electric blankets/pads for both humans and animals (ocd fear of electrical fires) but I had never heard of the microwavable pads …. I just looked them up and they look great, I am going to buy one or two of them this weekend for sure! So along with that I think I will just try bringing him inside on super freezing nights (like under 5 degrees or stormy), put his bed in rumpus room so he can see outside and still sleep on his own, and see how that goes. I’m hoping if I alternate between in and out he won’t get too used to one, but hopefully it doesn’t confuse him too much either. I will give it a go for a while and if he seems unhappy inside then I will rearrange the deck furniture or try and DIY a bed surround of sorts so he is as sheltered as possible, and figure he would rather be out there. At least then I won’t feel guilty every night when I am toasty warm in bed anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 At least then I won’t feel guilty every night when I am toasty warm in bed anymore! Thing is you are trying to accomdate your boy with the weather changes. That's far better than just ignoring the fact he might be cold..... We spent a couple of years in the Mid-West of the USA. Winter was snow. We had one Vizsla which liked a bed of straw at nights. He had been born in Hungry during winter & that was what he was used to having. Good Luck with your efforts. :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 And if you want him to sleep outside sometimes…ONLY bring him inside when he's not asking to come in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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