Over the winter months dogs will undoubtedly notice the change in temperatures and the weather will affect different dogs in different ways; breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs, Samoyed and Husky will thrive with lower temperatures and winter weather! However breeds with thinner fur and no fur will struggle more with the cold. For example short hair Chihuahuas, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds and even Yorkshire Terriers who have a lot of fur but it’s very fine.
Photo by www.thephotodaf.com
One way to help dogs stay comfortable is adding to their bedding set up. If your dog has a bed you can add a blanket or more blankets so they can choose to get cosy by moving the blankets about or getting under them. If they get too warm they can of course move the blanket off!
Types of blanket can make a difference too with polar fleece and Sherpa fleece being very snuggly, faux fur being warm and cosy, and vet bed being the choice of many dog owners over the years for its reliability and warmth. Some breeds like a terrier tunnel / snuggle tunnel which is a bed with an extra layer of material attached on three sides so dogs can get inside and burrow!
Take a look at the cosier dog beds if your dog does like to hide under blankets! Beds with a canopy or their own cover can be great for burrowing dogs as they can climb inside and really get cosy plus the heat stays inside more!
Raised beds can help dogs who aren’t keen on super soft beds or lots of blankets but struggle with a draught. When the bed is raised off the ground any draught tends to go underneath so your dog stays warm. Raised beds can also have blankets and snuggle tunnels attached to them to make them snug too.
But why do dogs need extra bedding in winter?
- Warmth is the most obvious reason. More blankets will help a dog feeling the cold to be warmer, helping them rest better and sleep more soundly. Restful sleep helps with development of younger dogs and body repair of all dogs.
- Comfort for health – dogs with joint issues or arthritis (of any age!) can feel more discomfort when it’s cold. Having extra blankets or more choice of textures can help a dog feeling more comfortable when resting by keeping them warmer.
- Mobility – dogs with joint issues may find the cold makes their joints stiffer so being warmer when resting can help them be more mobile once they are up out of bed.
- Warm up after a walk – especially if the weather is wet, snowy etc. Cold can be difficult for many dogs but being cold and wet is even worse. Having plenty of blankets and bedding can help dogs dry and warm up to prevent health issues occurring such as respiratory issues, frostbite or even hyperthermia.
- Older dogs and young puppies can also feel the cold more easily before it even seems like winter has set in so providing extra bedding ensure they are happy and comfortable!
When adding new blankets many dogs will accept them straight away and use them the same way they use their current blankets. However there may be some dogs who either are unsure of new things or who find new things exciting!
If your dog likes their familiar belongings and tends to be unsure of something new then extra blankets may need to be washed in your usual detergent so they smell more like the home, you might also place it on your seat in the home and sit on it a few times so it has your scent on too. When giving to your dog you can place it under existing blankets so it blends in more or may find putting it on the floor and sitting on it yourself while encouraging your dog to join you can really help add new blankets to the set up.
For dogs who are very excitable with blankets and bedding you may need to look at more robust materials that aren’t as fun to shake or tear. There are beds designed for dogs that chew and dog that provide comfort while being very tough. Dogs that like to chew bedding can cause themselves a lot of damage by ingesting pieces of bedding so giving them lots of fluffy blankets isn’t an option. However you can ensure their bed or crate is in a comfortable area of the home, not next to a fireplace where the breeze comes down the chimney, or near a door that may open and close various times each day. You could put matting under the bed so it isn’t on the floor directly which helps the bed not become cold. If in a crate you could try crate covers that are a rigid material and hard for dogs to pull them inside the crate to tear. Having the cover over the crate makes it warmer and more cosy inside.
Additionally to blankets and bedding are warmer items that can benefit some dogs. There are pet safe warmers that go in the microwave to heat up then slide under the dog’s bed or blanket so they get the heat coming through. They will cool after a while and I wouldn’t recommend leaving them with your dog while you are not there.
Self heating blankets have a foil layer inside the bed which reflects the dog’s body heat back towards them and helps with warmth without any gadgets that may get eaten or played with.
There are heat pads that plug into the electrics and go under your dog’s bed. I have one by Pet Remedy which I use for Ripley as she loves heat! But again it’s on when I am with her then I switch it off to be safe.
If your dog is looking colder or you worry they might get cold, add a blanket to their usual bed and they have the choice to keep it on or move it off, or they can move somewhere else if they prefer! Personally I’ve never had any issues with giving my dogs an extra blanket – if anything it’s hard to keep them off a new blanket, even when it’s not for them!!
I was asked to contribute with an article for Country Living Online this month talking about dogs having extra blankets in winter, along with other dog experts, and the link for this article is here:
https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/pets/a69923068/do-dogs-need-extra-bedding-in-winter/
Beds and Blankets I personally use include:
– The Original High K9 Raised Beds – https://www.hik9.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23038076346&gbraid=0AAAAADR6Taap99BubUBTZcwQjf9YlDpsH&gclid=CjwKCAiA64LLBhBhEiwA-PxguwbdQOEinQCSgjXOfGIJsIzZKHGqfHKfT2emzGRV_kakhFoLV6PdaRoCrUkQAvD_BwE
– Self Heating Dog Blanket – such as this on Amazon (affiliate link) – https://amzn.to/4suyHiZ
Pet Remedy Heated Mat – https://petremedy.co.uk/ref/Joe_DTES/ (search in Shop All)
Vet Bed – Strong but cosy and long lasting bedding or crate liner – eg on Amazon (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/4juiAgY
