Questions about dogs and sub-zero weather?
How long can a dog, a 1 yr old golden to be exact, be outside, with shelter, in sub-zero weather? Since my husband and I both work, I am concerned about leaving her in her pen, with shelter (a bed and a warm dog house) for more than 2 hours at a time. Do you think 2 hour intervals will be ok? We have never left her in the house by herself yet, but are giving her the first test today for an hour.
1. She is normally outside all day, every day.
2. I am not worried about her chewing on things, she never has, even from 8 weeks old. She only ever chewed her own toys.
3. She has a dog house outside and a tunnel into the barn where she has another dog house with a big shredded paper filled bed, which is inside one of the horse stalls.
4. She has been out in the sub-zero weather and does not shiver. We live in new England and she has a very thick coat.
5. She does have water with a heater in her indoor pen.
6. I am a long time dog owner, this is not my first dog.
7. Huskies can stay out in the Alaskan cold for an entire day….which is why I asked if the Golden can do the same, but just not all day.
Yeah Rexy.. the only intelligent answer!
Tagged with: dog house • dog owner • first test • huskies • intelligent answer • intervals • long time • new england • own toys • shredded paper • thick coat • Weather
Filed under: Weather
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Yes Huskies can be outside, but they are completely different dogs bred with an extra insulated fur coat to protect them, they have been used as sled dogs ! but Golden’s have fur to protect them from some degree of cold but not for extended periods as their coat is coated with oils - for protecting them when they retrieve items in the water. But the general rule is if it’s too cold for You outside, it’s too cold for your Golden. Just try and keep her indoors during this sub zero temperature.
Outside to pee. No longer! That’s too cold to be outside.
Put her in the bathroom or laundry room to confine her.
I now have 2 small inside dogs, but growing up on a farm, our big dogs were almost never inside. We did make sure they had a warm shed or barn to get into. And if it was extraordinarily cold we did bring them inside, at least to our mudroom area. Consider that the water will also freeze and they need hydration. A dog who is not used to being left outside should never be left out during extreme temps.
If unsure, ask your vet.
sub zero,,,, well I wouldn’t leave mine out longer than to do her business and thats it, the only way I would leave a dog out in that type of weather is to have a heated climate control dog house with a swing door to keep the heat in, heated water system and cook her foods at least twice a day so she does not lose weight trying to keep warm…..,,,if you do not have that,,,, keep her in the house.
I’ve withdrawn my answer. I don’t get why people ask for help, then insult those who offer it. Based on your original question, you received a lot of ‘intelligent’ answers. Good luck with your dog.
Do you have a garage, or a laundry room you could keep her in while your at work? Maybe, you should invest in a dog crate, if your not going to be at work for long periods of time. Personally, I wouldn’t leave her alone in the house while your gone, until you try it a few times while your there.
To answer your question, I’m not sure how long your 1 year old golden can survive in sub-zero weather. Monitor her when she’s outside…is she shaking, or showing signs of being cold? Safest bet, get her a crate, or put her in the laundry room, bathroom, or garage. If anything, it will give you peace of mind
If your worried about her eating everything in your house, then crate her while your gone. Its not jail. Dogs are denning animals and dont mind a small enclosed area as long as its not used for punishment.
i do understand your problem, but personally i think that it is too long for her to be outside, i would leave her in the kitchen , if you have the room, just put everything out of reach, if you definately cannot have her in the house while your not there, go and buy some water bottles and put those in the shelter under her blanket, to keep her warm, then when you do come back after 2 hours just keep filling them up with hot water again
It’s not safe to keep her out in conditions like that-they have sensative areas that can and will get frostbite. If she can’t be trusted in the house keep her at least in the garage with a dog house or penned off in the house to a room that she can’t really destroy.
I vote for confinement in the kitchen, everyone who has commented has great answers, I would not leave any dog out more than to go pee and poop