Housing can be one of the most important steps in getting your outside pet ready for the winter months. We actually bring
our dogs in when it gets cold, but we still have our little pet pygmy goat to worry about. After all, a goat that is not house
broken can be a little problematic in the home. However, she is still part of the family and we want to keep her comfortable so
we chose an insulated dog house warmed by a PetCool dog house heater with a kane pet heat mat on the floor. You can
buy an insulated
dog house online
or you can
build your own like we did.
When choosing a winter shelter for your pet you'll want to consider several things. First, it will need to provide relief from the
wind. Most standard dog houses do not do this, the wind will blow right on in. One potential solution, is a home with a built in
interior wind break or one that is wide enough to offer a spot away from the door. Door flaps can also work nicely, however,
not all animals will tolerate a flap. Insulation is important as well.
Insulation, flaps and a wind break are very valuable assets to your pet's winter home, however, an ice cold floor is never fun for
anyone to lie on, even your pet. We love the Kane
heat mat as the solution to this problem, we've used it for years with great success. It helps keep our pets
warm without making them too hot. Another idea for additional warmth from the cold is to install a
dog house heater like the one from PetCool for your pet's home.
Another item that can be helpful in the winter is the Kuranda above ground
dog bed, it doesn't have any heating factors
and it may be too large for inside the dog house, but, it
can help get your pet off the cold hard ground.
Regarding ways to keep our cats warm in the winter, they like to cuddle in the hay inside the barn for warmth, but we also
have a Kane
heat mat on the porch in
an area that is sheltered from the north wind. They also like this option a lot and we often find them choosing this spot over
the one in the barn. We've tried "houses" but they've never liked them much, so
we
do bring them in when temperatures approach the lower 20's and below.
One last important point, it is possible to create an environment that is
too warm for your
specific pet, so
you'll want to be sure and visit with your veterinarian about what will work best for your specific pet's winter situation.
Winter Products Of Interest
Insulated Dog House
Kane Heat Mat
PetCool Dog House Heater
Kuranda Above Ground Dog Bed
Other Winter Helpers Inside And Out
Battling winter cold and slippery ice and snow is a challenge for anyone in snowy, cold weather climates. But, it's always important to remember
to use winter products that will be safe for our pets too. SafePaw makes an
ice melt designed to be kind to your pet's paws
should they have to walk on it too. Fresh water is vital to your pet, consequently if you live in a climate
that commonly reaches temperatures below freezing, you'll want to be sure to keep your water in a heated dog bowl to prevent freezing.
In addition, even inside the house, your dog, cat or
other pet might enjoy a heated
dog bed or self-warming thermal pet cushion to take away the winter chill.
Popular Pet Stores Featuring Winter Items
Petco 
Dog.com 
Pet Street Mall
Sit Stay
Orvis
Warm Winter Pet Fashions, Sweaters and Coats
There are also some very fashionable coats and sweaters your dog might like to wear when
they accompany you on your winter walks outside the home. The selection of coats for dogs is almost endless these days, ranging from
base camp parkas and fur trimmed hoodies to colorful raincoats and ski jackets. Beautiful sweaters are also available including
tweed, chenile, cross stitch, cable knit and more. Faux fur winter hats too!
Stores With Winter Fashions For Pets
Petco
Dog.com
Pet Street Mall
Sit Stay
Orvis
Flea, Tick & Heartworm
