I have a lab who has to stay outside while I’m at work. He has a dog house that he doesn’t use. He has burrowed “burrow” under the barn that he stays in quite a bit. Where I live temps occasionally get down to the single digits and teens, but more frequently 20-30s through the cold parts of winter. Would a dog turnout blanket be beneficial when he has to be out, or are the dog turnout blankets not necessary?
Is he outside during the day or at night too? My labs all wear coats if they are outside for more than just a quick potty trip. I have had great success with the blankets at SmartPak. Make sure he has a source of unfrozen water, too.
I’m really no expert and I may be wrong, but would wearing a coat most of the time keep him from growing a really thick coat of his own? A genuine question, maybe someone here knows…? Maybe he’s already grown his winter coat and it’s not an issue? Thinking about it, my lab (in the south) is just getting in her winter coat now. (Fur. Every. Where.)
[QUOTE=Mary in Area 1;5957286]
Is he outside during the day or at night too? My labs all wear coats if they are outside for more than just a quick potty trip. I have had great success with the blankets at SmartPak. Make sure he has a source of unfrozen water, too.[/QUOTE]
He is outside most of the time… comes in late at night/overnight.
I also forgot to mention… he lives with my pony and has a run in shed also. So he has a 12 x12 space to get out of the weather… an igloo dog house that I haven’t seen him use since he dug his burrow under the barn… which is where he frequently goes.
Do you see anything that indicates he’s cold? Does he grow a very thick coat?
I’ve seen labs all over the board on hair coat and cold tolerance. If he’s got a really nice, thick coat and you don’t see any indication that he’s cold, I wouldn’t worry about it. If you do think he’s cold, I would consider a blanket or a heated outdoor dog bed.
Do you have anything in the igloo for bedding that will make it more snug and comfy for him? I have two beagles who spend the day outside while I’m working and I have appropriately sized igloos for them. I layer the flooring with pine shavings and then stuff a flake or two of fluffy straw inside. They love going in and rooting around to make their “nests” in the straw and seem to stay warm and toasty. They don’t sleep together as my oldest beagle is a diva who won’t share her space.
labs are supposed to be bred to dive into icy water and retrieve ducks all day long; most suffer from over-heating rather than a need for coats.
@Big Belgian, IMHO as a breeder of Jack Russells who were kenneled during the day in 15 degrees and higher, I’ve tried both straw and hay in the igloos and hay is CLEARLY PREFERABLE. It doesn’t break down as quickly, smells better and retains warmth better than straw.
OP, if he’s happiest under the barn in his ‘burrow’, then I’d fluff a couple flakes of grass hay and shove it in with a rake.
I might worry that he could get caught/stuck if left wearing a doggie rug and he likes to burrow under your barn!
[QUOTE=sisu27;5958727]
I might worry that he could get caught/stuck if left wearing a doggie rug and he likes to burrow under your barn![/QUOTE]
Actually, most dogs can get out of a coat if it is that stuck. I’ve come home to fine the Foggy Mountain coats hooked to the chainlink, and the dogs none the worse for wear. I’ve found a Thermatex coat (the first one I owned) stuck in a bramble bush in APRIL after turning out the dog in NOVEMBER. Needless to say, the dog came home in November. (PS the coat, after washing, went on to give several more years of good service).
I’ve also found Foggy Mountain coats trashed on the kennel floor with all buckles and surcingles still fastened.
OP I would be sure to up your dog’s calorie intake to make sure he could keep himself warm. If he starts losing weight, he’s not warm enough.
All labs I’ve known if given their druthers would not be caught dead in a coat. Provide a warm, dry place to hole up and Pup will be fine. Until he gets old. Then you need to rethink living arrangements. Listen to Kryswyn re: hay.
Hi,
My name is Halle. I work at Schneiders Saddlery. I came across this thread and wanted to let you know that we offer a range of dog blankets for any weather situation. We make waterproof dog blankets, dog warmers, tekno fleece warmers, quilted blankets and waterproof sheets. I personally use a dog blanket on my Jack Russell and he loves it. He waits for me to put it on him before he goes outside.
If you are interested take a look at our dog blankets. http://www.sstack.com/dog-blankets/
