EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

what do you do to keep the dogs comfortable or at least some what comfortable during this freezing weather? what bedding do you use? things like that..

I fill the barrels with straw, and put flaps over the opening in the barrel. It got down to -21 here last year with 10 inches of snow.... they all made it okay. I also feed extra when its that cold....

That's easy.  Just light a fire.


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well i would but not all the dogs can come in...only 3 are allowed inside..one because he is so old. lol

Get a square bale of hay and put some of it in there house always had good luck with it and the dogs like it

I got some vest from cabelas that seem to work pretty good and keep their internal organs pretty warm while out in the field or in the yard. My dogs don't do so well in the freezing temps. A lot better off working in the heat for long periods of time.

B/c straw is so high this year Im using pine shavings, always used straw in the past. As long as their dog houses have bedding and are dry and out of the wind there always fine. Extra feed helps. I point the dog houses east so when southern winds come in after a cold northern there still out of the wind. I also let my pups (under 6 mo.) double up when I can  ;) There tough... always ok in the morning

That works for any winter here in Tx I am curious how people in Minnesota or Greenbay or Michigan do it when its below 0 all the time??

yeah thats a good question...im curious about it too..i have bales of hay in the dog houses already..its just one of our dogs was showing signs of hypothermia and im about to pull her inside. i was worried about it and seeing if i could do more..thanks

If its just one in dog doing it just get you a shop light from walmart and clamp it to her house and plug it in( old lamp anything you can put a regular old lightbulb in and plug it up at night puts out enough heat to get it nice and warm in the doghouse

I have been parking my truck in the garage and putting dogs in the dog boxes at night with warm blankets that come out of the dryer. I also have a portable travel kennel, that I put them in at night in the garage. My dogs eat the shavings, straw, and whatever else I put in their kennels so that doesnt work for me.

Don't use hay, use straw. Most hay will cause a fungal infection on your dogs skin that is a booger to get rid of.

Where can you get straw from I've been using hay for years without any problems but don't want to chance anything. Also what is the difference in hay and straw I don't think I've ever seen any around here.

Love it!

Heat lamps work well with just a regular light bulb.

i have used hay in a barrel forever as long as it is dry they will be ok. put your hand in a barrel full of hay with a dog in there and its warm.

 Ive used hay for years and never had a single problem with it. I even dust the hay with seven dust after filling the barrels for the occasional flea.

whats the difference in straw and hay? i thought it was the same ???

I assume he is talking about hay and then pine straw.

 i hope not, cause im a little short on pine trees where im at.

Hay is grass that has been cut and baled. Straw is wheat stalks that have been baled after the wheat is combined. Straw is hollow and doesn't have as much nutritional value as hay.