Dogs outside in the snow

I seem to have this discussion with a co-worker every time it snows like it just did. She keeps her dog outside which is fine but some nights temperatures get in the teens and with snow, I just worry it’s not safe for any animal to be outside like that. She says I’m just over reacting and that with blankets in the dog house plus fur, her dog stays warm. Am I being a worrier or is this something I should follow up with. I feel so bad for her dog out there on cold evenings.

Blankets are probably the worst thing to give an outdoor dog in cold weather. They absorb moisture and then freeze, making them totally useless for a dog. Hay or straw actually contains a lot of heat, and if she were to toss some piles in an elevated dog house that is properly insulated, most northern breed dogs would be perfectly fine as far as staying warm (these breeds being Siberian Husky, Newfoundland, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, and basically anything with a double coat.) That said, the vast majority of dogs are far far happier when they are with their humans. Being pack animals, they can easily become distressed, fearful, anxious, and develop and assortment of behavioral problems when kept outdoors in kennels 24/7.

The few exceptions would be livestock guardian dogs, like the Anatolian Shepherd or Great Pyrenees in which they are working and prefer to be out with the goats or sheep, guarding against predators.

I don’t think you’re overreacting. If it’s too cold outside for you it’s probably too cold for your dog as well. Granted, some dogs have thick fur and are capable of staying warm outside but just because they can doesn’t mean they should. We built houses for a reason, to protect us from the elements. Why wouldn’t you want you dog to be protected from the elements too? I agree with Aussielover, dogs tend to do better when they are with the family so they’d be better off inside too.

I agree with what everyone else has said as well. We used to keep our dog outside in a raised doghouse with insulation, but we didn’t leave him outside at night in the winter. We kept him in a heated foyer when it was too cold. All of this was only because my stepfather didn’t want a dog in the house, but when he left and we brought the dog inside, not only was I able to stop worrying about how cold or lonely he was while outside, but he also went through some behavioral changes as well, becoming a calmer, more balanced dog. I was just a kid at the time so I didn’t really understand it as I do now, but he really was so much happier when we got to live inside with us. Your co-worker’s dog would probably be happier in a lot of ways if she were able to bring it inside.