Dog Housing

Our team always suggests using dry straw as bedding rather than blankets or old towels during a damp winter in Christian County. While a blanket feels cozy to us, it can quickly absorb moisture and freeze into a cold, wet sheet, whereas straw allows a dog to “nest” and stay dry even when the humidity climbs. If the forecast calls for a real deep freeze, you might consider a specialized dog house heater with a chew-proof cord or a pressure-sensitive heated mat. These tools are much safer than a standard heat lamp, which can be a serious fire hazard in a small wooden structure. Keeping the house tucked against a windbreak, like the south side of a barn, ensures the wind isn’t hammering the entrance all night.

Finding the “Goldilocks” size is crucial because a house that is too big will never stay warm, while one that is too small is just a glorified crate. A good rule of thumb is that the interior should be large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down completely flat, but not much larger than that. We suggest measuring your dog from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail and adding about six inches to find the ideal depth. For the height, the roof should sit about six inches above the top of their head when they are standing normally. This creates a cozy “heat envelope” where their own body temperature can actually keep the air warm.