Keeping warm

[nobarkus]

@Lenora:

You know those fleece cocoon looking things you see on infomercials? I think they're called Snuggies. They make them for dogs now too. I saw some today at CVS.

They look pretty good and only $10. I think I'll get one for the Budster.

[Shaye's Mom]

We live in Florida, so my dogs are very used to very hot weather - when it's cold, (and my B's think anything under 65 is cold) I set my thermostat at 70 degrees, and even though they get cold easily, and need their jackets when it's low 60's, they seem warm enough except at bedtime. If Digi is not complaining about the cold, he's probably satisfied with the indoor temp. Leaving blankets around he could burrow into or lay on if he felt cold should be enough.

[wizard]

Nobarkus, you don't turn the dryer on do you: "I put some towels that Buddy lays on in the dryer" :D.

[Kananga]

@AJs:

If he gets cold, he will figure out how to get under it.

I wish I could say that about my B. I think he's trying to be tough. He does not like to be under blankets. Perhaps he feels he won't be able to see what's going on, but he would rather shove his paws under my pillow in the middle of the night to keep warm. He's got his own comforter too… :rolleyes:

I keep the temp at 66F overnight, 68 during the day.

[barklessk9]

Zak (and Zuki used to) wears his Fido Fleece all day when I am at work. We keep our heat dialed down quite low when we are not home (59 deg) and he has always been fine. Zak does have a little bit thicker winter coat than what Zuki had, but she was always fine too. The fleece has never come off, whereas sometimes Zuki would manage to get her sweater off by spinning around too much in her Cozy Cave dog bed.

[agilebasenji]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, Diggie does NOT like to be under the covers except maybe when the power goes out and it gets really, really cold inside. We have several snuggle beds, but he'd rather the sofa, chairs or "human" bed. He does have a sheepskin and a fleece blanket on the sofa and he'll nest but not burrow. And there are days he seems cold - he's getting older and has a very, very short coat (even compared to other basenjis). I'll try leaving a fleece jacket on him somedays.

[Maya]

When Maya is cold and the radiators are on she gets onto the cats hammock (that attaches to the radiator), she loves it. I have a heated massage bed for my pug that Maya also likes but i would not leave her unsupervised with it incase she chewed through the wires.

I would recommend a microwavable heatpad. We have one that we bought to take to the winter shows to keep her warm in her crate. You stick it in the microwave for about 6 minutes and it stays nice and warm for 10 hours. Just stick it under the bedding and it heats really nicely. Its designed for litters i think, but Maya loves it. It is made of very tough plastic so shouldnt cause too much trouble if chewed, but i wouldnt leave them unattended with it for too long.

[Basenjimamma]

What about a bed that keeps and radiates the heat the dog supplies? Or use his regular dogbed and buy one of those, make any dog bed warm thingys http://www.petstreetmall.com/Deluxe-Pet-Bed-Warmer/531/695/, it would still have wires, but if he doesn't ruin his old bed, maybe he will leave the cord alone as well.
Although, I have to admit, what Maya has sounds like a brilliant idea.

[AJs Human]

Melody, my gramma's B, grows a thick winter coat each winter. She was raised in Michigan and lives in Oregon now.

AJ, however, does not. He's in the truck, which is temperature controlled 24 hrs a day. If I'm parked somewhere, the generator takes over and keeps the temp at a set level.

[agilebasenji]

@Maya:

I would recommend a microwavable heatpad. We have one that we bought to take to the winter shows to keep her warm in her crate. You stick it in the microwave for about 6 minutes and it stays nice and warm for 10 hours. Just stick it under the bedding and it heats really nicely. Its designed for litters i think, but Maya loves it. It is made of very tough plastic so shouldnt cause too much trouble if chewed, but i wouldnt leave them unattended with it for too long.

Yep, that's the snuggle safe. Wonderful thing. I have 3. I figured they'd be great for home but especially for dogshows in cold weather. I put them in the crates. Diggie won't have anything to do with it. I think it's the hard. He seems to pick soft and cold over hard and warm. I put it under the blanket. He tends to shuffle it around so it's away from him. Even when he's cold. Yes, he is spoiled. Yes I do cater to him.

[agilebasenji]

@Basenjimamma:

What about a bed that keeps and radiates the heat the dog supplies? Or use his regular dogbed and buy one of those, make any dog bed warm thingys http://www.petstreetmall.com/Deluxe-Pet-Bed-Warmer/531/695/, it would still have wires, but if he doesn't ruin his old bed, maybe he will leave the cord alone as well.

I just didn't know about using this unsupervised. I really don't want to burn the house down. He doesn't chew up things, so that's not a problem. Those are great prices!

[Basenjimamma]

I understand, burnt down house is not good..

[nobarkus]

@wizard:

Nobarkus, you don't turn the dryer on do you: "I put some towels that Buddy lays on in the dryer" :D.

No, no I don't put the dryer on then leave. I put the towels in there for 3 minutes to warm them up then put them in his dog house which is in the garage before I leave. He stays out during the day. I would never leave the house with the dryer on.

[lvoss]

I have a bed that uses gel packs that you can either freeze for the summer or microwave in the winter. As long as your dogs aren't chewers you may be able to use something like that. Here is a link to their website.

http://coolpet.biz/index.html

[Basenjimamma]

lvoss, those are cool.

Here is link to the thermal beds I was thinking about, no heat, just radiates the body heat from the pet..so safer then plug ins and such..
http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?pf_id=0026294

[Kananga]

@Basenjimamma:

lvoss, those are cool.

Here is link to the thermal beds I was thinking about, no heat, just radiates the body heat from the pet..so safer then plug ins and such..
http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?pf_id=0026294

Thanks for the link. That looks like a great thing to have around in the winter.

[Basenjimamma]

You're welcome.
There is a different brand as well… Simple Solutions Self Warming Thermal Dog Cushion. Seems to be the same type but different style. I am getting some of these no worries about chewing, Moses, the podengo wonder, still chews alot..

[nobarkus]

I like Petra's idea of the thermal bed. I would not use an electric blanket when not home. Basenjis can radiate a lot of heat. I think I'll get one for Buddy. Buddy likes to dig and pull at the blanket before he lays down and might break through to the wiring.

[Basenjimamma]

The only way I would want a fire in my home, is if it would be located in my kitchen…so I could get a new one;););)..but I don't want my dogs or kids involved in that...;)

[agilebasenji]

@Basenjimamma:

lvoss, those are cool.

Here is link to the thermal beds I was thinking about, no heat, just radiates the body heat from the pet..so safer then plug ins and such..
http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?pf_id=0026294

Ohhh, I really like that! Boyz might have to have that for xmas. Looks very portable for the dogshows too.