How Cold is Too Cold for a Basenji?

[tanza]

Or you could get a heating pad for her crate. They do not use any more then a lamp. However, I will also agree 50 is extreme… Here is a link to a heating pad http://www.upco.com/p/HPM or search the net for lectro kennel

[Pinya]

Bills are no fun to pay but everyone else has made the point that if you drop your heat that low it will cost more to warm the place when you get back home. 65 to 50 degrees is quite a jump and I think you two will end up paying more money to warm your house than to keep it at a steady temperature. I live down south so we have issues with extreme heat and humidity. I can tell you though that changing your thermostat just a few degrees can help the bills but the trick is to stick with the temperature.

Some of the things we have done to cut our electric bill with our central air is to adjust all of the vents so the air goes where we want it. We hung curtains in doorways to control where the air stays. In winter we use oil heaters and leave them on low and leave our heat on low. All our exterior doors have something to keep a draft from coming in. If I was in your situation I would decide where to keep heat in the home and drop your thermostat to 60. I think 50 will result in a higher bill and everyone in your home will be cranky from the cold.

As for your pup, my girl would start shivering whenever the temperature dropped below 70. She had no tolerance for cold. I would cover her crate with a blanket and she had a full wardrobe of different types of jackets. You can fill socks with rice for heating pads but be careful not to burn your pup. I would also find inexpensive blankets for her by getting left over fleece at fabric stores.

I hope this helps and good luck.

[Ballinduh]

Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions. I convinced my boyfriend that 50 degrees F is just ridiculous. So we are keeping it at 60 - 63ish with a bed and warm blanket for her to snuggle in. If she does seem too cold, I'll get her a heating pad if need be. I just happy I was able to convince my boyfriend! I don't care if I'm freezing cold in my house, but I DO care if it's my furbabies!

[tanza]

You could put a sweater on her also

[Ballinduh]

She hates wearing sweaters, lol. I try not to make her wear them if I don't have to.

[vickayx]

What about one of those electric fire places you can keep it in the room she is in. My parents used to have one for zone heating so they didn't have to spend money heating rooms they are not in and keep the door partially closed so they heat is contained. Also they are really pretty!

[Ballinduh]

That might be a good idea, vickayx! I work at Bob's Discount Furniture in advertising, so I know exactly what you're talking about! I actually have one underneath my desk when it's cold. I think that I may do that and just move it from where she stays by herself when we're gone to the finished basement where everyone hangs out when we're all home.
Thank you for that suggestion!

[agilebasenji]

I have lots of plug in heated pads for dogs. I have several hard plastic ones, like Tanza gave the link too.

I also have one like this:
http://www.jefferspet.com/lectro-soft-heated-outdoor-bed/camid/PET/cp/0034927/

several of these:
http://www.jefferspet.com/snugglesafe-microwave-heating-pad/camid/PET/cp/998/

one of these:
http://www.jefferspet.com/microwavable-pet-bed-warmer/camid/PET/cp/PC-MA/cn/100023/

and 4 of these in 2 different sizes:
http://www.jefferspet.com/pet-bed-warmer/camid/PET/cp/0032468/cn/100023/

(all that may be excessive for 3 basenjis, but i've been collecting the stuff for many years.)

When it's really cold, i'll leave a small radiant space heater on for the pups.

[agilebasenji]

should have added:

i don't use all of the above all the time. usually 2 or 3 of the heated insert pads are plugged in

[vickayx]

No problem I just wanna help! Because Basenjis are the BEST!

[YodelMa]

I feel your pain, Bellinduh! I recently bought a house in the country and my heating choices are wood stove or propane ($$$). A few points that haven't been raised:
1. Remember that hot air rises, and most drafts are near the floor. So raise the crate off the floor on a folding table or something. It's cold near the floor!
2. I have insulated crate covers (a blanklet works too) and leave the side near the stove rolled up.
3. Put the crate near a sunny south window.
4. Put the crate in a smaller room that's less expensive to heat, close the door, and turn down the heat in the rest of the house.

[agilebasenji]

@vickayx:

What about one of those electric fire places you can keep it in the room she is in. My parents used to have one for zone heating so they didn't have to spend money heating rooms they are not in and keep the door partially closed so they heat is contained. Also they are really pretty!

Just found this on bradsdeals dot com and thought of this thread. It is from 2/2/13. be sure to use the code for the best deal (read the comments on the bradsdeals website)

This LifeSmart 1000W Electric Home Fireplace/Stove drops from $97.95 to $64.99 via exclusive code BRADSTOVE at VM Innovations. Plus, shipping is free. The best price we could find anywhere else is $102! It features 2 infrared heating elements, a cool touch exterior, 3400 BTUs of max heat, and it heats up to 800 sq ft. There is no sales tax (except PA, NV and NE).

http://vminnovations.com/Product_47404/LifeSmart-L-SIFST-S-1000W-Electric-Infrared-Home-Stove-Fireplace-Black.html?ni=1

[vickayx]

Thats a good deal!

[agilebasenji]

@vickayx:

Thats a good deal!

yea, i wish i had a place for it!

[MrBaRooampBitty]

There are a number of sites online with either heated dog beds alone, or heated pads for Igloo's or crates. The one that I think has the best and least expensive beds or pads is TheUncommonDog.com. They have a warmer pad that fits inside the current crate and simply heats up to the normal temperature for a dog, so she would probable be happy, warm and comfortable.

[Woofless]

I'm kind of late joining in here, but I live in South Dakota and I keep my thermostat between 50 and 60 in the winter because I prefer it that way. I might bump it up to 65 if it's bitterly cold (sub zero) and windy, but otherwise I'm happy as a clam at 50-60 indoors. The dogs truly don't seem to be bothered, they adapt same as anything else.

There are throw blankets everywhere, and extra blankets in the dog crates for when I'm not home to be snuggled with. I do have space heaters which I may bump on in the mornings to take the chill out of the air, so the Basenjis aren't shocked when they ooze out from under the warm bedcovers. And if anyone gets sick or has an upset tummy or something, I'll go ahead and put a heater on near the crate or something, as even I don't like to be cold when I'm sick…...but otherwise my dogs seem just fine with how I keep it in here.

But if your dogs don't seem to adapt or you don't feel comfortable keeping them at that temp, the aforementioned suggestions of heating pads, etc are great ideas

[eeeefarm]

@Woofless:

The dogs truly don't seem to be bothered, they adapt same as anything else.

I think that's true of any animal, but the trade off is they will generally grow more winter coat. Certainly the girl I had when I lived in North Bay had an impressive amount of fur for a Basenji!

[paneane]

Oh, I never think about that. I'm the one getting cold, not the basenji. He curls up in blankets in the couch by himself, while I sit by the closest heater. :p

[genericfrontline]

I live in Arazona, US, now it is too cold for me but Basenji feels good enough to bear such cold, so this is fine to Basenji below normal temperature.