How cold is too cold for a doodle?

[Thuy & Hops]

The boyfriend and I are going on a cruise tomorrow! We don't have any family or friends here in Texas to watch our dogs while we are away, so we've reserved an outdoor run for Hops, since he loves being outside even when it is a little chilly. At the end if the run there is an insulated dog house for him to sleep in at night. We decided against daycare during the day for Hops because we will be hard to get in touch with while we are away, and if something does happen during daycare, we can't just fly right home. Today the weather is perfect--- high 65, low 40s, but it is supposed to get in the 20s while we are away! Is this too cold for a Hops even with the insulated house? Should we just have him boarded inside instead? The outdoor run has a roof over it, and there's enough room for him to do his zoomies.

[DonMarie and Picco]

Insulated dogs houses can get warm, sometimes too much if not enough ventilation. I'm in Eagle River AK where it's been around 0 deg daily. Picco's kennel is in the garage which is probably around 40F at night. We have insulated foam between concrete floor & kennel and toss a thick blanket over the kennel as insulation. We let it drape halfway down the front opening. There has been mornings when his bedding is damp from him sweating. It's not like he's used to the cold, he doesn't live outside.

[Wendy and Myla]

I think it also depends on what your doodle is used to.  If he stays outside for long periods in cold weather he could probably tolerate it better than an inside dog who only goes out for walks and doing his business.  What we have found though is that we built a 16' x 9" outdoor run for Myla with a well insulated dog house at the end of it.  It has concrete blocks for a floor which is cool in summer and we can shovel it easily in the winter.  She only goes in it for a couple hours at a time when we go somewhere and cannot take her with us and has never been overnight in it.  She loves it BUT what we have found is that she never stays in the dog house - we figured in the summer it was because it was nice outside but now it's cold (-6C) and snowing or freezing rain and she still is sleeping, curled up, on the concrete blocks!  We have carpet in the dog house and put treats in it but she goes in to get the treats and then lays down outside.  What we are trying now is putting an old coat of DH on her bed in the house and she sleeps on that so next time we leave we will put the coat in the doghouse and see if that works.  Of course we will just drive around the block a few times to see if it works before we leave her for an extended period of time. If she still won't sleep in the doghouse, I guess we won't go anywhere without her!!  If you do decide to leave your dog in the outside pen I would make sure you have familiar blankets or something that she can take in the doghouse with her.  Is your kennel full for the holidays?  Maybe you can make arrangements with the staff to have her inside if it gets really cold?  Good Luck!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Can I ask why your dog can't just stay in your home when you go somewhere without her? Maybe in a crate if she can't have free run of the house?

[Wendy and Myla]

We would probably have to do that in the winter if this doesn't work but Myla was only crated in the house for the first two months we had her and then we took the crate away as she sleeps in the bedroom and the crate took too much room.  She isn't used to a crate at all and though she does have full run of the house when we're home, I don't think I would trust her if we're gone.  She really loves the outdoor pen - even now when it's cold, as soon as we grab the car keys and she knows she can't jump in the car, she runs to the pen waiting for us to let her in but as I said, if she won't sleep in the dog house we will have to put her crate back up in the house.  It's not too big a deal because she loves going in the car so even when I go shopping, I can still bring her now that it's colder outside - in the summer it was way too hot for her to be in the car - I am really hoping that she will sleep in the doghouse when the coat is in there!

 

[BG and Gavin]

From the picture, it looks like a nice place.  Too bad they don't have the indoor/outdoor option as Karen described.  I do not blame you about not allowing the daycare/playtime option while you are not home.  More than a few people I know including some DK members have has negative experiences and if on vacation, it would be one more thing to worry about.  When I boarded Gavin for a couple of days, as a young dog, the woman that ran the kennel (and our trainer) did not believe in letting the unknown dogs play together for the safety of all concerned.  That indeed brought me some peace of mind.  I would talk to them to see if you can customize Hops stay.

[Kathy, Harley & Roxie]

Thuy, There is a boarding/day care facility in Anna which is just north of Plano that we have used many times and they are awesome!   3,000 sq ft "dog house" that the dogs can go in and out as they please, man made pond on back of 1 acre enclosure.  Extremely clean.  They will have to do a temperament test first, since they do not pen or separate any of the dogs.  they have someone with the dogs at all times.   I really can not say enough good things about them.  The only reason we are not using them on an upcoming vaca is that we have Harley's coat long right now and  loves the pond and without paying a fortune for a daily brush out he comes back matted.

http://www.lonestardogranch.com

[Lynda Kamrath]

I would definitely have him boarded at an indoor facility.  He may not be able to do his zoomies, but he would not feel so isolated.  You will be a nervous wreck if he is left outdoors.  Wish I was closer, I would love to have Hops for a while.  And he will not remember any of it.  As soon as he sees you again, he will be the old Hops.