If you  keep your dog outdoors throughout the year, a high quality dog house that can provide comfort to your pet during the cold winter months is essential. Of course, the standard of insulation will need to be higher in areas that have very cold winters compared to more temperate climates, but as a general rule, you will need to find the best dog house for cold weather to house your pet comfortably through the winter months.

Keeping your dog warm in cold weather means you need to ensure it’s protected from the cold, the wind and the rain. Your dog house needs to achieve all three to be ensure that your pooch will be comfortable.

Making sure that the dog house is fully insulated and is sufficient for your climate will help keep out the cold. Another feature to consider is to have a raised dog house, so the cold and the rain from the ground doesn’t penetrate the floor.

The positioning of the dog house is important too. You could invest a lot of money buying the best dog house for cold weather, but then place it in an area that is prone to flooding or isn’t sheltered from harsh winds. So be sure to take care when choosing a suitable locale for Fido’s new digs.

Best Dog House for Cold Weather – Must Haves

When searching for the best dog house for cold weather, there are a number of things that should be considered.

• Check the dog house is fully insulated (including on the floor)
• The entrance to the dog house should have a self-closing door or be covered with wind proof material to protect your dog from the cold weather.
• The dog house should be the correct size for your pet. Your dog should be comfortable and be able to lie down, sit up and turn around, but shouldn’t have an abundance of space. Smaller spaces mean your dog can retain heat better.
• Check the weight of the dog house. Is it heavy enough not to blow away in strong winds? You can overcome this issue by anchoring it well. Plastic dog houses in particular can be very light and prone to movement during storms.

Best Dog House for Cold Weather

Petmate Indigo Dog Kennel

Petmate Indigo

The Indigo dog kennel is fully insulated to keep the cold air out and the warmth in. It comes in medium, large and extra-large sizes to suit any size dog breed. It has a raised floor so the kennel insulates your dog from the cold and the wet on the ground.

The plastic has water channels molded on the outside of the kennel to allow water to run off and prevent flooding directly around the kennel. The front door isn’t self-closing or covered as is usually recommended, but it still makes the list for best dog house for cold weather because the front entrance is offset to keep the cold air out. This isn’t effective for keeping rain out, but you can purchase a door flap as an add on.

Petmate Indigo Dog Kennel Highlights

• The kennel comes in three sizes so owners are able to choose the most suitable size for their dog. They will need to check dimensions of the kennel to be sure their dog fits into it comfortably and is able to move around.
• It has a raised floor to help prevent damp and coldness.
• The offset entrance helps keep warm air in and cold air out. However, if you want proper rain protection the entrance flaps (for which there is an extra charge) come in very handy.
• The Indigo is heavyweight and so is unlikely to move in heavy winds, even without anchors.

ASL Dog Palace

The ASL dog palace is another plastic dog house, but this one is particularly well suited to very cold conditions as it has excellent insulation. The entrance is a self-closing design which is fantastic for keeping wind and rain out, although your pet may need some time to get used to it. The dimensions of the product makes it suitable for a large dog.

ASL Dog Palace

Although made from molded plastic, this dog house is pretty heavy duty and so it’s unlikely to move in higher winds. It’s also got an overhanging roof that will help to keep water away from the entrance, and a sloping floor and drain hole will help get rid of any that gets in. It’s raised floor will help to prevent any dampness or cold coming up from the ground.

The ASL dog palace made the list for best dog house for cold weather because it has excellent insulation and all the surfaces are insulated with a thick layer of styro/EPS (extruded poly stryrene) to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

We really liked that it has a raised floor and so will keep the base of the kennel snug for your pooch and that it has a self-closing door which is great for keeping the cold air and water out of your dog’s house.

Step 2 Tuff-N-Rugged Dog House

The Step 2 Dog House is a durable plastic kennel suitable for pets up to 125lbs. It has a double wall construction so is much warmer than single wall dog house, but isn’t fully insulated so isn’t suited to very harsh winters.

It’s easy to clean as the roof can be removed, and has a raised floor which will help insulation value. The basic model doesn’t come with a cover for the entrance but a made to measure door flap can be bought and is easy to install (Here it is). It’s a lighter weight house and so might not be able to withstand heavier winds without anchoring.

Why is the Step 2 Tuff-N-Rugged dog house a best dog house for cold weather?

• It has a double wall structure which offers greater protection from cold temperatures than single walled kennels.
• It has a raised floor, so offers protection from the ground cold and dampness
• It has a dog flap which protects the kennel from the rain (this can be bought separately)

Why a Dog House Suited to Cold Weather is So Important

If you’re housing your dog outside throughout the year, it’s important to the health and comfort of your furry friend that you have a dog house suited to your weather conditions. If it gets cold in the winter an insulated dog house that protects your dog from the cold, the wind and the rain is an essential piece of equipment.

The three kennels listed here as a best dog house for cold weather we could find. They offer many (if not all) of the attributes that we think a dog house needs to protect your pet such as: insulation, raised floor, entrance cover or flap, and heavyweight so can withstand strong winds.

Well we hoped you gained some insight into some good house options for the cooler months.  It’s important to give your pooch some shelter while they’re staying outside because while they might be able to withstand colder temperatures more comfortably than us they’ll still need a place to get away from it all.

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