We set a record low here last night and it got me thinking. I know that most of the dogs are inside but I am going to bring this up anyway.

Mastiffs LOVE cold weather BUT there are still limits. It got down to 14 here last night and that is bloody cold! The cold concerns me when it gets below freezing and I start to take precautions. At 32 degrees my dogs get blankets and a sleeping buddy. When it gets below 20, they get more airtight enclosures. Below 10 degrees and they will be inside, somehow. I may put a wood burning stove in the barn. I have already bought it, but down to about 10 degrees it seems that the risks outweigh the benefits.

Something I learned the hard way is that dogs, like horses, require a lot of ventilation. Our homes are NOT ventilated enough for most dogs. The shear volume of air in our homes keeps them from getting sick BUT if you build a dog house, small scale, and make it as tight as one of our homes, I think you would really be asking for trouble. Stagnant, moist air can lead to upper respiratory infections and pneumonia.

What dogs really need to be able to thrive in cold weather is to be DRY. That is the key. Keep them dry with something insulating under them and frankly, I bet they could handle nearly anything. Dogs are better suited to cold than they are hot.

One last thing, cold dry air sucks moisture out of breathing creatures. Your dog will probably drink as much if not more during the cold months as it does in the hot ones. If the water is frozen, it makes it kinda hard on them to drink. With Roxie it doesn't matter. She loves eating ice. :)

So there it is, after a lot of rambling I get to my points! Keep your dogs dry, well ventilated, and properly hydrated and they will truly love the winter.