Do You Know What Your Dog Needs?

Provide a doghouse of appropriate size

If you have outdoor dog(s) or if your dog is only outside while you're at work, provide a doghouse for each dog. A doghouse should not be too big or too small. In cold weather remember big drafty "people houses" are hard to heat while small cozy houses heat more easily. The same is true for dogs. A dog's own body heat will help heat its doghouse if the doghouse is not too big. So provide a house of appropriate size for your dog. Animal "carriers" (those with open grids on the sides) do not make good houses, they let the snow, wind, rain and cold in, so your dog has trouble keeping warm and dry. A sturdy insulated house is best. If possible elevate the doghouse a few inches off the ground, and provide thick pads or blankets inside the doghouse, because it's hard to keep warm on the hard frozen ground. Lots of fresh clean straw also makes good bedding, remember—would you like to be outside in all kinds of weather without shelter? Neither does your dog!

Place your doghouse(s) in the shade in the summer

Imagine wearing your winter coat and sitting outside in the sun in the summer. You could become ill or die of heat exhaustion; and so could your dogs if they are left out in the sun. Make sure your dog is always in the shade in the summer. If you have a fenced kennel area and there are no shade trees, fasten a tarp over the top of the kennel area for shade. Remember concrete and blacktop surfaces, which your kennel may be placed on, become very hot in the summer sun and can burn your dog's feet. Provide shade for the entire day.

Never leave your dog in the car during hot weather - not even with the windows cracked

On a 85 degree day the temperature inside a car can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes, even with the windows cracked open! Your dog could suffer/die from heat exhaustion! Would you like to sit in your car with your winter coat on, on a hot summer day with the windows cracked open? Then please think about the comfort, health and safety of your dog.

Always provide plenty of fresh drinking water

Remember dogs need plenty of fresh water, especially in the summer, just like people!

But dogs need to have water available at all times every day of the year. Water freezes in the winter, check your dogs water bowl several times a day. Dogs can get sick and die from dehydration.

Feed your dog once or twice a day

Your dog needs food just like you do! Recommended portion sizes for the size of your dog are on the packages of dog food. Never go away for a few days assuming your dog will be all right without food.

Outdoor dogs need extra food in the winter

Your outdoor dog burns extra calories trying to keep warm in the winter.

Increasing calories by adding fat (cooking oils are good) to the dog food can help. Check with your veterinarian about how much more food your particular dog needs.

Check your dog's collar to make sure it is not too tight

Especially in the fall and winter when your dogs coat becomes thicker/longer, a dog's collar can become too tight and actually erode into your dogs skin causing pain, infection and possibly death. Make sure you can slip several fingers between the collar and your dogs neck.

Dogs need exercise and attention

Dogs need exercise and attention just like people. How would you like being chained up at the far corner of your property and only given a meal once or twice a day? You would become lonely! Go for a walk, play, pet your dog, bring them into your home, they are meant to be companions!