How to Heat a Dog House without Electricity
It is important to keep dog houses warm in order to provide a comfortable living condition for your pet. Electric dog houses are the best but do not work in case of power outage that might be caused by natural causes or power rationing. The electric houses are not a suitable for low income pet lovers.
You might be living in an electric stable state and still having a good income but it is important to be aware of the other alternatives you have in case things change. Electric dog houses are expensive but here are some other effective ways to heat the kennel.
Using Beddings
Beddings provide a cushion to your pet and keeps them warmer and comfortable. There are various ways of making beddings that include; using of linens. Linens are act as good beddings as the blankets and towels used provide warmth during cold nights. They also do not host pests and are easy to wash and replace.
Other bedding options include, use of rugs, dog beds and wood chips. Rugs are soft and the rubber side keeps away moisture. Dog Beds is an expensive choice but also effective. For those who are economically stable, this is the best option. Avoid buying low quality beds as they do not last longer.
Use woodchips made from pine or cedar wood, newspapers and other methods as dog beddings.
Use Solar Heated Dog Houses
Solar is always the best alternative for electricity making solar heated kennels one of the best ways to heat your pet house without using electricity. Compared to other electricity free techniques, it is the most expensive way.
It has a basic solar operation that we will briefly discuss. Place the solar panels in open spaces to absorb heat from the sun. The heat absorbed then heats up a tubing that is filled with water. Heated water is directed to the kennel’s thermal concrete floor where the heat is stored. The floor stays warm enough to provide heat to your pet all night.
You can use a piece of cloth to cover the house to create a “greenhouse” effect around the house. Use the thermal concrete floor instead of the whole solar construction to save some money.
Insulating the Dog House
This technique basically retains the heat that is already present. Some of the various insulating practices to partake are; patching up holes using either wood or plastic. By filling up the holes, you prevent escape of heat and retain the heat within keeping the dog warm.
Another insulation technique is insulating the walls and roof by using insulation form boards. There are various insulation boards but they all ensure heat retention and block away moisture.
Raising the kennel’s floor is another way. By doing this, you keep moisture off the floor and water away during rainy seasons. Most dog houses come without doors that are also good insulating equipment. The door gives more protection during harsh weather conditions.
During extreme winter weather, cloth your dog using dog winter fall jackets to keep it warm and comfortable.
Use Rice-filled Socks
As funny as it sounds, using rice-filled socks is a simple and basic heating method. This technique works best for those experiencing conditions once in a while. It is one of the best hacks to provide heat but it is not a long term solution.
Fill uncooked rice grains in a sock, tie the sock heat it in a microwave until it is warm enough. After that, place the sock in the house. Depending on the temperatures, the sock keeps the house warm for the whole night.
Stuff Up the Dog House
To some point, it is similar to using beddings but it is much easier. It involves filling up the excess spaces with dog blankets, pillows and other comfortable materials to retain heat during cold weather. You can also stuff up the heated rice-filled socks we talked about.
Make sure that you cover a considerable area leaving enough space for your pet to move around freely. Be careful to leave some breathing space as you add up linens and other materials. This prevents the pet from suffocating and keeps the kennel odorless.
Use a Hot Water Bottle
This is just another hack to remedy short term problems. It involves filling up a plastic bottle with warm water and not boiling water. Cover the bottle using a soft sock and place it on the dog’s bed.
The bottle keeps the dog warm the whole night. The dog’s heat also helps maintain the heat of the water in the bottle. Ensure that the water is bearable to the dog. Hotter or colder water will be uncomfortable disturbing your pet’s sleep.
Conclusion
Dogs can withstand and adopt to cold temperatures but during adverse conditions, they need extra warmth to keep them comfortable. After reading through this article, you understand some of the electricity-free ways of heating your pet’s house. These techniques are all cost effective compared to using electricity.