Do you heat the house for your dog?

[daannzzz]

I got my new dog in June and through the summer I kept the AC at 75 for him. THis cost quite bit to do. Now that winter is approaching I am wondering at what temp I need to keep the house. I am in the SF Bay area of California so winter is not extreme but would like to keep the cost down a bit. He has a crate that is already covered with a comforter and he is using it now.

 

[okeydokey]

I keep the heat and air the same as it has always been for the people who live in the house. In the summer, the air is set to 78, in the winter the heat is set to 68. The dog will adjust and be fine.

 

[Imzadi]

In SF, I would not make changes for my pet. If it was a northern part of the country, yes I would - but only because I have it set for human temps that way. On really cold days, I put a blanket or throw over her as she's snoozing next to me on the couch or in bed. She's used to it. But, if she gets up in the middle of the night, she's on her own. Not waking to cover her back up when she lays back down.

 

[daannzzz]

One of my issues is that I am gone at work all day and no one is there. I usually turn the heater off so it gets pretty cool. I have the thermostat set to heat shortly before I return. So I assume I will need to set the heat for 62 or so during the day.

 

[PghLybrt]

I need to heat my house in the winter no matter what. However I do run AC for them in the summer. One has serious medical issues and he can't overheat. He would be unable to breathe the way other dogs do. I also bought a awning for the back porch for him. We joke that we spend more in the house on his well being than mine.

 

[Silent1CB]

No dogs here, but can I comment on your dogs picture? That is the funniest photo I've ever seen. He looks cross-eyed too. I'm sure he's cute, but that photo cracked me up.

 

[TheGoofster]

Nah, my dog came with her own fur coat.

 

[sunnyday123]

Nothing to offer here, I have to keep my house cool for my dog-she's a Newfoundland and they don't do heat well.

But your dog's picture is hysterical. I would do anything for that face!

 

[dakcp2001]

I def do consider my cats with the temp, if its super hot or super cold out I adjust it to keep them comfy. But my cats are spoiled.

 

[piglet too]

Since you said that you would normally not have the heat on at all during the day, I would do so now. Have it set for 65 (that is what we use for our lowest setting anyways) during the times you are at work or whatever you would use for a lowest setting when you are sleeping.

I would think that having it set to a certain "low" temp would be more efficient than turing it off completely.

 

[Tink888]

Nah, my dog came with her own fur coat.

My thought exactly.

 

[daisax]

My boxers do just fine even if the house gets down to the high 50s (usually overnight). They can curl up in their comfy beds (or mine). I think even in the low 80s they should be fine. Frankly, they'd do better with warmer temps (after all, air conditioning is not THAT old an invention and people had dogs before it). You can run a fan that he can seek out if he wants to feel a cool breeze in the summer. But I'm a softie and when it gets much above 85 I try to let the dogs spend the day at their air conditioned grandmother's house!

 

[pixiewings71]

In SF, I would not make changes for my pet. If it was a northern part of the country, yes I would - but only because I have it set for human temps that way. On really cold days, I put a blanket or throw over her as she's snoozing next to me on the couch or in bed. She's used to it. But, if she gets up in the middle of the night, she's on her own. Not waking to cover her back up when she lays back down.

Have you been to SF? It gets pretty chilly in this part of CA to be honest. SF is more regulated temp wise but I'm 45 min. away and we freeze in the winter. Just saying.

OP we have 2 dogs and 2 cats, they are all outside during the day. They do have blankets and a dog house and an awning but they do just fine outside. Even when they were in we did not regulate the temp for them and again, they did fine. I think your pup will be good during the day with no additional heat.

 

[Jockaroo]

I'm guessing you have a boxer (if that is your dog in the photo--love him!!!!--goofy grin and lolling tongue). My recommendations are based on my Scottish Terrier, but....

I run the air conditioner in the summer for the dog's comfort. This was especially critical when my geriatric dog was alive. We have the programmable thermostats and turn the central heat/air off when we aren't home. We run a window air unit for the dog during the day when we aren't home. I have a breed that is more acclimated to cooler temps, so I don't really worry about running the heat in the winter. Like someone else said, she has a fur coat on. I do opt to skip the quarterly grooming during cold weather and let my dog get shaggy. Probably not an option for you. Dogs are pretty adaptable and as long as you aren't seeing shivering/shaking or excessive panting, the dog is probably comfortable. Although I'm sure most people commenting on your thread have house dogs, remember many dogs live outdoors in all weather.

 

[monkey68]

We do heat the house for her (and the cat too!). My dog loves nothing more than pulling her bed over to a place right near the radiator, let it get all heated, and sleep on it. Her first winter with us though, she couldn't figure out what the radiators were, they're a bit noisy, so every time they would make their sounds, she would run up to them and start barking.

 

[Imzadi]

Have you been to SF? It gets pretty chilly in this part of CA to be honest. SF is more regulated temp wise but I'm 45 min. away and we freeze in the winter. Just saying.

Sorry, no. I lived in L.A. I just assumed the temp was about the same, maybe 10 degrees colder.

I suppose it's like AZ. People think it's hot/warm most everywhere, but you can be in Flagstaff where it's warm. Yet several miles away there is actually snow & ice on the mountains, within about 2 hours of driving.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We have kitties--it doesn't get cold enough (usually) for us to heat in winter while we are away. We will have the thermostat set just in case we have a freeze and the house temp drops too low. But it is usually unnecessary.

In summer, I will adjust the thermostat higher than our comfort--but to a level that will keep the house a/c'd (80 degrees) for extreme heat.

We have terrazzo floors and lots of cool spots they find. But we keep the levels only at what will keep them safe.

I would maintain the heat at a safe temp and remember that they have fur, so they don't necessarily need it as warm as you.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I heat and cool my house for our dog.

 

[quentina]

Yes, we treat our dogs like they are our kids.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Yes, we left the AC/heat on for the dog all the time. Plus the tv if she was alone all day.