Frozen dog water

[Sandy V.]

I think a dog would be warm enough if he had access to a barn. I'm really surprised at how many people think that a barn where livestock resides would be cruel for a dog. It would only be for social reasons that I would prefer to keep my dog in the house. I think she enjoys being with us too much to keep her outside very much.

Oh, I don't think a barn is cruel at all. But the OP's dog WASN'T in the barn, it was in a dog house lined with straw. The OP doesn't divulge where she lives (her perogative), but I think that many people had an issue with the fact that it was cold enough that the water in the dog's 5-gallon bucket froze (and it would have to be very cold for 5 gallons to freeze) and the dog wasn't in a shelter with 4 walls and a door that closes. Hence the thread in the first place. Maybe we're assuming the wrong things, but we're not getting a lot of help to prove otherwise.

 

[happygirl]

Oh, I don't think a barn is cruel at all. But the OP's dog WASN'T in the barn, it was in a dog house lined with straw. The OP doesn't divulge where she lives (her perogative), but I think that many people had an issue with the fact that it was cold enough that the water in the dog's 5-gallon bucket froze (and it would have to be very cold for 5 gallons to freeze) and the dog wasn't in a shelter with 4 walls and a door that closes. Hence the thread in the first place. Maybe we're assuming the wrong things, but we're not getting a lot of help to prove otherwise.

Actually a few post back I said I had a dog house and a barn for the dog to go into with straw or hay post 26.

 

[Sandy V.]

Actually a few post back I said I had a dog house and a barn for the dog to go into with straw or hay

You also went out of your way to point to an ASCPA page - positing that it said that it wasn't cruel to leave dogs outside in cold weather, so one could clearly assume that "outside" was where your dog was. If your dog did indeed sleep in the barn, which you never said until now (and you never really said that now) - apologies.

Have a good evening.

 

[happygirl]

You also went out of your way to point to an ASCPA page - positing that it said that it wasn't cruel to leave dogs outside in cold weather, so one could clearly assume that "outside" was where your dog was. If your dog did indeed sleep in the barn, which you never said until now (and you never really said that now) - apologies.

Have a good evening.

I said it on post 26, Why did you leave that out of the quote?

 

[Sandy V.]

I said it on post 26, Why did you leave that out of the quote?

My last post - I promise. Post 26 says (besides the C.Ann stuff) "My dogs has a dog house and a barn with lots of hay and straw to lay in. As do they Cows and horse."

From that post, not clear at all to me (and others) that the dog slept in the barn, but if s/he did, good to hear.

Again, have a good evening.

 

[KimR]

Can't you just put the water in the barn?

 

[LisaR]

Actually a few post back I said I had a dog house and a barn for the dog to go into with straw or hay post 26.

Have to admit that I don't spend any time in barns so I do not know the answer to this. Are you saying your dog stays in a barn with hay, straw, other animals plus a dog house but his water still freezes? Is this a normal barn thing? I assume it isn't very warm in the barn if the water is still freezing.

I am guessing (yes, assuming) that you have a dog house out on your property somewhere - not IN the barn. The water bucket is outside in the elements near the dog house. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[happygirl]

Have to admit that I don't spend any time in barns so I do not know the answer to this. Are you saying your dog stays in a barn with hay, straw, other animals plus a dog house but his water still freezes? Is this a normal barn thing? I assume it isn't very warm in the barn if the water is still freezing.

I am guessing (yes, assuming) that you have a dog house out on your property somewhere - not IN the barn. The water bucket is outside in the elements near the dog house. Please correct me if I am wrong.

He can be sleep wherever he wants. His water bucket is closer to his doghouse. I don't put his water in his dog house. I'm afraid it would tip over. I guess I could put a buckey in the barn.

 

[Jennasis]

Oh, I don't think a barn is cruel at all. But the OP's dog WASN'T in the barn, it was in a dog house lined with straw. The OP doesn't divulge where she lives (her perogative), but I think that many people had an issue with the fact that it was cold enough that the water in the dog's 5-gallon bucket froze (and it would have to be very cold for 5 gallons to freeze) and the dog wasn't in a shelter with 4 walls and a door that closes. Hence the thread in the first place. Maybe we're assuming the wrong things, but we're not getting a lot of help to prove otherwise.

It only has to be 32 degrees fahrenheit. Having 42, five gallon buckets to deal with daily, I would know. Of course, using my electrolyte trick, this isn't a problem. I'm in NC...not exactly the North Pole. So it just has to be at or below the freezing point of water.

To play devil's advocate, the OP only intimated that the dog's WATER was not in the barn. He has a dog house, yes, but what exactly is to stop him from going into the barn on his own to seek shelter from the cold?

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Happygirl...can I ask where you live and what breed of dog you have? My Jack Russell Terrier freezes at 32 degrees or lower after about 30 minutes in the backyard, but other breeds would do much longer than that... Newfoundlands, Huskies, Chows, Malamute, Bernese Mtn Dog can def. stay outside and prefer it I think..its in their breed...

 

[dismom2]

Why would you not just have another bucket in the barn, in case the other gets knocked over?

But what I'd really like to ask you is why you are leaving the poor dog and water out in the freezing weather to begin with. I feel sorry for the dog. Would you like to sleep outside and lick frozen water? Dogs are living beings you know, even if they are 'just dogs'.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

If the dog can get into the barn for shelter, and out of the barn to the water, does that mean the barn is open to the elements?

 

[happygirl]

Happygirl...can I ask where you live and what breed of dog you have? My Jack Russell Terrier freezes at 32 degrees or lower after about 30 minutes in the backyard, but other breeds would do much longer than that... Newfoundlands, Huskies, Chows, Malamute, Bernese Mtn Dog can def. stay outside and prefer it I think..its in their breed...

I hove half Saint Bernard and Half Mastiff He's a gentle giant lol

 

[happygirl]

Why would you not just have another bucket in the barn, in case the other gets knocked over?

But what I'd really like to ask you is why you are leaving the poor dog and water out in the freezing weather to begin with. I feel sorry for the dog. Would you like to sleep outside and lick frozen water? Dogs are living beings you know, even if they are 'just dogs'.

Gee how did ever survive before people?

 

[KimR]

I hove half Saint Bernard and Half Mastiff He's a gentle giant lol

awww, I bet he's a sweetie! We had a St Bernard when I was growing up - they are wonderful dogs.

 

[happygirl]

awww, I bet he's a sweetie! We had a St Bernard when I was growing up - they are wonderful dogs.

Everyone keeps saying aww poor doggie, I think he would hate to be indoors. He loves being outside. It would kill me to bring him inside. He would be so sad inside

Yes, my barn has doors for the animals to come and go as they please.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I hove half Saint Bernard and Half Mastiff He's a gentle giant lol

I bet he can tolerate the cold pretty well at that size... its not like he's a chiahuaua. Did you mention where you live?

 

[Scurvy]

Gee how did ever survive before people?

Well to be fair, most domesticated breeds of dogs didn't survive before people. They were intentionally bred by people to have the characteristics that they have now. In addition, the dogs that did live in the wild before people began to domesticate them were well suited to their environments. Greyhounds, for example, aren't suited to live in Alaska and any that are there are only there because people took them there. They'd die if they were left out in the freezing cold. A dog that was designed to thrive in cold weather (like a Husky or Malamute) can probably tolerate spending some time outside even when it's freezing out there. A dog that is more suited to warm weather (like a greyhound or Jack Russell) won't fare as well in a cold climate unless it has access to a heated building of some kind. Of course individual dogs will vary even more than that - for example, a Husky with health problems still might not be able to tolerate cold weather despite it's warm coat. And some short haired dogs (like English Bulldogs) can't tolerate the heat even though they don't have heavy coats.

 

[Imzadi]

This is a great movie on what a certain breed of dog can handle in frozen weather. It's even a Disney movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397313/

(I don't think the OP's dog lives in these conditions. )

 

[happygirl]

I'm out of the thread. Thanks for the ideas about the heated water bowls.\

EVeryone have a great night