No more chilly dogs! How to keep a dog warm at night

Updated 04/10/2024

As seasons change, so too do our daily doggo routines. Pet parents preparing for the cooler months and colder nights may wonder how to keep a dog warm at night. What are the best hacks and must-haves? We could even backtrack and ask if dogs get cold at night. Well, yes!

Pups are mammals, like us, and can become chilly dogs at nighttime and feel the cold more than us due to their higher body temperature (fun fact!). So, to find out how to maintain a warm dog, outside of our usual research, we’ve also reached out to our fur fabulous members! 

So, with the help of some paw-some pet parents and canine carers, here are some ideas on keeping dogs warm in winter and how to keep a dog warm at night.

How to keep a dog warm at night inside

Hot water bottle

An easy and cost-effective way to warm up a crate or dog bed is by heating a hot water bottle. These can either come as a microwavable heated bottle or one that you simply fill up with hot water. Never put a hot water bottle directly in contact with your pup as this could overheat them, or worse burn them. Place a heated water bottle under their bed or piles of blankets in their crate to make things extra warm and comfortable at night. Remember, dogs have sharp claws and teeth, which could cause damage to a hot water bottle. Therefore, to keep them safe and prevent burns and scalds, it’s a good idea to remove the hot water bottle once your dog enters their bed.

Heated pet bed

You can go one step further than a hot water bottle and invest in a heated dog bed. Like a heated human blanket, these can be plugged in and set to a low temperature - enough to keep their paws warm at night, but not too high as to cause them harm. It’s really important not to use a heated bed in dogs with mobility issues. Dogs will normally get up and reposition regularly, especially if they’re getting too hot, but if your dog struggles to do this they could get burned.

Raise the dog bed off the floor

A very simple hack on how to keep a dog warm at night is to make sure their bed is slightly off the ground. This can be done by placing their bed in a crate, on a couch, or raised platform away from where the coldest part of the room would be, the floor.

Provide extra layers

Just like us humans, layering up is one of the best ways to prepare for those cold nights. Bundle them up and provide extra blankets or towels to help trap in warmth. Don’t be tempted to wrap them up before bedtime as this could overheat them. Just make sure there are plenty of options for them to snuggle up and create extra dog warmth.

Prevent drafts

Another quick and easy trick is to check how drafty the room they sleep in is. Older houses, for example, are known for having thin windows or crooked doorways which can let cold air in more easily. Do a whip-round of their room before bed and block up any drafty doors, windows, or corners with extra towels or blankets.

Share your bed and your body heat

Now, this is a controversial one. One big pet parent debate, especially with canine carers is whether or not their dog should sleep in the same bed as them. We’re not here to debate that today, pet people. But, natural body heat is a great way to help both yourself and others warm up on cold nights. If you don’t mind or allow your dog to share your bed, this can be a quick way to make sure they stay snuggly.

How to keep dogs warm outside at night

Keep them sheltered

Some pups are bred for the great outdoors and may be happiest sleeping out there too. Never leave a doggo out in the elements at night, however. Always make sure they still have a well-insulated, waterproof shelter or dog house that can keep them cozy with their dog warmth. Check they have dry bedding each night, or even opt for something like hay or straw which is also a great natural draft excluder.

Invest in a dog coat

Finally, for doggos that might feel the cold a bit more than others - elderly, sick, very small, or hairless dogs - a dog coat could be a good solution, especially if they have to sleep outside. Nowadays, modern dog coats are as breathable as they are durable and also add an extra sense of security and safety for your doggo.

Tips from our paw-some Community

Where better to find tricks of the trade than from real pet parents and canine carers? We posted this question to you guys on our Community Forum and you did not disappoint! Here are some real tips from some paw-some pup parents:

First up, we have Garfield based in Norway who is a pup parent as well as a cat sitter:

“My dogs love to snuggle on a plaid of wool - or even better if available - a sheepskin! Of course, a plaid is easier to wash - if you get the type that can take a whirl in the washing machine without shrinking!”

Maggie8K suggests something similar she used while on a house sit in Scotland:

“I did a sit-in Scotland during winter and my host kindly left me an electric blanket (texture like yours) in case. It was sitting on one of the leather couches and I noticed that the dog loved to curl on it. I ended up not needing it, but the dog loved it (not plugged in).”

Chrissy, on the other paw, advises going back to basics when it comes to warmth. It’s important to note that this has been tried and tested by her brother’s three pups:

“My brother’s Sealyham terriers love the wood-burning stove lit when it’s cold and jostle for the best position.”

Some excellent pieces of advice there - thank you again to everyone who participated! Your input and advice are incredibly valuable to us, and we love to hear directly from our fabulous members.

Meet our veterinary expert, Hannah

This article has been checked by veterinarian Dr Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCV.

Hannah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and worked in mixed practice for a few years before focusing on small animal work. Clinically, she worked in a busy, multi-center hospital practice until 2018, where she underwent training in advanced canine and feline dentistry and began working towards a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. She then moved to a local independent practice to care for the pets nearby, allowing more time to focus on other career avenues, which include writing for a diverse range of pet websites, vet practices, drug companies, journals, and veterinary educators. 

To participate in future articles like this, head to our Community Forum to have your say on pet parental matters. It’s also a great place to connect with other like-minded pet lovers from around the globe, even if you’re not a full member (yet). But, if you are keen to join, check out our different membership plans to see which option would suit you best.