[ConnieVa]

How do you know when your baby is hot or cold? Tucker's xpen is right next to an A/C vent and he seems to ot mind it at all. He has been through the summer and we do keep the house around 67 to 68. He never seems hot either.

Winter is now upon us and I am not sure what to do. I did have a fluffy towel in his crate but he thinks it's a pee pad so we took it out. You are are going to kill me but he sleeps in a bare crate at night and seems to like it better.

He does have a bed that is soft and fluffy but he only uses that outside the crate or xpen.

This winter I am not sure what to do. I thought of wrapping a big towel around his crate to keep the cooler air out. How can you tell if they are cold? He never shivers unless he is getting towel dried after his bath.

 

[Toby's Mom]

That is a really good question. I have wondered it myself.

The only time Toby shakes is when we are in the car.

The other night it was freezing in the house, but I refused to turn on the heat. We threw another blanket on the bed and I put Toby in a fleece shirt. I tried to get him under the covers but he wouldn't have in. In fact, he stretched out on the bed and seemed like everything was fine.

Maybe these guys don't get as cold as we think because of their hair?

 

[Scoobydoo]

Well I just wonder if nature has provided for our furkids by giving them a different coat for the seasons. It has cooled down a lot here in Illinois too and Scooby never seems to be cold either. At night he just snuggles a little closer to us on the bed but he is never shivering. I will say though when he has to go out potty when it is cold he loves to have his sweater on and he makes that decision by waiting at the back room door for us to dress him before going outside.
I would say if you are worried why not keep a little soft shirt or jacket on during the night, that way you know he is warm and comfy.

 

[LexiAndNikkisMom]

I always have something over the girls crates. They do better when it is dark in there. During the summer I use a light sheet. In the winter I use a blanket or beach towel (usually a beach towel).

 

[sassy's mommy]

If your baby sleeps in his creat it is a good idea to put something over it to keep the draft away. I think you would notice him curled in a little ball or trying to snuggle something if he was too cold. I know when Sassy gets cool she will snuggle closer to the mommy. Infant t-shirts are a good choice for pj's in the winter. You could also get one of those insulated bed liners if you think you need one. You can fill it with either warm or cool water. It works as either...cool bed or warm bed.

 

[Littlemans Mom]

I agree with Lexi's Mom and Sassy's Mom, a blanket over the crate would be a good idea. We have Indy in his crate part of the night and he does much better with his blanket over it. It is a thin fleece blanket, he also has one in his crate and if he is cold he will pull up one side of it and tuck himself in

He wakes up and then comes to bed with us, until it is time for his Daddy to go to work. Eventually he will end up sleeping with us the whole night, but I am still nervous when he gets up and walks around the bed. I am afraid he will fall or jump off and it is a high bed. But until then, he does feel safe in his crate with his blanket and his duckie

Oh, and I gave in and turned the heat on this weekend

it was just too cold for me and when I get cold I hurt all over, so on came the heat.

 

[cindysilver]

It's really easy for me to tell when Jack is hot or cold...

When he's cold, he trembles...

When he's hot, he pants.

Ta da!

I guess I'm lucky

 

[pico's parent]

Good question! Summer and winter we only cool/heat the house during the day and turn it off at night. Using fans in the summer, our foam coated roof keeps the house cool enough and in the winter, I put a sheepskin blanket (converted from old car seat covers) in Pico's crate. Year 'round he has a chenille-rug-covered foam mattress in his crate.

He's only shivered when we've been in DFW airport during a winter trip and I put a sweater on him when he does that. He pants when he's hot and so far our Winter/Summer arrangements seem to suit him.

Oh, I did get a Canine Cooler bed to put on the living room sofa and he likes to "chill out" on that during the hot parts of the summer days before the thermostat hits 83 inside and I turn on the air finally!

We're broke and poor, too, like Tlunn and I just won't spend unneccessarily.

 

[doctorcathy]

all of my dogs will pant if they're hot.

when sprite's cold...she'll nudge me to let her under the covers. ellie and gruffi hate being under the covers.....even when its around 50 degrees here! and thats COLD in california. lol