Winter camping with a dog.

R

razorsdescent

Joined
Jan 16, 2005
Messages
2,938
For those of you with active canines, what do you do to keep them from freezing? We recently had to call a camping trip because the dog just got too cold.

WE had the dog setup in in a Polartec fleece jacket (A Ruffwear brand dog jacket). It was in a pop-up crate we set inside a vestibule of our tent on a ground tarp. We lined the pop-up crate with a small rug that has a rubberized bottom.

My current thought is to maybe put a solar blanket over the crate and then drop a fleece blanket over that, so that it forms a little doggy sweat lodge. Does this seem like a feasible solution?

What are you guys doing with your dogs?

Thanks for any info, tips tricks and ideas to chew on.
 
I always buddy up with them somehow. That means their floor will be a minimum of my mat, sleeping bag and bivvy bag. Often they use a chunk of me too.

Clothing wise I am an enormous fan of these. For general dossing about they have fleece jumpers that can go underneath. When it is going to be proper chilly they use homebrewed sleeping bag ponchos I cut from an old -18C synthetic Ajungilak bag. I've never needed too but if the ears were still cold after that I'd slip a hotwater bottle in between chest and jacket.
 
Depends on the dog. What breed do you have? What kind of temps?

I have a German Shorthair, and I've camped with him down to -10F (- 23C) or so. Lots of padding underneath to insulate him from the ground, a fleece dog jacket, and an old sleeping bag on top of him. Of course, usually in those scenarios he just comes and snuggles up at some point.
 
The Dog is a shepherd breed, about 60lbs

@ Baldtaco, thanks for the recommendation on the coat, looks perfect. I can keep the fleece on under its pack and then throw that on over the fleece when we bivouac.
 
Used to go backpacking with my Doberman Amour. He used to sleep in the tent with me or inside my sleeping bag at my feet. He stayed warm and kept my feet warm. Had no problem with him waking up in the middle of the night as he was exhausted by the end of the day. I also carried his blanket which he wont sleep without no matter where we went.. One of my best friends ever.
 
I have a under 20 pound Border Terrier who goes with me on tons of Winter Trekking trips ( around -10 is our record) I never have to worry about her getting cold when we are moving, but when I have a camp setup I always make sure my sleeping bag and bivy are open to her in case she gets cold. I also coat her paws with Mushers secret which is a balm that keeps ice from balling up on her feet. If its extra cold I make sure to keep checking her feet for balling. She tends to eat the ice off her own beard and sometimes she eats the ice out of mine! Extra food is also helpful for her to keep warm, I supplement her usual dry meal with raw fatty meat and plenty of extra water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top