paulus 26 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Pretty sure there have got to be benefits to heat lamps on cold nights, as has been said dogs can cope with the cold and will curl up for warmth. But if they are constantly curled up over prolonged periods then you cant tell me they wont be stiff and potentially be more prone to injury than if they were warmer and stretched out. Its pretty basic physiology if muscles are tightened/ shortened for prolonged periods i.e. over night when curled up then they are more likely to reduce flexibility in the dog, which could lead to more muscular injuries. Running dogs generally carry much less fat/insulation than other breeds and therefore not really fair to compare them with different breeds, just my thoughts.i have a retired bitch who is in a centrally heated house and trust me its fecking hot in here as my Mrs is cold blooded , this dog sleeps on the bed and she always sleeps curled up, always has done during her 15 years. so to associate a curled up dog with just being cold is not necessarily a fair assumption Maybe she has stomach cramps the poor thing ........ the dog or the Mrs Link to post
sandymere 8,263 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Got a cold in its tummy poor thing lol. I've kept dogs inside and kennelled over the years and found they adapt to their surroundings well. I've never found temperature to the a big issue rather its draughts and damp that bring problems in a normal UK winter. I'd go for heat for an injured dog or pup but adults??? As to curling up much as we tend to sleep curled up its a normal position, muscles aren’t tense but relaxed whilst the spine is gently stretched rather than being tensed up as someone suggested, in truth stretching out is often a sign of needing to reduce temperature. It's also as much about individuals as anything else, dogs will often stretch out at first but as they go off into deep sleep adopt the curled position whilst sleeping indoors or out. It’s a matter for individuals and neither is wrong but not heating a decent kennel sounds fine to me, good food would be higher on my list of priorities if working long hours. the body adapts to the exercise and temperature and if fed well it will have the energy to burn to work and warm. Link to post
socks 32,253 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 As I said my sleeping area is large which makes it cold ... A bonus in the heat of the summer but stays real cold in the winter ... Colder than outside sometimes so for me a lamp is a must and at the end of the day it's my electricity bill ... As sandy mentioned food is of real importance to a hard working dog and mine get fed the best ...... 5 Link to post
sandymere 8,263 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Good amount of fat there which will keep em toasty. Link to post
sniper2011 69 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 As I said my sleeping area is large which makes it cold ... A bonus in the heat of the summer but stays real cold in the winter ... Colder than outside sometimes so for me a lamp is a must and at the end of the day it's my electricity bill ... As sandy mentioned food is of real importance to a hard working dog and mine get fed the best ...... quick question socks,as its your dog bowl i am looking at,do you think dogs need veg ? Link to post
socks 32,253 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 As I said my sleeping area is large which makes it cold ... A bonus in the heat of the summer but stays real cold in the winter ... Colder than outside sometimes so for me a lamp is a must and at the end of the day it's my electricity bill ... As sandy mentioned food is of real importance to a hard working dog and mine get fed the best ...... quick question socks,as its your dog bowl i am looking at,do you think dogs need veg ? Yes mate they give the dog the full spectrum of vitamins ...... Link to post
baw 4,360 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Fair enough socks, you raise good points there. I know collies on farms that run up and down sides of mountains day in day out, sleep in nothing more than oils drums. Live to a ripe old age working a lot harder than any lurcher. I'm not saying its right but it gives you an insight into what a dog is capable of. A draught free warm comfy bed is adequate in my eyes but each to there own But a hill collie isn't made up of a running dog that is carrying no body fat and is all muscle ... Huskies on the iditaroid race run 80miles a day and sleep on a bit of straw in the open in minus twenty could your dogs do that ??? I know mine would be dead in the morning lol .... All breeds are different and a heavily saturated running breed that's working 8 to 12 hours a day with maybe two lamping sessions a week need to be warm at night ....... Sooooooo on average you work your dogs 10 hours a day, every day plus 2 nights..... Okay, that means no matter the weather your dogs are out in the elements. That's a long time in driving sleet, freezing conditions. They won't be in constant action so do they sit and shiver? Probably not, like all animals they'll have grown a winter coat to cope. So if your dogs are able to cope OUT in the cold, why do you think they need constant heat in their bed? How do they get away from this heat you think they need? If anything, that's crueler than no heat surely. Look at bird, he has a dog that's capable of surviving on yukon men lol. Is it any wonder his dog ripped the heat lamp down? Treat them like Heros yes but treat them for the conditions they are in not because they've worked hard and overheating them with a heat lamp is some kind of reward. Link to post
socks 32,253 Posted March 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 I have kept dogs for a wee while baw so I think I might know if I was cooking my dogs ... As I explained they have a big bed that they can both fully stretch out on ... the heat lamp covers about two thirds of the bed so if for some reason they don't want to be under the lamp they can move ... However every time I let them out in the morning they have been sleeping under the lamp which tells me they want to be under it ...... Link to post
baw 4,360 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 ok mate, I know you have a good set up. Link to post
sandymere 8,263 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Does look a good set up from the pics he's posted. Recon the truth is he don't want a draught coming from the kennels when he's out there "workin" Heard he was getting a flushing toilet in next so he hasn't got to go far from the wood burner on these chilly mornings lol. Not that I'm jealous! Edited March 14, 2014 by sandymere Link to post
baw 4,360 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Does look a good set up from the pics he's posted. Recon the truth is he don't want a draught coming from the kennels when he's out there "workin" Heard he was getting a flushing toilet in next so he hasn't got to go far from the wood burner on these chilly mornings lol. Not that I'm jealous! I can't get my head round folk using heat lamps on sleeping working dogs but, they do Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 I bring the dogs inside from time to time and I feel sorry for them. Panting that hard you'd think they were taking a heart attack. They adjust to their surroundings. As long as the kennels draught and damp free as said with a comfy bed, they're in their element. Honestly, a heat lamp on the cold nights pmsl. :laugh: I can't see why using a heat lamp is so funny ........ It's been the mildest winter I can ever mind. If you need a heat lamp for your dogs this winter, what you gonna do on the real cold nights? I've got a heater but its to stop the water from freezing more than it is to heat the dogs. What do you do if your ferreting and they start shivering, give them your coat Well, that is strange........The plot thickens. 1 Link to post
dytkos 17,806 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Dry and draught free is the way to go. Heat lamps OK for kennelled dogs that are injured or whelping, your set up should be good enough without extra heat during "normal" conditions. Guess who left the door open? Cheers, D. Link to post
baw 4,360 Posted March 14, 2014 Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 I bring the dogs inside from time to time and I feel sorry for them. Panting that hard you'd think they were taking a heart attack. They adjust to their surroundings. As long as the kennels draught and damp free as said with a comfy bed, they're in their element. Honestly, a heat lamp on the cold nights pmsl. :laugh: I can't see why using a heat lamp is so funny ........It's been the mildest winter I can ever mind. If you need a heat lamp for your dogs this winter, what you gonna do on the real cold nights? I've got a heater but its to stop the water from freezing more than it is to heat the dogs. What do you do if your ferreting and they start shivering, give them your coat Well, that is strange........The plot thickens. Ohhh ffs, mrs marpel has been joined by inspector clouso. I'll let you lady's ponder for a while in your new found revelations Link to post
socks 32,253 Posted March 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2014 Does look a good set up from the pics he's posted. Recon the truth is he don't want a draught coming from the kennels when he's out there "workin" Heard he was getting a flushing toilet in next so he hasn't got to go far from the wood burner on these chilly mornings lol. Not that I'm jealous! There are also plans afoot for a shower ............. 2 Link to post
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