Your dog may love being outside no matter how cold the weather gets, but you want to feel confident that he has access to plenty of fresh water even when he’s playing outside.
Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to ensure that your dog has access to fresh, unfrozen water all the time, even when the weather is extreme.
How do you keep your dog’s water from freezing? To prevent your dog’s water from freezing, an electrically heated bowl is the best option. Placing the bowl in an insulated dog house with a waterproof heat mat will work too. Keeping the bowl inside and installing a dog door for access is another option.
Making sure that your dog stays hydrated is important even in bitter cold weather, but it’s not very practical or pleasant to dash outside every few hours to thaw your dog’s water.
In the following, you’ll learn what your options are when it comes to providing your dog with plenty of water when the temperatures plummet.
Heated Dog Bowl
If you’re trying to keep your dog’s water bowl from freezing, a heated water bowl is an excellent option.
Your dog may enjoy hanging out all day in the freezing temperatures and refuse to come in no matter how hard you try to change his mind.
By using a heated water bowl, you can have your mind at ease that at least he has plenty of water to drink no matter what adventures he gets into outside.
K&H Thermal-Bowl
This efficient heated bowl does a great job of keeping water warm even in freezing temperatures.
It has a sturdy design with a steel-wrapped cord and electronics packed within the bowl to keep your pet safe from tampering with it.
It only uses about 25 watts and turns on and off as needed for great energy efficiency.
So few watts are unlikely to seriously hurt your pet even if an attempt is made to try to chew through the cord.
Water and electricity are a combination that tend to make people a little nervous.
To give you confidence that this product is safe, know that this bowl has been tested and certified by MET labs and exceeds electrical safety standards.
Pros:
- Keeps water from freezing even at -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Only uses 25 watts for great energy efficiency.
- Thermostatic fan control turns heater on and off only as needed.
- Steel-wrapped cord prevents chewing.
- All the electronics are sealed in the bowl to keep your pet safe.
- Available in three sizes and colors.
Cons:
- Cord is 5 1/2 feet long, so an extension cord may be necessary.
Insulated Dog House With a Heated Blanket
Undoubtedly, your dog likes being inside with you, but for dogs who also enjoy being outdoors or dogs who have a job to do outside, a heated blanket in a well-insulated dog house may be just what they need.
Keep in mind that dog houses can become very cold, even if they are well insulated, so the failure of the heated blanket could be very serious for your dog’s health.
Unfortunately, dogs die every year in cold dog houses.
However, if your dog has access to the inside but wants to be outside and is a thickly coated breed well equipped to be outside in the cold, an insulated dog house might be just the ticket.
You want to spoil your dog, so don’t just settle for any doghouse. Choose an insulated dog house along with a heated blanket to keep your pup cozy even in cold temperatures.
Petmate Indigo Igloo
This is a heavy-duty dog house that, when paired with a great heating blanket, can keep your dog warm even on very cold winter days.
Just put your dog’s water bowl in the dog house with a 100% waterproof heating mat, and ice should not be an issue.
If your dog chooses to be outside during the coldest weather, you want to make sure they have a well-insulated, heavy-duty house for protection.
This house can stand up to some abuse from your dog since the heavy-duty material and rounded edges do a great job of resisting chewing.
An offset doorway keeps your dog from being exposed to rain even if the rain is coming down at an angle.
The material is equipped with microban antimicrobial protection to eliminate bacteria at the source.
Pros:
- Heavy duty.
- Rounded design prevents dogs from chewing and jumping on top.
- Offset doorway to shield pets from rain and weather.
- Features a raised floor with side moats to drain water and keep your pet dry.
- Microban antimicrobial protection to prevent odor-causing bacteria.
- Insulated – protects from the cold.
- Allows for airflow without letting in water.
Cons:
- Designed to be functional, not very attractive.
- Doesn’t stay cool in the summer as well as it stays warm in the winter.
Petnf Heating Pad
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You want your dog to be as comfortable as possible while he’s outside. With six heat-setting options, this heating mat keeps your pup toasty even in very cold temperatures.
You can choose to leave it on continuously, or you can set the timer so it only runs for a predetermined time period.
The cord is protected by an all-steel cover and is chew resistant.
The soft outer layer is washable and makes sure your dog stays warm and comfortable while the waterproof, flame-retardant, inner cover ensures safety.
This pad is UL certified and tested by MET labs to exceed safety requirements.
Pros:
- Waterproof and flame retardant material.
- Features adjustable heat settings and timer.
- Steel-covered cord is chew resistant.
- Outer cover is machine washable.
Cons:
- Rectangular shape may not fit well into all dog houses.
- Pad is not very thick – additional bedding may be needed for comfort.
Door Flap
For many people, the ideal solution to keeping a dog’s water from freezing is to install a door flap so dogs can come in when they like.
That way, you’ll know that your dog always has access to the comfort of the indoors, even if he wants to say outside a lot of the time.
A secure door flap won’t let cold air into your house, but it will let your dog in whenever he wants.
Even if you provide your dog with other ways to access water, it’s not a bad idea to also allow access to at least some areas of your house in case something fails in their other equipment.
PetSafe Pet Door
This pet door gives your dog the freedom to go in and out as desired so that he can drink water at room temperature whenever he pleases.
It’s a great option thanks to the multiple sizes available and the flexible flap that makes it easier for your dog to enter and exit.
The magnetic strip along the bottom of the flap makes sure that the flap goes back into the correct position each time your dog uses it.
For times when you do not want your dog to have the freedom to come and go at will, simply snap the included panel into place to block access and prevent drafts.
You can install it yourself easily, even if you do not consider yourself to be particularly handy.
Pros:
- Four sizes available to fit small dogs and those as large as 220 pounds.
- The flexible, soft flap is easy for pets to move.
- Included panel can be snapped on to block access.
- Easy to install by yourself.
- Paintable frame to match your house decor.
Cons:
- Plastic door may break down over time, especially in direct sunlight.
- May still allow some air exchange even though it is insulated.
Last update on 2024-04-24 at 00:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
