Heating a Doghouse or Kennel

As winter temperatures drop, ensuring your dog’s outdoor shelter stays warm becomes a priority. Once the mercury dips below 20°F, it’s time to think about how to keep your dog comfortable and safe. While cold-adapted breeds may fare better in chilly conditions, many dogs are at risk of hypothermia if exposed to temperatures below 45°F for extended periods. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to provide a warm, cozy space for your dog, no matter their breed.

Doghouse Heater

One of the most effective ways to keep your dog’s shelter warm during the winter is by installing a doghouse heater. Electric heaters, such as the Akoma Hound Heater Deluxe and the innovative Akoma Hound Heater with Wi-Fi and Camera, provide reliable warmth and convenience for both you and your pet.

The Akoma Hound Heater Deluxe is built with safety, simplicity, and energy efficiency in mind. With a 400-watt heating element and a quiet, forced-air fan, it ensures consistent heat distribution throughout the doghouse. Its user-friendly thermostat lets you adjust the temperature easily, offering settings that range from 32°F to 80°F, depending on your dog’s needs. This heater is designed to last, featuring a replaceable heating element and thermostat, plus a chew-proof cord for added durability.

If you’re looking for a more advanced option, the Akoma Hound Heater with Wi-Fi and Camera takes convenience to the next level. This model not only offers reliable heating with a 400W element, but it also features Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing you to control the thermostat remotely through the Akoma app. You can monitor your dog’s comfort in real-time with the built-in camera, providing ultimate peace of mind while you're away. With its energy-efficient design, this heater operates only when necessary, reducing energy costs while maintaining a consistent temperature in the doghouse.

Both models are built with safety in mind, featuring heat shields and chew-resistant cords to ensure your pet can be near the unit without risk. Plus, they are easy to install, with both mounting securely on the side of the shelter.

Wind Protection Is Key

Making sure that their house or kennel is protected from wind freely blowing through is a quick and easy way to keep the temperature higher within the doghouse or kennel. Wind moving through a doghouse or kennel can quickly pull away the heat and drop the temperature. By wind proofing, you can prevent the wind from pulling heat generated from the dog’s body heat that otherwise can effectively raise the temperature inside the structure.

Staff Tip: When constructing a doghouse, make sure house’s entrance is facing away from the wind.

Insulating the Doghouse

Whether you’re using a heater or relying on your dog’s natural body heat, making sure your doghouse or kennel is well insulated can make a huge difference. Insulating will help trap in the heat and prevent the cold outside air from making its way into the dog house. Dogs produce a lot of body heat, so just insulating the doghouse is an effective method of keeping the temperature comfortable.

Tip: Remember that heat rises, so make sure to insulate the ceiling of the doghouse or kennel as well as the walls!

Trap Heat Efficiently

Like adding insulation, trapping the heat inside by using a dog door or by adding heavy-duty vinyl flaps is great for maintaining warmth inside a doghouse or kennel. Without this, it would be like running the furnace with the front door wide open. These also are nice for keeping the elements outside and help retain any loose bedding like red cedar ribbons inside the doghouse or kennel.

Elevate the Doghouse Floor

Having the open bottom doghouse means that the cold ground temperatures will radiate cold inside the enclosure. By building the doghouse up off the ground, you create a gap between the ground and the floor to eliminate the cold ground temperatures from being able to creep up into the enclosure. During the winter months, add insulation to the air gap between the ground and the flooring to produce protection from heat loss to the wind.

If you are not able to provide an elevated floor for the dog house, at least consider providing an elevated dog bed like the Kuranda beds to get the dog a place to sleep that is up off the cold ground.

Provide Warm Bedding

Just like you use a blanket to keep warm, providing the right bedding for your dog can help them stay cozy and comfortable. Bedding options can include red cedar ribbons, towels, rugs, or comforter blankets. If you have access to electricity, a heated dog mat or heated dog bed is an excellent choice. These products are especially helpful in colder weather to ensure your dog stays warm.

Heated Dog Mats: If you're looking for a reliable, durable heating solution, the Kane Heating Mat is a great option. This mat provides a consistent, regulated heat source for your pet, making it perfect for dog houses, kennels, and whelping areas. The Kane Heating Mat is available in three sizes (Medium, Large, and X-Large), and it includes a rheostat for temperature control, ensuring your dog stays at just the right temperature. For those without a rheostat, the mat will maintain a temperature approximately 37°F above the ambient temperature, which is ideal for most situations.

Other Heated Options: In addition to the Kane Heating Mat, we also offer the Lectro-Kennel Heated Pad, which is another excellent choice for heating your pet's area. For heated dog beds, check out the Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Bed available in both medium and large sizes.

Tip: When using a heated pad or bed, be sure there's enough space in the dog house or kennel for your dog to move off the heated area when they get too warm. Having a cool, non-heated spot will allow your dog to regulate their body temperature comfortably.

Solar Powered Doghouse Heaters: A Practical Solution or Myth?

Are you considering a solar-powered heater for your dog’s outdoor shelter? While the idea of using solar energy may seem like an eco-friendly and cost-effective option, the reality is that solar-powered doghouse heaters often fall short when it comes to providing reliable warmth, especially in cold weather.

Many solar-powered heaters on the market are underpowered for the demands of winter. Most models provide just 20 watts of heating power—far less than the 400 watts of heat that a unit like the Akoma Hound Heater can generate. This lack of power makes it difficult for solar heaters to maintain a warm environment in freezing temperatures.

Another challenge with solar heaters is that they rely on sunlight to generate energy. However, winter days are often shorter, and the sun doesn’t shine as intensely, meaning your solar panels will be producing less power during the coldest months. And even when the sun does shine, remember that it’s often the coldest outside when it’s dark—the very time your dog needs warmth the most. To make up for this, a solar system would need large batteries to store energy for nighttime use, which can get expensive and complicated.

While solar-powered doghouse heaters aren't impossible to use, they’re generally not the most practical or reliable solution unless you're willing to invest in a significant setup. For most pet owners, running power to the doghouse or kennel is a far more dependable and cost-effective option.

Don’t Use Heat Lamps in Your Doghouse

While researching ways to heat your doghouse, you might come across heat lamps as a potential solution. However, we strongly advise against using heat lamps for several important reasons.

1. Fire Hazard: Heat lamps are designed to have large clearances between the lamp and nearby objects. Doghouses, however, often have limited space, which increases the risk of the lamp coming into contact with the walls, bedding, or other flammable materials. This creates a serious fire hazard that could put both your dog and your home at risk.

2. Burns and Overheating: Since heat lamps are not designed with pets in mind, their proximity to your dog could cause burns. Additionally, most heat lamps do not come with temperature controls, meaning they can overheat the doghouse, potentially making it uncomfortable for your dog to rest. In the worst-case scenario, the intense heat could cause your dog to experience heat stress or heatstroke, which can be life-threatening.

3. Lack of Temperature Control: Unlike electric heaters that feature adjustable thermostats, heat lamps generally operate at a fixed temperature. Without the ability to regulate the heat, your dog’s shelter could become excessively warm, leaving your dog unable to cool down. This can discourage your pet from using the doghouse altogether, undermining the purpose of heating it in the first place.

For these reasons, it's best to avoid using heat lamps in your doghouse. Instead, opt for pet-safe, energy-efficient doghouse heaters, such as the Akoma Hound Heater Deluxe or the Akoma Hound Heater with Wi-Fi and Camera, which provide consistent and controlled warmth, ensuring your dog’s comfort and safety all winter long.

Conclusion:

Regardless of your dog’s breed, if winter temperatures dip below 45°F for extended periods, it's crucial to take steps to ensure your pet stays warm, safe, and comfortable in their doghouse or kennel. Whether it's adding insulation, providing warm bedding, or installing a reliable heating solution like the Akoma Hound Heater Deluxe or Akoma Hound Heater with Wi-Fi and Camera, these precautions can make all the difference in keeping your dog cozy throughout the colder months.

We hope this guide has given you the tools and insights to provide the best winter care for your canine companion. If you have any questions about the products featured in this article, or need personalized advice on heating your kennel, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to help!

You can contact us via live chat, social media, email us at service@lcsupply.com, or give us a call at 1-800-662-5202. We'd also love to hear from you—what’s your go-to heating solution for your doghouse? Leave a comment below or get in touch with us through any of the contact options above. We’re committed to ensuring your pet stays warm and safe all winter long.

Thank you for reading, and stay warm!

• Michael Cassatt, LCS Director of Marketing