How can I keep my two chihchua dogs warm in during cold winter months?

Question

I can't keep my two chihchua dogs in my apartment because my cats don't get along with them so I let them stay in our back patio. But keeping them warm is my concern so what is the best way I can use or buy for them to keep them warm when they go to sleep or rest. Right now outside tempertaure can be from somewhat 27 to 50 degree but tempertaure can jump from day to day so that why I asked you that question. Please don't say that I must keep them in the house because I have tried kept them in the house in separate room away from cats, it don't work because I tried to house train them for 9 months and they are sooooo hyper and won't listen to me at all about house training but they will listen if i call them but ignore us if we try to train them so i have tried to put newspaper on floor with tape because they keep mess up the newspaper and chew it up so they ended up pee and poop on floor or carpet. IT stink really bad and they poop like 5 to 6 times a day. I need to keep them outside.

Answer 1

Chihuahuas don't tolerate the cold well at all. If you can't keep them indoors, see about finding them a home that CAN!

Answer 2

Make sure that they have adequate space to sleep and take shelter when the weather gets rough. Put lots of blankets inside to keep them warm and maybe even put hay underneath. You can also buy heating pads from pet stores etc. that would be great but you must be careful that the dogs won't chew on the cords. Also, getting them sweaters/jackets would help.

However, please re-consider bringing them indoors. Small dogs have trouble regulating their body temperature. Perhaps find a room such as a bathroom or laundry room that is covered in tile where cleaning up mess won't be so much of a problem. Also I would like to suggest using specialized training pads instead of newspaper for indoor house training. They have a scent that only dogs can smell and it encourages them to use that spot and they are very easy to clean up (especially if you put them in some kind of tray in case a dog accidentally misses the edge). They really work great!

Answer 3

They need a small insulated dog house and a heating pad. You have to make sure it is a safe heating pad that they won't chew on and get electrocuted.
Pet stores should sell this kind of heating pad, and if not you can order them online.
The dog house should not be too big, so that it will hold the dogs' body heat inside it.
If you can't get the proper equipment right away, you can use an ice chest (with the lid open) and put a wrapped bottle of hot water in it. Even a cheap styrofoam ice chest can work, but it won't last very long.

Answer 4

give your dogs up then if you cant train them or keep them inside. that is horrible and someone could call animal services on you. that is cruelty to animals. do you not have kennels for them? they can stay in there when you are not home, that way the do not poop all over or mess with the cat.

if you REALLY love these dogs, take them to obidience school. you have a trainer come to your house. they are professionals and can help.

basically you have two options, find an adoption agency for your dogs, or pay the money to have them trained since you obviously cannot do it.

Answer 5

Chihuahuas are inside dogs, not outside dogs. They get cold very easily and if you continue to keep them outside, then, they will die. Are they out there without a sweater or any kind of shelter. I hate to say this, but you don't sound like a very responsible or caring owner. You need to seriously think about keeping the cat's or keeping the dogs. Those chihuahuas have to be kept inside, if you don't want them to die. It sounds like you care about the cats welfare than you do about the dogs.You might want to consider giving the chihuahuas up for adoption, if you don't want them inside, so they can find an owner that has no problem, keeping them inside. I feel so sorry for those babies, because what your doing to them, is just so cruel.You can get into serious trouble for animal abuse, if someone finds, out. Please, don't leave them out there any longer. Have a heart and bring them inside.

Answer 6

my suggestion to you would be for you to re-home them cause chi are very clingy and they need human contact !!! How can u be so cruel to them ? They will not listen because you did not take the time to housetrain them . They are by nature sometimes hyper did you not research the breed before you got them ? Those dogs might die if you keep ,keeping them out in the cold . Also someone might take it into their head to call animal control on you for leaving those dear creatures outside in 27 to 50 degree weather . Put sweaters on them for now . but definately re-home them if you get the chance otherwise they might end up dying . Please get them a home soon.

Answer 7

I have a similar problem. I have two toy fox terriers (very similar in temperament and size to chis). They are extremely hyper and rambunctious and hell bent on trouble. They are only ten months old now. I keep them outside some of the time, and make sure they have plenty of places to either find sun patches or take shelter. Also, I sometimes keep them inside in a crate when I'm not home. This way, they can't pick a fight with my older dog and they can't do too much damage. Also, crating them will help with housetraining.

Answer 8

That's a good question. I pay my pool boy $7 an hour to keep my towels warm and my glass full......and he has other responsibilities as well:) I could ask him if he's looking for a job on the side if you'd like.

Answer 9

Get them one of those igloo shaped house, just big enough for both to fit in.Now get a couple of old baby blankets and put them in there.Chihuahuas like to get under covers, so they will be fine together inside there.Turn the door to the house to the south and let sun get on it in the day time.If you put a lot of newspaper in the bottom of your dog house it will help to insulate...Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Put a heating pad in there bed, they also have sweaters etc to keep them warm I used "puppy pads" to house break mine worked well you could also put then in a kennel in house and let them out to use bathroom sooner or later they'll get the idea

Answer 11

Small dogs do not do well in the cold weather. The Chihuahua hates the cold and may shiver. It will tolerate and even appreciate a warm sweater on cooler days.

Dogs also take time, patience, and reptitiveness to be trained. Houes training does not happen overnight, it's not instant. For some dogs it can take up to 6 months, or even longer. You need to be able to have an open schedule and take them out when they need to, to keep a schedule, so that the dog can get use to it, and be patient and firm. If they pee/poop 5-6 times a day you need to be able to take them out 5-6 times a day. There are different methods of training your dog, crate training is the most widely used.

As for the energy. Dogs, especially puppies, have A LOT of energy. You have to be able to provide them with attention and care to wear down their energy. For example my dog (miniature pinscher) has a lot of energy and it overwhelms me sometimes, so I enrolled her in an puppy agility course. It's fun we both can participate.

As for obidence you should tried enrolling your dog in an training course. It'll help with getting your dog to listen to you as well as having your dog play with other dogs (socialization) which wil also wear down the energy.

" For some, they may be slightly difficult to train, but they are intelligent, learn quickly, and respond well to proper, gentle (positive reinforcement) training. This breed may snap at teasing children, after all it is too tiny to get away. The Chihuahua must resort to his sharp teeth in self defense. It is not recommended for children. He can be noisy and may require patience to housebreak. Many owners simply paper train this breed."

"Owners must be very sensitive to the fact that short-haired Chihuahuas, and even long-haired ones, are vulnerable to the cold. In temperatures of 35-40 degrees Farenheit, I would recommend dressing your Chihuahua in a special dog sweater for brief walks. Walking your Chihuahua in temperatures below 35 degrees Farenheit is strongly discouraged, especially when there is a wind-chill factor. In this, as in other aspects of dog maintenance, keep your dogs' health top priority, not your own desire. In some cold regions, an indoor heater will be necessary to keep your Chi comfortable."

I dislike judging people on this board or being rude, but if you do not have the time, patience, understanding, and care for your dogs (which you do not seem to have) you should consider giving up your dogs for adoption or to someone who does have these qualities. It seems like you put your cat's first, you do not have the patience to houes train, nor train them. Good Luck.