Would Rotweilers rather stay outside?

Question

I have a rotweiler that stays outside in a kennel. He has a dog house and there is cedar shavings on the ground. I've tried to bring him inside when it gets below 30, but he pants like hes hot and scratches at the door. I know these dogs come from Germany where it gets really cold. Do these dogs like the cold better. Also it gets down to about 15 at night, will he be Ok if i leave him outside.

We have put tarps around the entire kennel so the wind does not come inside, and there is a roof on top.

Answer 1

My friend has Rotts, with a doggy door. One stays in the house, and one chooses to be outside..but it doesn't get that cold here..
I would think that 15 is terribly cold for a Rottweiler. Is there another shelter where he would feel more comfortable, such as a garage overnight?
Perhaps you could make wind break, or run a heat lamp to the outside of the kennel, near the dog house? When we lived where it was cold, we kept heat-lamps on during the cold weather. for livestock and working dogs.
There are also heating pad available for kennels..>> http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&rls=GGGL%2CGGGL%3A2006-18%2CGGGL%3Aen&q=kennel+heating+pad&btnG=Search

Answer 2

Many dogs who are usually outside, aren't comfortable coming indoors. You need to get him used to being indoors by bringing him for short periods to start with. Just bringing him in to eat his dinner is a good start. Most dogs are quite OK outside but Rottweilers do not have very thick coats so when the temp is extreme (Do you mean 30 C or F??) they are better indoors.

Answer 3

If he has to stay outside I would make sure you put plenty of hay in his dog house. Blankets get wet and freeze. I've never heard of Rottweilers liking the cold, but I know a lot of the sled dog breeds like Huskies, Malamutes, etc do.

Answer 4

You know, we had one years ago. Was my ex-husband's dog & they always left him outside in the yard. We lived in the kansas city area, and when it got cold out, I'd insist on bringing him inside. He'd do the same thing, pant, pace, act like he was hot, and whine non stop to go back outside. So, I stopped insisting on him being inside lol. My ex used to tell me, he preferred being outside regardless of the temps. He was a weird dog though, he used to play with a car transmission bell housing, and actually toss it up in the air several feet and catch it around his neck. I was cutting the grass one day, and bent to pick it up and move it, I could barely pick the dang thing up.

Be sure he has some straw/hay to lay on inside his house to help keep warm. If he doesn't like it, he'll toss it out.

Answer 5

Dogs only need shelter to survive, a wool blanket or better yet a wool blend, like those "disaster blankets" for $5 would work well on the floor, (better than the shavings) and keep the dog warmer at night, also put a flap on the entrance to the dog house to keep out wind. The blankets can be purchased at www.cheaperthandirt.com, at least throw him a blanket, a cheap one you can just throw out, or wash (two blankets are better, then you will always have a clean one for the dog house. You can even cut them in half for further savings, but, he should have a blanket.

Answer 6

Wow, this is a twist. From the title of your question I was going to say 'NO, they want to be with their people all the time', but the rest of your text floored me. There is the chance that your boy does like it cold, but personally, I would take him to the vet and explain what is going on; there might be something wrong with him, such as his metabolism, that the vet can test for. Better safe than sorry and this could set your mind at ease.

There are several good suggestions from others to help with winterizing his outdoors home, also.

Answer 7

When your dog is scratching at the door to come in its too cold. He knows he can come in if he wants and he wants to be outside. Don't take it personal.

Answer 8

the panting is cause by stress - obviously you never had him inside for any length of time when he was young,,, dogs are not solitary animals - rotties do not have thick fur..... i would suggest bringing him inside more often, feeding him inside etc. and by all means when it is cold bring him in,,, he IS part of the family

Answer 9

When dogs are bred to be companions they should only be kept indoors. Especially in severe cold and heat. Dogs can die in severe weather. Just yesterday, I e-mailed the local news stations and asked them to announce on air to bring all pets indoors in this weather. If you love your dog, please bring him in.