I have two very very minature yorkies. They really feel the cold. When the weather is warm they are fine and go into their beds at night time until we wake in the morning but on cold nights they could be scratching the door and barking from midnight on. I don't get up to them so as not to encourage it but we are certain it is from the cold. I bought a big sleeping bag and put it into both beds so it is kind of tucked around them but they still seem to be cold. Any ideas on what I could do. I could put them to bed with their little jackets on but the younger one bounds around a lot and I'd be afraid it would get caught on something. This is a serious question so I'd appreciate serious answers only.
2007-05-15 20:48:24 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Are their beds placed in a draught? Is it possible to safely heat the area where they sleep? Your vet might be the best person to offer advice.
2007-05-15 20:57:11 · answer #1 · answered by jet-set 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say what sort of hair your Yorkies have. Do you trim them short in the run-up to spring/summer? The reason I'm asking is, I have two Yorkies and they both have their natural coats - one, long and silky - the other, long and thick. Neither of them seem to feel either the heat or the cold because of their natural protection. This is why I always advocate not trimming a Yorkie short.
If, however, your dogs have their natural coats and are still cold, it could be down to their size and the exposure to our cold and damp climate of late. As many have suggested, make sure they are not in any draught. The best way of keeping them warm are the fleece 'vet beds' which are widely available and are often sold in lengths you can cut to suit. Try to avoid putting coats or T-shirts on them indoors as this will only add to your problems. Have a word with your vet and see what the expert says ... In the meantime, give your little ones a big long cuddle from me!!!
2007-05-16 13:58:08 · answer #2 · answered by Mozey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're probably not generating enough body heat to stay warm. There are several things you can do; try a large 'igloo' style bed with a roof and encourage them bot to use it. Line it with fleece or sheepskin. Put layers of newspaper underneath. But most importantly the room they're in needs to be kept at a minimum temperature. Some breeds just need this, imagine trying to keep a hairless dog in a cold room!
An electric heater is probably the safest option, and you can get Economy 7 electricity put on to save on the bills. There are several types including heat pads that go under the bed and heat lamps that hang over it.
2007-05-16 06:32:26 · answer #3 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dogs are crate trained so if I had tiny dogs I'd raise the crates off the floor and use plastic crates to cut down on drafts.
My Whippets hate the cold and I use donut beds so they can curl up and have sides all around.
I have used coats on my old dogs at my old house that did not have central heat, only a wood stove. The coats were slick on the outside with fake sheepskin on the inside so they didn't catch on things.
Why don't they sleep in your room? My dogs sleep in crates in my room so I only had to heat one room in the winter at my old place.
You could set their beds up in a playpen or xpen so they could wear jackets and the younger one can not bound around all over.
Poor dogs, I hate being cold and so do my Whippets. If I wear a coat, so do they usually.
They do make heated beds as someone mentioned http://drsfostersmith.com is pricey but has nice beds.
2007-05-16 04:36:05 · answer #4 · answered by Whippet keeper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a lot of body mass there and the hair doesn't add much insulation. I had a little Miniature Bull Terrier whose short coat did not offer much protection during our Wyoming winters. I put a small space heater near her sleeping box. Satisfied her until she figured out she would be even warmer if she waited until my wife and I were asleep and then crawl under the bed covers between us.
2007-05-16 04:34:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An obvious thing would be to turn the heating up and you can get either a hot water bottle or a heated pad to put under their beds or wrapped up in a towel and put that under them. You can get the hot water bottle at any supermarket and the heated dog pads at almost any pet store.
2007-05-16 04:38:08 · answer #6 · answered by Elena 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You COULD try allowing them to SHARE a larger bed/basket, rather, than have individual ones, - they would keep each other warm, that way, - just as dogs USED to do, in the wild! That worked, for HUNDREDS, - if not, THOUSANDS, - of years!
I used to OWN two Yorkies, - had the Mum, and Daughter, - and, they were WONDERFUL little dogs, - faithful, to the last! It broke my family's hearts, when, - in March, 2000, - firstly, "LUCY", (the MUM), died, aged 13, - and, again, in 2005, - when "TAMMI" died, - just a fortnight, before her FIFTEENTH birthday! We all MISS them, - even NOW!
Look after them, - they are PRECIOUS little things! Good LUCK, with them, BOTH!
2007-05-16 04:47:35 · answer #7 · answered by Spike 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bless them!! i have two yorkies who feel the cold and have to wear coats (they are couched up now on my lap on my blanket) i don't know what to suggest other than more blankets, maybe changing where they sleep to a warmer place or getting different coats (like a T-shirt) which is tighter fitting so it wont get cought???? good luck with the little treasures!!!x
2007-05-16 03:59:26 · answer #8 · answered by BscHons 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my little dog is the same needs a blanket all the time there is a website that tells about this breed do suffer from the cold
its called www.dogbreedinfo.com this site will tell you about Yorkshire terriers
2007-05-16 16:04:56 · answer #9 · answered by catsfoot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May sound obvious,but put the heating on/up, thats what I do when I am cold.
2007-05-16 03:57:39 · answer #10 · answered by Knownow't 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋