How can my small chihuahua mix survive the winter?

Question

So my family has all had big dogs in the past and I wanted a change and have always wanted a chihuahua. Well my dad and I were driving on the road and we saw a mixed chihuahua get thrown out of a car. We picked it up and my dad said we could keep her, but she would have to stay outside. So my mom, who hates animals, agrees if we keep her she stays outside. Winter is coming up and a 10 pound dog will not survive the harsh winter of Oklahoma. Is there any suggestion on what I can do to keep her warm enough to survive without letting her come inside?

Okay. So I think we may have found something out! We will probably just end up making a doggie door to our shed, where we will put blankets and insulator in a corner just for her. Trust me, it stays hot, even in winter! Thanks for the answers though.

Answer 1

You really need to bring her in. I live in OK too. Even the part of my garage that shares a wall with my house is freezing. Iknow you say she will be ok there, yeah she might survive, but she will be freezing.

Last winter we had that huge ice storm that took up two full months straight! It got warm and then the storm hit again. Muskogee was without power for a couple weeks. And a lot of Oklahoma that got a ton of ice damage was labeled as natural disaster area.

My 50 lb dog was freezing in the garage on a heated blanket and had to come in. Definitely that little dog needs to come in!

If you can't even provide basic care like allowing it inside, when it was breed for companionship then I'd find someone else to take care of it. Maybe a friend or a Humane Society. They will make sure that it recieves the care it deserves.

Answer 2

Chihuahua's or small dogs aren't really outside dogs,But why cant you just keep her in your room? since your parents don't want her running thru the house.I actually keep my dog indoors at all times unless if I'm taking them for a walk.

Answer 3

Where I live, some people actually have small dogs like that live outside all year, so your dog can live outside and live. I live in northern Manitoba, Canada, and our winters are more harsh than winters in Oklahoma.
Since your parents don't want the dog inside, than I guess you have no choice, so I'll tell you what you should do for keeping it outside.
Get it an insulated doghouse. Homemade ones are the best, not the plastic insulated doghouses. You should post an add on bulletin boards in your city/town saying "wooden insulated doghouse wanted", or you or your dad can build one. The thicker the walls the better. That pink fiberglass insulation is really good. When you have the doghouse, hammer a piece of rug or carpet on the top of the dog's door. Cut the rug/carpet piece so that it fits the door and it can easily flop back and forth when the dog goes in and out. Put straw or tall thick grass in the doghouse for the dog to sleep on. You can buy straw from people who sell supplies for livestock, it shouldn't cost too much, especially since its for a small dog's house, or you can cut tall grass if its in your yard or near by where you live, and use that instead of straw. If you have a don't have a fenced yard, then you have to tie it up, or else it could run off and get stolen or killed. A long chain leash will be good to use to tie him up. Hammer it to the dog's house. A leather collar, or a thick nylon collar with a metal buckle is best. I don't recommend using nylon collars with those black plastic snaps on it. They break easy when used on dogs that are tied up.
Your dog should be OK this winter. :)

Answer 4

chihuahuas belong IN the house IN your bed in all seasons.
How old are you? Is the dog housetrained? Enlist your dad's help and get that chi inside. The dog shouldn't be living outside anytime !!!!

Answer 5

Unfortunately, even with an insulated doghouse with a door, a heated pad, and lots of straw, I just don't think a little smooth-coated dog will survive a winter in Oklahoma. Even here in the midwest, my ~50-lb dogs with their warm kennels come inside during very cold nights.
The best thing you can do is to find this little girl a good home with a family who will be able to keep her inside. It will be hard, but you must think about what will be best for the dog. I'm certain that giving her away will be much better than finding her stiff and frozen one blustery morning.

Answer 6

Oh Gawd, I have a mix dog just like it, and she sleeps snuggled up w/me for over a decade now (she even knows when it's "bedtime").
They're "lapdogs" and are so prone to the elements and should be pampered and spoiled as INDOOR only dogs.
I've had large outdoor dogs who relish and prefer the outdoor living than in my house.

Your dad was kind enough to rescue the dog, but has your mom never owned a dog? It seems compassion, common sense would rule that a little warm blooded domesticated critter should NOT face the inhumane bitter cold, or will surely suffer a miserable, sick life.

Pls. consider re-placing her in a loving, permanent indoor home where she'll get all the atttention and comforts of home.
Place a posting in Craigslist or local paper, etc.
PLEASE,... unless your mother will reconsider and allow her in a portion of house with heating/heat lamp, etc.
(Coz no amount of knitted sweaters will warm the pup in the brutal winter)

Answer 7

If you leave the dog outside during winter, it will probably die. Chihuahuas are not meant to spend the winter out of doors. If you cannot care for the dog, you should re-home it to a place where it will be allowed to come indoors. Leaving it outside would be cruelty.

Answer 8

First it is not a dog that is capable of being left outside in the cold. Maybe a better thing for this dog is a shelter where it can be given a proper home. Being small and of little fur makes it very vulnerable to the hash winter

Answer 9

A chihuahua-mix, like any small dog, needs to be inside, especially during the winter.

I live in Kansas. And even our large farm-dogs that typically spent all their time outside, we brought inside during the cold winter nights.

EDIT: You also have hawks in Oklahoma. Small dogs (and cats as well) are pretty tempting meals for a hawk. Another reason to keep small dogs inside.

Answer 10

Chihuahuas aren't outside dogs. They need a place to come inside. Now- perhaps she would be all right with a heated dog house and some good bedding. In fact, my mother made a nice little bed for an old cat she used to have from one of those heated cushions hunters sometimes use to sit on. But unless you can get your own place, you might do better to find another home for your little dog.

As for the scuzz that threw her out, it would be nice if someone grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and threw HIM out by the road!