Why do dogs sit in front of the heat?
Dogs of all ages love to huddle up to any sources of heat when it is cold outside.When Mom comes home and touches the box on the wall, Bandit and Daisy know that there will soon be something.They want to find and secure the best position for both maximum heat exposure as well as maximum closeness to the humans, and they will quickly start jockeying for position, both with each other and with their humans.
Depending on where you live, your dogs are more likely to want to come back inside after a walk in the winter than during the summer.There are dog breeds with double coats that are more-or-less comfortable outside in the winter, but an average dog doesn't care.You shouldn't leave them there either.
Dogs and humans are both warm-blooded creatures, so it is more energy efficient for them to make our environment warm in the winter.In cold weather, mammals use shivering to keep their body temperature up, but it uses up a lot of energy.If they can find a warm place to take shelter, that energy can be put to better use.You can make the environment more comfortable by starting a fire or turning on a heater.It is possible for yourself and your dog to use less energy.Dogs have a higher body temperature than humans, which means that they prefer and can tolerate higher temperatures.If you're setting your central heating thermostat for 68F in the winter, your dog would prefer it to be a bit higher.Like 72F.Or 76F.If you don't mind, even 80F.It's possible that your dog is getting dangerously close to heat sources like space heaters, wood stove, and hot-air register.If you use any of these means to heat your home in winter, be sure to follow all the manufacturer's safety warnings and ask a qualified technician what precautions you can take to avoid injury to your dog.
There are a few precautions you can take.If you use space heaters in your home to heat a single room that you and your dog occupy most of the time, be certain you're using ones that are certified by CSA in Canada or UL in the USA.The product has been tested and found to be safe if it is certified by one or both of those organizations.A tip-over switch, which will cut the power if the unit is knocked over, is one of the safety features you should check for.It should go without saying that you should not allow your dog to chew on the power cord or space heaters with damaged power cords.
If you use a fireplace for heating, make sure that you have a stable grate or screen that completely covers your fireplace so that stray embers can't land in your dog's fur.It's important to make sure that bumping won't cause it to tip over.You should always have a grate in place if you fall asleep by the fire, but you should never leave a fire unattended in the first place.If you use a wood, pellet, or heating oil stove to warm your house, here's a creative idea.The fencing panels from an indoor dog fence or pen can be used to block your dog's access to the area where the stove is located.
There are things you can do to encourage your dog.Set up an appealing dog bed at a safe distance and encourage him to use it if you don't tell him no.Show him that the toy or blanket is in the new bed if you know he likes it.Positive reinforcement can be used to model the behavior you want.Give your dog a treat when he goes to the safe bed on his own.Your dog will soon be using the new bed on his own and you will no longer need to keep an eye on him.
In the winter months, dogs are often much colder than we are, because they love warmth and heat.Despite the dangers they are courting, they will want to get as close to your supplemental heating as possible.With a little planning, you can get your dog on your side and enjoy a safer and warmer winter.