[eckokitten]

I've never had this issue before to consider so I would love some advice.

I just got a long haired husky. He was born/raised in Texas but I live in New York.

We are getting a pretty fairly ugly winter weather. It has been snowing, icy and in the 20s- 30s temp wise.

The husky (Koda) goes outside and does not want to come in at all. Like he totally refuses to come inside for anything lol

He curls up in a ball on the porch and sleeps.

But I am super worried about how long it is ok to leave him out?

i don't want him to be sitting out in the cold. I feel abusive lol

 

[Rileysaur]

I think he'll be okay, he's probably more comfortable outside. Just keep checking on him every few mins. Riley does the same thing. He will sleep on the porch until he gets too hot/cold then come inside. I think the longest he's chosen to stay outside is around 15 min when it gets that cold though.

 

[Flaming]

Manna has been known to sleep outside refusing to come in or use a dog house down till -30°C....Vitae's record is -20°C but occasionally Vitae will use our very insulated dog house instead of coming inside ( it's huge and warm, we've had people choose to sleep in it)

As long as they have a way to come in or to let you know when they want to come in quickly and easily, then I wouldn't worry too much about it. I figure that we keep our house too warm for them sometimes.

 

[akodo1]

When it comes down to it, if he likes sleeping outside I'd let him. If it would ever come to be too cold, he'd howl and scratch at the door. As long as you don't ever take the attitude of 'damn dog wanted to sleep outside so let him suffer!' I think you are fine.

 

[traciek88]

He's a husky! They were bred to be able to sleep outside in the freezing cold and snow. I'm sure he's absolutely in his glory in the snow and cold! Maybe put some musher's secret on his feet to protect his pads and monitor him from time to time. But I wouldn't worry about a dog that is of a breed meant to live in extremely cold, harsh conditions.

 

[Rain]

So long as he has shelter, and can come inside should he want to, I wouldn't worry about him too much. His breed is bred to withstand cold. They were bred to pull sleds through the snow all day and then sleep in the snow wherever the musher set up camp.

With him I'd be much more worried about the heat of the summer, although they can survive in it they do get uncomfortable since they are a northern breed.

Interesting read. Cold Weather Safety for Dogs: Insights from a Sled Dog Veterinarian | Animal Behavior and Medicine Blog | Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

 

[travelingswift]

20s - 30s F is practically balmy for a husky. Especially as he'll have his winter coat in right now! Most likely he doesn't want to come inside as it's too hot for him in there. My girl (not a husky, but has a good coat on her) often naps right by the front door in the winter as there is a bit of a draft. I think she finds the rest of the house too warm. I'm "coldblooded" so our house is almost always about about 72F.

He'll let you know when he wants in, but he's probably LOVING the weather right now!

 

[eckokitten]

Ok thanks everyone! I keep a very close eye on him when he is out and am even leaving my screen door open so I can hear/see him.

I just am a worrier I guess lol

I did worry that as he had always been in Texas & while it does get cold there it isn't like it is here, that he wouldnt be used to it even as a big fluff ball. I am definitely sure he will enjoy the summer here alot more then he did in Texas!

My other dog has like no fur, she runs out does her business and comes right back in as soon as possible lol

I guess I will just trust him.

 

[Thisisme19]

I had a Husky growing up in Saskatchewan where it would regularly drop to -22 to -40 Fahrenheit + some pretty nasty wind and he would spend hours outside. He had an insulated dog house outside that he rarely ever used and much preferred to dig himself a nice little hole in the snow to lay in. The only thing I would watch is his paws to make sure he's not getting frost bite. Otherwise he'll let you know when he wants to come inside.

 

[Kyllobernese]

Susie, my Bernese cross, spent most of her life outside, summer and winter, even though she had the option of coming in the house. She still just lies outside when it is snowing until I call her inside. Now that she is getting older (12 yrs. in July) I have made her come in the past few winters and sleep in the house especially at night. Even when it is raining outside, when she comes in, if you feel under her coat, she is never soaked to the skin, just the top layer of her coat. She has a warm doghouse to go in but seldom uses it.

 

[TiggerBounce]

Woman charged in connection with frozen, dead dog in Nashville

That is a recent case where two Great Pyreneese mixes (big, fluffy, long haired working dogs) froze or nearly froze to death from being left outside. The temp that night was 13.

Don't care what breed you have....Any dog can freeze to death if it has no shelter. If the dog wants in, bring him in. If you don't want the dog in, you have to provide a VERY well insulated (if not heated), well built dog house and a heated water bowl

 

[seashoreduck]

Woman charged in connection with frozen, dead dog in Nashville

That is a recent case where two Great Pyreneese mixes (big, fluffy, long haired working dogs) froze or nearly froze to death from being left outside. The temp that night was 13.

Don't care what breed you have....Any dog can freeze to death if it has no shelter. If the dog wants in, bring him in. If you don't want the dog in, you have to provide a VERY well insulated (if not heated), well built dog house and a heated water bowl

This case is different than a dog who wants to be outside. I don't think it's appropriate to leave a dog out during the night because there's too much that could happen, but during the day, with a human home and able to check on the dog every now and then, let the poor thing be.
My parent's dog, a GSD, slept on the side porch, on a mat from dawn till dusk every day rain or shine or snow. It cried if we kept it inside when we were home. Even when it was an upstate ny winter of 5 feet of snow with a -10 windchill...

...be sensible but don't let your dog be miserable if he or she WANTS to be out. Let the dog in when they want to come in.

 

[natenqen]

I agree. There is a huge difference between forcing the dog to sleep outside vs the dog wanting to sleep outside.

I would however give the dog something comfy to lay on so he doesn't get sores on parts of his joints from laying down so much if that is what he wants to do.

Just make sure if he wants in, you let him in. Let's hope he doesn't deside that being outside is where he wants to be, especially at night. If that happens, look into some good dog houses with insulation and/or heated dog house.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[TiggerBounce]

Who is to say the dog DIDN'T want to be outside?

The issue is that the dog did NOT have proper housing provided to stay outside. Even a dog that WANTS to be outside can freeze to death if it isn't given a warm dog house. Body temperature can drop a lot quicker than expected, especially if the dog gets wet. And they may not necessarily cry to be let in at that point.

Again, my point: ANY dog an freeze to death.

 

[eckokitten]

Woman charged in connection with frozen, dead dog in Nashville

That is a recent case where two Great Pyreneese mixes (big, fluffy, long haired working dogs) froze or nearly froze to death from being left outside. The temp that night was 13.

Don't care what breed you have....Any dog can freeze to death if it has no shelter. If the dog wants in, bring him in. If you don't want the dog in, you have to provide a VERY well insulated (if not heated), well built dog house and a heated water bowl

It is not that I do not want the dog inside... I'd prefer him inside. I thought I made it clear in my post lol. It worries me him wanting to stay outside.

he is never outside at night or when I am not home. When he is out I leave my screen door open so I can easily hear him, and check on him every 10-15 mins. I ask him if he wants to come inside, I even try calling him in the house. 90% of the time he refuses to come in.

My house isn't super hot. I hate being hot. I prefer a temp of 68F but it sometimes gets in the early 70s. My sister said he just loves being outside and was outside most of the time where he lived so maybe he is just used to being outside, but not quite used to the snow and it being this cold yet.

He had a very nice large dog house before and never once used it. He refused to go inside at all. Even when we threw high value treats inside lol. So idk if that would work... But that was in Texas and it wasn't ever as cold as it is here so idk.

I guess that was my question, is the dog smart enough to come inside if he is cold?

Everyone else is like yes & u r saying no then? I am confused and now still worried. Silly dog will be the death of me.

 

[Ems]

As long as you check on him frequently I would see no problem, my dog loves being outside, she has a thick coat, but not quite husky standards. She will sometimes spend a couple of hours outside in sub zero temps before she wants to come in, I just check on her every 15 or so mins, not just glance at her, but call her over and feel her, I haven't ever in her life felt her have any cold extremities or shivering . She doesn't sleep outside though. I would probably not leave her out in really bad conditions where she could get damp (like the impending snow we have near NYC)

 

[Cynna]

Dogs might not always know when to come in, especially if they fall asleep. There was a report out here a couple weeks ago where several dogs in Manitoba had frozen to death outside. They were up against a wood fence, but not even curled up tight. Heartbreaking to see.

 

[Larkspur]

Honestly for the moment I'd force him to be inside no matter what it takes.

We are currently getting the nasty blizzard that is heading your way and will cause power outages and flooding. I don't care if your dog's unhappy about it. He shouldn't be outside until this thing passes at the very least.

 

[Rain]

So long as you are checking on him frequently, he has some sort of shelter, he is not shivering, and you're not leaving him outside after dark then I'd not worry.

Does he have a sheltered porch or something he can get on to get out of the wind?

 

[Rain]

Here's another take on leaving dog's out in freezing weather Not All Dogs Want to be Inside - It's Dog or Nothing