It can get into the teens at night sometimes. I feel like this woman I know who asked me what's a good brand of winter coat and I wanted to say I have 32 winter coats. But I feel out of my element here.

No suggestions to offer except that if it goes down into the teens, I would want the dog house to be heated. And even then so that I could sleep peacefully, I would find a room in the house to secure the dog.

I cannot put them in the house because of my other dogs and I just don't have a place for them. One time I had some strays here who had parvo and I just can't risk any of this and either way my other dogs would not put up with it.

I don't have a way to keep it heated, but I could run a cord from the garage for a heating pad. I'm looking at a lot of different things, including an insulated shed.

I wasn't at home but my neighbor texts me last night to tell me there were two small dogs in my front yard, one with a collar. When I got home they were not here but I spent the whole time wondering what I was going to do with them over the weekend. And the temperatures were .n the 20s last night.

I'd be careful about putting anything with electrical cords in the dog house. You don't want a dog chewing through it, shocking themselves and possibly starting a fire.

I think that putting form insulation boards up inside the doghouse and covering them with something like plywood so dogs can't destroy it, and then spreading a bunch of straw around inside and covering that with some blankets or carpet or old towels would do the job. And, make the opening small enough that they can just get in and out of the house in order to keep cold air out. Or, you could hang a rubber flap or carpet remnant over the doorway to keep drafts out. Their body heat and food in their stomachs will take care of the rest.

Of course, a small dog with very short hair might have a hard time staying warm, but for the most part dogs can get along ok on a cold night provided they have shelter and can get away from the wind, wet and cold.

It's very kind of you to be thinking of how to best help strays that come through your area.

My dog's house is my bed, but I did find this helpful article via Google:

https://www.dailypaws.com/living-with-pets/diy/doghouses/how-to-heat-a-doghouse

You can apparently purchase a separate furnace for a dog house (?) but they had lots of other ideas too!

When we had a Lab that insisted on staying outside longer than we would like, he had a dog house (like an Igloo but another brand and not rounded) with a kennel heating pad made for dogs/cats/outdoor use. No cover, since he would tear it up. It was hard plastic and the cord was covered in a metal. Like this one.

If I had to house a stray dog for a day or two, I would put it in the garage overnight. Sheltered, but still separated from my dogs.

The thing about the garage is I would have to leave the door cracked so they wouldn't be contained and I also like to keep the door closed to keep out critters. It's a current option however, but not wheonen I like. I think the dogs would run away. They would be safe in the fence.

One I like....

I have cleared out many of the trees in the fence this past year.

Here is my dog in bed for the night and I do have a great concern for keeping the dogs safe and warm. I know I said electrical cords but in reality I won't use them.

There are protective anti-chew covers for electrical cords I also bought a dog mat which my cat uses that is an outdoor one. My dog gets too hot on the mat. It has a metal coil on the cord. I've used it for years for my cats and dogs and have never had a problem.

The one I linked has an anti chew cord cover.

Allison, I can't find your post.

Hmmm.. I see it, just above Chispa's. Here is the link again.

@Allison I also do not see your post.

Is it because I linked a Big A product?! WTHeck Houzz!!!??

This was on my FB feed this morning. Don’t them its for cats.