epiphiny43
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Joined: 10/20/2006
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Polystyrene: Keeping heat in IS keeping heat out. There is no difference. The idea is to maintain heat inequality, Not let flow heat easily so it evens out everywhere, (Enthropy) the useful quality we assign the word Insulation.
The dog needs shelter from wind (wind chill greatly accentuates any heat transfer(loss) and something to lie on and hopefully burrow into that insulates against extreme cold. His own body heat is more than enough heat source if something prevents a reasonable amount of the heat from escaping. (This is one reason why wild dogs and wolves dig dens.) Wood enclosures help, blankets are good, but few dogs understand how to burrow into them. Piles of rags are easier and more effective for a dog who burrows and circles as basic instinct. Foam plastic is better than wood for structures as it is a better heat barrier, for the same thickness, and can be used far thicker as it's lighter. Dogs tend to destroy it though, depending on the taste and strength of any covering. Note how many people are finding Dogloos work great.
Leaves and hay/straw are excellent if deep enough for the dog to burrow into it. The pile won't stay together if exposed to wind and needs some structure to keep the dog's burrowing from spreading the pile to uselessness. Even snow is good insulation for a furred animal or clothed human if the heat flow at the fur or cloth/snow interface isn't fast enough from the inner mammal body to melt the snow to water, which can absorb or transfer heat much better. The snow works just like leaves, though it's much smaller bits, because it has few points that touch and the small air spaces in the snow pack can't circulate and transfer heat. This is very basic survival school material.
However you maintain it, stagnant air is excellent insulation, why we put fiberglass batting in our snow belt home exterior walls and roofs. The snow block houses used by Arctic peoples work great, if you don't expect to be 70º inside. It's easy to stay warm with proper clothes, (Or a coat of fur) in a 35-40º shelter, as opposed to sub-zero weather with strong winds outside.
A dog shouldn't lose a winter coat from short exposures to even central heating in human structures. Part of the fur growth is genetic reaction to seasons, affected by day length. Part is the general coldness of the outdoors. Totally indoor dogs usually have a definite winter coat in the proper season. The dog in question is largely roaming free all seasons?
In cold weather access to adequate water and enough protein and calories in the diet are all a long hair dog needs besides simple shelter. Short hair dogs aren't equipped for snowbelt winters as well.
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RE: Am I being cruel to this dog? - 
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