This winter is already off to a bitterly cold start. Act now to make sure your outdoor dog's experience this winter is as pleasant as possible. The best way to ensure your dog's warmth and comfort is provide a good doghouse. The ideal doghouse, is the proper size, well insulated and contains comfortable bedding.

A doghouse should be no more than three times the size of the dog. A house this size will allow your dog to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably while keeping his body heat inside.

To keep the doghouse as warm as possible, elevate it and keep out wind and rain. Use a four-sided base made of 2 x 4's to lift the house off the freezing cold ground. Put the doghouse in an area where wind cannot come in the doorway, such as the inside corner of a house or fence. If there is no such location in your yard, put a flap over the doorway. A wet doghouse can be incredibly cold and uncomfortable. So check the house thoroughly for cracks and leaks.

The last step to creating a comfortable environment is providing your dog with adequate bedding. Dogs are often content to have wood chips, straw, or carpeting, but towels or blankets may certainly be used. Of course your dog may decide to do his own interior decorating, so do not be offended if he removes bedding from the doghouse. Make sure bedding is changed regularly. This is easiest to accomplish in hinge-topped doghouses.

Following these tips should help your outdoor dog withstand winter weather. But remember, even dogs that live outdoors all year, may need to come in for shelter on the coldest days of the year, especially if they are old or sick.