5 Best Dog House Heaters in 2023

When your dog is “in the doghouse’’ literally or figuratively, their comfort doesn’t need to be compromised. In cold winters we can equip them with warm sleeping bags, coats, blankets, etc. Dogs with long thick coats might not even need any of that.

Some dog parents keep their pup outside in kennels, but if they must be left alone on cold dark winter nights, at least give them the luxury of a dog house heater. If you have a shorthaired dog, small puppy or elderly dog, the cold could really get to them. Provide them with a convenient dog house heater to battle the winter cold.

Your head might be spinning with questions right now about the safety and practicality of such a device. Before we get into what features to look for, let’s take you through the best dog house heater models first.

How We Assessed the Best Dog House Heaters on the Market

It’s not as simple as heading over to the pet store to find a dog house heater for your dog. Not all dog house heaters are the same, so there were certain criteria we looked for when we identified the best dog house heater that will keep your dog’s house nice and comfy in cold winters.

Type

We looked into the type of dog house heaters there are. Adding a heater to your dog house is not the same as getting a heated dog house. A heated dog house is a luxury that not all dog parents would want to splurge on. Honestly, the need for a heated dog house isn’t high considering you can just get a dog heater or heating pad that will do the job.

We talk more about different types of dog house heaters and what they are most suited for in our buyer’s guide section, so definitely give that part of the article a read to learn more about dog house heaters so you can make an informed decision about what your dog needs.

Maintenance

It’s also about maintaining the dog house heaters. If you install heaters and AC units in your home, you will need to perform regular checkups to make sure things are functioning normally. The maintenance depends on the type of heater you go for, which we will talk about more in the buying guide, but we also tried to look for units that are not difficult to maintain.

The easiest choice are the heaters built into dog houses as they are the most sturdy, however, if they do break down, replacing them will be more difficult than standalone units, so that is something else to consider.

Heating Capabilities

Of course, what’s a dog house heater if it doesn’t do the most basic job? We also looked at how well the dog house heaters heated the area. Of course, this will depend on the size of your dog house, breed of dog, how high the temperature needs to be and which type of dog house heater you choose.

Keep in mind that the heating capabilities have a lot to do with the type of dog house you have. For example, super insulated ones will not need the most high-powered ones on the market. In fact, heated dog pads, which is a type of heating we will go into in our top choices, can become a supplemental aspect to this type of dog house.

Of course, if your dog house is just the bare bones, aka just a roof, four walls and thin flooring, then your dog will definitely need some backup to keep him warm during harsher winters.

What we did was look at the heater and see how well it did its job for the type of dog house heater it is. Only the best of the best made it onto our list.

We Think You’ll Like It: Do Dogs Get Cold?

View the Best Dog House Heaters Below

1. Akoma Hound Heater Dog House Furnace

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Product Specifications

• Brand: Hound Heater
• Color: Black
• Weight: 2.72 Pounds

Our Review

Perhaps the most important feature of a dog house heater is safety. Since dogs don’t really have the know-how to adjust the thermostat on his own, this dog house heater is controlled by an automatic one. The 300-watt heater is energy saving, won’t run up your electricity bill and only runs when it’s needed. It’s a durable device that can withstand a dog who loves to chew, and the spring protected cord is pet safe.

Akoma Hound Heater is a strong heater that can heat any dog abode or small room up to 75 cubic feet. The installation is not only easy and straightforward, but you get to keep your dog warm and toasty with this dog house heater. What more could a dog parent want in a dog house heater?

Pros:

+ 300-watt power heater
+ Automatic thermostat
+ 100% Safe
+ Easy installation

Cons:

– Can be considered pricey

Why We Like It – This small dog house heater is powerful enough to heat a small apartment or house, and can protect all members of the family from the cold.

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2. K&H Pet Products Lectro-Kennel Igloo Style Outdoor Heated Pad Black

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Product Specifications

• Brand: K&H Pet Products
• Color: Black
• Material: Fleece
• Size: Large 17.5 X 30 Inches

Our Review

This heating device from K&H doesn’t only include a heated pad, but the igloo shape is a dog house itself and traps the heat in the cozy little nook. The automatic thermostat detects your dog’s natural body temperature and warms the vicinity accordingly. This little igloo is perfect for indoor and outdoor use.

If all this isn’t enough, they also include a machine washable fleece blanket cover for extra warmth. There are three sizes to choose from and works great with any dog or cat. You might think to heat your house and your little dog house together could run up your utility bill, but this dog house heater operates on very low wattage. A dog house heater like this can be kept on a little longer than other options.

Pros:

+ Free fleece cover
+ 3 sizes
+ Low wattage
+ Heats to your dog’s body temperature

Cons:

– It can get too hot and damage itself
– Not ideal for dogs that chew a lot

Why We Like It – The safety feature makes sure the little igloo never gets too hot and overheats your dog. It was designed to never exceed your pooch’s body temperature.

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3. EconoHome Wall Mount Space Heater Panel

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Product Specifications

• Brand: EconoHome
• Color: 400W – 120 Sq. Ft. Room
• Material: Made with a superior calcium silicate material
• Heating Method: Radiant & infrared, Fan & forced air
• Item Weight: 17.8 Pounds
• Size: 400W Model with No Heat Guard

Our Review

The sleek design really appeals to us, and this space heater panel can heat any room of the house or your doghouse. This EconoHome dog house heater is so economical it helps you save up to 50% of your heating bill. The adjustable thermostat plugs in for you to keep a finger on the temperature of your home. You may hard wire this unit if you so please, with the heat resistant tech, it is 100% safe either way.

This heating panel uses convection heating and produces a consistent temperature, radiating heat slowly behind the panel and circulates the heat throughout the room. Since it only radiates heat, no moisture or air is filtered back into the room, making this model ideal for those who suffer from allergies.

Pros:

+ Sleek design
+ Can be hardwired
+ Convection heating technology
+ Heat resistant technology

Cons:

– Foul smell for the first few weeks

Why We Like It – The beautiful design is paintable to blend in with your interior. Econohome provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 3-year warranty with this product.

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4. K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Bed

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Product Specifications

• Brand: K&H Pet Products
• Color: Tan
• Material: Other
• Heating Method: 5-1/2 feet steel wrapped cord and only 60 watts, electric
• Item Dimension: 25 x 36 x 1.5 inches
• Size: Large 25 X 36 Inches

Our Review

This unique take on a heating device reminds us of electric heating blankets. Instead of a blanket, it’s actually made with soft orthopedic foam, resembling a thin mattress and great for elderly dogs. K&H also includes a free fleece cover with this purchase. Just like the previous igloo design, this heated dog bed adjusts to your pup’s natural body temperature.

It’s a more portable design than the igloo, however, and you can place this heated foam bed anywhere you desire. This wonderful invention complies with USA/CA electrical safety standards and is 100% safe. The one-year limited warranty and customer helpline will provide you with support in case anything goes wrong.

Pros:

+ Free fleece cover
+ Adjusts to your dog’s body heat
+ Easily portable
+ 100% safe

Cons:

– Always on when plugged in
– No cushion or padding

Why We Liked It – When a product has safety certification and complies with national safety standards, it automatically gets bumped to the top of our list.

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5. Flex-a-lite 650 Mojave Plenum Heater

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Product Specifications

• Brand: Flex-a-lite
• Color: Black
• Model: Mojave Heater
• Heating Method: The Mojave gets its heat from the hot water in your vehicle’s cooling system
• Item Dimension: 10.5 x 5 x 9 inches
• Weight: 15.8 ounces

Our Review

Technically, if your dog isn’t an ultimate destroyer and chews on cords and such, any space heater can be used to keep your dog warm. Next on our list is the Mojave plenum heater that adds on to the Mojave dog house heater unit allowing you to have another outlet and two vents.

It helps to spread the warmth of your existing Mojave heater, giving you control of where the heat is aimed. If by any chance you are using this device in your car, or your dog house has windows, it could easily help with defrosting.

Pros:

+ One-year manufacturer warranty
+ Easy installation
+ Spreads heat
+ Helps defrost

Cons:

– Good product but isn’t as easy to install

Why We Like It – Being able to control the direction of the heat helps get the job done. Whether you want to centralize the air on your dog or your windows, this device allows you to do that.

Dog House Heater Buyers Guide

Dogs do a pretty good job of taking care of themselves, for the most part. They do generate more body heat than we do, but sometimes they still need a bit of assistance. In order to live in comfort and have proper circulation, they require a heat source.

There are so many devices that provide heat, from the standard space heater to heating lamps to hot water bottles, which should you choose? Let’s take a look at what features to check off your list.

What to Look for When Buying Dog House Heater?

It’s All About the Power

If you get a weak device, you are just throwing your money down the drain. But before you can decide how strong of a heater you need, you should consider your living conditions. If you live in Alaska, by all means, invest in a device that pumps out heat like no other. If the dog house heater is limited to only the doghouse, then one that’s strong enough to heat up a tiny space would suffice.

If you managed to purchase a well-insulated doghouse, a gentler heater will do the trick just fine. To sum up, before you pick the right wattage, consider your dog’s breed, age, weight, health condition and the size of the area.

Safety

Safety always makes it on our ‘’what to look for’’ lists. Dog house heaters with thermostats installed that are able to measure the ambient temperature will help regulate the heat. There is less of a chance of overheating, especially with ones that never heat the area to a temperature higher than your dog’s own body.

Regular space heaters won’t have certain safety features built in compared to dog house heaters. Some better-made kennel heaters will have distance protection and spring cords, etc to keep your dog safe.

Portability

If your pup has free reign of the house, getting a heating device that isn’t planted permanently is a good idea. Being able to carry one around also gives you the freedom of heating any part of the house you want.

Benefits of the Best Dog House Heater

Why is such a device even necessary? Other than the obvious fact that it prevents your dog from getting sick, but if you already have a frail or elderly dog, this will keep them protected and comfortable during the winter months. A good dog heater can also help save on your monthly bill and keep both you and your pup toasty warm.

Types of Dog House Heaters

Heating Pads – These resemble small thin mattresses that can be slept on or used as a heater under your dog’s bed. Better for indoor use, they are portable and can be used to warm almost any surface.

It’s not difficult to use, because all your dog needs to do is to lay on it and the pat will automatically detect your dog’s body temperature and match it. While they can be placed under your dog’s bed, some can even be the bed.

Heating pads are great to have as they are the next safest option besides heated dog houses. They work well indoors as we said, but they can also be used under awnings, in garages, and anywhere there is a draft and is semi-covered.

Kennel Heater – This design can be installed into the dog kennel to regulate the temperature inside. Specially designed for dog kennels, this option has safety features in place and is mostly a permanent fixture.

Kennel heaters are similar to heaters that we have in our homes. They also happen to be the most popular type on the market, so a lot of the options we chose fall under this category. They can be mounted, but others are recommended to be placed on a flat surface.

Since they are the most commonly seen type of dog house heater, they also come in the most variations. If you are not sure which type to choose and which size to look for, there will most likely be an electric heater or kennel heater that words with what you have.

Panel Heater – A panel heater, such as the one we suggested above, can be hardwired or not and easily portable if needed.

Insulated Heater/Dog house – This type of heater is exemplified by the igloo option we introduced. Some can even be a full-fledged dog house with extra insulation and a heater built-in. Some people may even go as far as building a dog house with geo-thermal floors. What a lucky pup!

As you can probably tell, an insulated dog house is one advanced piece of technology, so they will definitely cost more than some of the more affordable choices. However, it’s a very popular choice among dog owners because they are low maintenance, especially for dog parents that live in cold climates.

Everything is build to be twice as thick and sturdy, with thicker walls and flooring in order to regulate the interior temperatures. If there is also a heater built in, then great! If not, you can easily add one of the options above (we suggest a dog heating pad) and your dog will have a super comfortable space he may never want to leave!

Who Needs a Dog House Heater?

Some dog breeds have no problem handling the cold. In fact, some of them may even prefer it (Siberian Huskies, we’re looking at you). Dogs with winter coats may not even need dog houses and prefer to spend time in the snow. The breed of your dog plays a large part in whether or not you even attempt to look for the best dog house heaters.

However, if where you live drops to around 20-degrees Fahrenheit or 6 below zero Celsius. These are winter dogs we’re talking about so Alaskan Malamutes, Huskies, Samoyeds and the like won’t generally need dog house heaters unless you live somewhere far north of the equator.

Breed aside, you should also look at your dog’s age. Senior dogs will definitely need a quality dog house heater to keep them warm during cold weather months. Another aspect that you should consider irrelevant of breed is your dog’s weight. More specifically, how much body fat your pooch carries. A heating pad will really come in handy for dogs that are underweight, are naturally thin like Greyhounds, or just don’t have much insulation.

Yes, overweight dogs are not as afraid of the cold weather as those that aren’t, but that doesn’t mean you can forgo the best dog house heaters altogether. It’s also not ideal to keep your dog at an unhealthy weight because trust us, the benefits do not outweigh the risks!

You should also consider the size of the dog house. For example, if you already have enough blankets in a small and very insulated dog house, your pooch could be fine. However, in a spacious unit without a lot of padding, your dog will definitely need a dog house heater.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dog house heaters safe for my dog?

Keeping your dog warm should not carry a safety risk. Dog houses that use heating pads will come with electrical cords. Even space heaters and dog house heaters that aren’t built into the unit will definitely come with an electrical cord. After all, it has to harness power to heat the dog house somehow.

How can we be sure these cords won’t hurt our dogs, especially the avid chewers? Well, our team says to look for ones that are protected and wrapped in something sturdy to prevent your dog from chewing through. Before you purchase the best dog house heaters, make sure the electrical cord is properly bound.

Are dog house heaters difficult to install?

The installation of heaters for dog houses is a major concern for many consumers. A heating pad or dog heater alike should be easy to install. It should be as simple as cutting a hole somewhere suitable in the wall of the dog house, feeding the cord through and then your dog is ready and protected for cold weather.

We don’t recommend cutting a hole that’s too large because it will affect the heating power of the pad or heater.

If you have a mountable one, there is only one extra step before you can keep your dog house warm. After feeding the cord through the hole to the power source, just follow the instructions that come with your purchase to mount it properly inside.

Can I keep my dog heater on all the time?

The weather isn’t on a set schedule, so you can have harsh winters when the cold weather lasts for days on end, and then there are the brisk fall days when your dog needs a little more heat during the night. No matter what the need is, dog heaters are designed to be used continuously without issue.

We would suggest not leaving it on for convenience, especially if it’s those fall days we mentioned above. Turn it on when the temperature starts to drop. This will save loads on your utility bill and you won’t risk overheating your dog.

Can a dog heater get too hot?

It’s very unlikely, but still possible if you keep it on all the time even if the weather doesn’t call for it. There is a good way to make sure the interior temperatures do not exceed what your dog is comfortable with. All you need to do is purchase a dog heating element with a thermostat. This way, you can see exactly how hot it is and set the unit correctly.

There are also ones that have automatic climate control, which really saves you time and effort because it does everything for you. Then there is the type of heating element such as a heating pad, which heats the ambient temperature to match your dog’s body temperature for the best and most comfortable heat levels.

Where do I put the dog heater?

The placement really depends on your setup, the type of heater you choose and how your dog house is situated. Ones that can be mounted should be, and ones that aren’t designed to be elevated above the ground should not. The instructions for the dog house you choose should be very clear about the placement and safety parameters.

Conclusion

Anytime you feel your fur baby feels chilly or will spend long hours out in the cold, the best dog house heater is needed. It’s quite paramount for your pup to keep warm to maintain their health. Dogs can fall victim to hypothermia and other cold-related health conditions that we are susceptible to. As a responsible pet parent, it’s our job to provide them with a safe and comfortable home environment.

There are lots of options if you’re looking to add some heat to your dog’s home. Whatever you decide to go with, make sure that it’s a sturdy machine that’s well built, can last long, and does the job well!

Expert Tip

Ensuring that the dog house or area you are heating is properly insulated is crucial. Without insulation, the heat from the heater quickly escapes through the walls and floors, and therefore providing no use at all. Make sure the air cannot escape easily. Seal all the cracks in the doghouse, but keep the door easily accessible. Elevating where your dog sleeps will prevent the cold from seeping through the floors and enveloping your dog.

Did You Know?

Only in select parts of the world does this happen, but if a heater isn’t doing the trick and you have properly insulated the doghouse, add a heating pad under his bed. Put some sort of buffer between the floor and your pooch’s bed, and add blankets to help him retain heat.

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