One idea is to isolate your pet in one room only, or if he stays in his cage while you are at work then put the dog cage in one smaller room, that is easy to heat quickly via the use of something like an oil heater or a small space heater that doesn’t use a lot of electricity or gas. Of course, you can and probably should, make sure that the heater is on low. Just have it on high enough to take any chill out of the air and to ensure that the temperature in the room will stay at a level that your dog is comfortable with. It is certainly better than making your little chihuahua wear chihuahua clothes all day and night long, even when inside.

Another idea, although this isn’t something I am terribly fond of, is to provide soft comfortable bedding for your dog.  I’ve seen some dogs that love those fluffy lamb’s wool mats to lay on, and they do provide a lot of extra warmth for your dog.  Of course, if your dog is a naughty chewer like mine is that really wouldn’t be so appropriate. But if you are sure that your dog isn’t going to tear it to pieces, when bored, then you could invest in one of those. You do have to be careful though because fleas and other mites love to make their home in those type of blankets as well.

A novel idea I read about lately was the concept of buying a heated dog bed for your pet.  Again, I’d be hesitant about buying one for my current pet dog, as I’d be afraid she’d chew through the cord and get electrocuted. My cat, however, would probably spend the entire day there. From what I have seen they don’t overheat, but merely warm up the bed enough to make it cosy and comfortable for your pet. They are recommended also for older dogs who experience joint pain on awakening.