The Best Heaters and Heat Lamp for Your Dog

Winter can be tough on dogs. Oftentimes, their humans (us!) don’t want to face the elements. So that means our canine pals get shorter walks, less sunshine, and less vitamin D. Of course, they still have to go out in the backyard to do their business while we’re we’re warm and toasty inside.

Many people make the mistake of leaving their dog out in the cold too long thinking, “They can take it. They have a fur coat.” The truth is: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them. So, you shouldn’t leave your dog outside for prolonged periods and certainly not all day or overnight.

That being said, some dogs like to play in the cold, especially if there’s snow to tunnel through or do zoomies in. If your dog falls into this category, be sure that their dog house is heated so they can pop in there to warm up before going out to play some more.

Fortunately, there are heaters designed specifically for dog houses and heat lamps that are commonly used to keep pets and livestock warm. We researched the best and ranked and reviewed for criterion such as wattage, heat emitted, and safety features. So all you have to do is pick one and install it in the doghouse for your pup’s comfort.

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Heaters and Heat Lamps for Dogs

#1 Best Overall: Akoma Hound Heater Doghouse Heater with Bluetooth

If we were buying a heater for our doghouse, it would be our #1 Best Overall choice: the Akoma Hound Heater Doghouse Heater with Bluetooth. This heater was designed specifically for doghouses. It allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature of your doghouse from your smartphone or tablet without leaving the comfort of your home.

It features a heavy-duty, chew-proof, 6-foot cord, though a 10-foot version is available as well. It’s powered by a long-life, 300W heating element and will last for years (100,000 on/off cycles). Since your dog’s safety should come first and foremost, the unit has rounded corners and a heat shield protects all wires and components. It dispenses safe, dry heat up to 75 cubic feet and only runs when needed. Plus, it’s easy to install. You can purchase a special mounting bracket for igloo-type doghouses (sold separately).

Several pet parents reported that the Bluetooth connection was spotty.

Pros and Cons of the Akoma Hound Heater Doghouse Heater with Bluetooth

Best Overall

Akoma Hound Heater Doghouse Heater with Bluetooth

• Monitor the temperature of your doghouse
• Adjust settings from your smartphone or tablet
• Long-lasting heater lasts for years (100,000 on/off cycles)
• Powered by a 300-watt heating element
• Dispenses safe, dry heat up to 75 cubic feet and only runs when needed

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2. Easiest to Install: Kiroto Doghouse Heater with Thermostat & App

You can install the Kiroto Doghouse Heater with Thermostat & App in four simple steps. It’s ideal for doghouses, and can also be used in chicken coops, cat houses, and rabbit hutches. The heater is WiFi-enabled, so you can use the Pet Heater app to control the temperature of your doghouse remotely.

This pet heater will last 10 years (100,000 on/off cycles). It features a heavy-duty, chew-proof, 6-foot cord. Built-in overeating protection and an internal heat shield protect the unit’s wires and components. And the heater will stop when the ambient temperature reaches the temperature that you set, saving energy and money on electric bills.

One reviewer said, “The biggest drawback to this heater is that it does not resume in a “power on” mode after electricity is lost. So, if during the night the power flickers, the heater will be off until you wake up and manually power the unit back on. This is a major concern for my use of the heater, especially since we have a lot of power flickers.”

Pros and Cons of the Kiroto Doghouse Heater with Thermostat & App

Easiest to Install

Kiroto Doghouse Heater with Thermostat & App

• Install in four simple steps
• Perfect for doghouses, chicken coops, cat houses, rabbit hutches, and more
• WiFi enabled: Use the app to control the temperature in the doghouse
• 6-foot, chew-proof cord
• Lasts 10 years (100,000 on/off cycles)

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3. Best Affordable: PETNF Store Doghouse Heater, Dog 400W

The PETNF Store Doghouse Heater, Dog 400W has a manual thermostat control knob for simplicity and convenience. You can adjust the temperature from 32℉ to 122℉, which is a wider range than most doghouse heaters. It has a built-in temperature sensor, so it will stop heating when the upper boundary (158℉) is reached. When the temperature drops, the heater will come back on. This mode of operation will save energy and money and make sure that your pet doesn’t overheat. Plus, it’s virtually silent!

This unit uses convection heating to provide comfortable, constant temperatures. The heating element draws in cold air and heats it. The heated air rises to the ceiling, cools, and then drops to the floor where it will be drawn into the heater again. This provides more evenly heated air than radiated heat units.

This doghouse heater has a 6.6-foot chew-resistant cord to help prevent electrocution.

Two reviewers reported that this heater didn’t heat well. It’s important to remember that a number of factors go into heating a doghouse, including how well it’s insulated, how big it is, and how cold it is outside.

Pros and Cons of the PETNF Store Doghouse Heater, Dog 400W

Best Affordable

PETNF Store Doghouse Heater,Dog 400W

• Adjust thermostat with a simple and convenient manual control
• 32° F - 122° F
• Features a built-in temperature sensor to stop heating when 158° F is reached
• The heating element sucks in cold air and heats repeatedly
• 6.6-foot chew-resistant cord for safety

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4. Best Heat Lamp: BONGBADA 2 Pack Heat Lamp Red Infrared Bulbs PAR38/250

Some dog owners choose to install a heat lamp, such as the BONGBADA 2 Pack Heat Lamp Red Infrared Bulbs PAR38/250 instead of purchasing a heater.

These heat lamps are 250 watts. The obvious question is “How hot do they get?” Unfortunately, unlike a doghouse heater, the answer isn’t straightforward. The amount of heat a 250-watt heat lamp bulb generates depends upon its efficiency, the ambient temperature, the size of the room, and how well the space is insulated. Suffice it to say that a 250-watt heat lamp bulb gets very hot. Reviewers who used these in a doghouse said that their dog was sure to lie off to the side in order to avoid getting burned.

The specs for these bulbs are:

• 120V/250 Watts, Medium E26 base
• Lifetime: 7,000 hours
• Size: Dia. 4.68 inches, Height 5.85 inches

(Please note: These bulbs do not come with a mount or socket.)

Several reviewers said that one of the bulbs didn’t work upon delivery or that one blew out after a relatively short period of time.

Pros and Cons of the BONGBADA 2 Pack Heat Lamp Red Infrared Bulbs PAR38/250

Best Heat Lamp

BONGBADA 2 Pack Heat Lamp Red Infrared Bulbs PAR38/250

• Red
• 120V/250 Watts, Medium E26 base
• Lifetime: 7,000 hours
• Size: Dia 4.68 inch, Height 5.85 inch.

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Choosing the Best Heater or Heat Lamp for Your Dog: What to Look For

When selecting the best heater or heat lamp for your pet’s doghouse, it’s important to pay attention to the following factors: operation, heat emitted, and safety features. They’ll help you choose a heater or heat lamp that keeps your dog safe and warm.

Operation

Two of the heaters in our review allow users to control doghouse temperatures remotely from the comfort of your home. This is a nice feature that will keep you from having to go outside to adjust the temperature in your dog’s house.

The PETNF Store Doghouse Heater, Dog 400W, our number three option, is easier to operate with a simple dial-type knob. So it’s a good option if you’d prefer not to have another app on your phone or tablet. But you will need to go outdoors to adjust it.

If you choose our number four option, the ONGBADA 2 Pack Heat Lamp Red Infrared Bulbs PAR38/250, you’ll probably have to go outside to turn the lights on and off, depending on how you mount them.

Heat Emitted

The three doghouse heaters featured in this review are designed to bring the temperature to a certain set point and maintain it at that temperature. How long it takes for the heaters to reach that set point will depend on the size of the dog house, whether it’s raised or on the ground, whether it’s insulated, and how cold it is outside.

The fourth item in our review was a pair of 250-watt heat lamp bulbs. As mentioned above, it’s difficult to gauge how much heat they will generate, since that’s contingent upon a number of factors:

• The bulbs’ efficiency
• Ambient temperature
• Size of the room
• How well the space is insulated

Safety Features

It is crucial that your heater or heating lamp does not compromise the safety of your dog or its doghouse. The doghouse heaters we reviewed have chew-resistant or chew-proof cords and other safety features, such as rounded corners.

Depending on the wattage, heating lamps need to be at least one foot away from your dog.

The Different Types of Heaters and Heat Lamps: Pros and Cons Compared

For this review, we considered three heaters, each of which features a different type of temperature control. We also included a pair of 250-watt heat lamp bulbs.

The first two heaters feature remote-control temperature control, which will allow you to monitor and adjust the temperature in the doghouse without going outside. The Akoma Hound Heater Doghouse Heater uses Bluetooth while the Kiroto Doghouse Heater uses WiFi. If you don’t prefer one of these technologies over the other, we recommend that you read the reviews to determine which will be better for you.

The third option in our review, the PETNF Store Doghouse Heater, uses a manual, knob-type control to adjust the heat. The pro to this is that you won’t need a smartphone or tablet to use it. The con is that you will have to go outside to use it, which may not feel very appealing in the dead of winter.

If you opt to use the heat lamp bulbs, you will have to go outside to turn them on or off. (Please note: These bulbs do not come with a mount or socket.)

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