Hoping this is the best place to post this - I'm wondering about an optimal sleeping temperature for Phyllis. My initial thinking was that these are dogs that are bred to spend time outdoors and in cold water, so sleeping temperature shouldn't be a big deal, but since the heat has kicked on, I've noticed that Phyllis likes to lay right on top of the heating vent or put her face right in front of it (or maybe she's sniffing?).

We keep it about 65 degrees in the bedroom while sleeping, but our bedroom is drafty and it's probably a few degrees cooler on the floor. Phyllis has a bed with a fleece cover and a blanket, and she nuzzles up to the bed (the vent in our bedroom is not accessible to her). I don't know for a fact that she's cold, and I'm guessing that I'm just being an overprotective new mom, but thought I'd put the question out to the group and see what other experienced owners have to say.

I dunno about optimal, but we keep our thermostat set at 65 at night in the winter and they seem to do fine with it. I've noticed that it being too hot seems to bother them more.

I too agree that being too hot is more bothersome for my dogs than being too cold. Our house is like 66 at night, and it seems all the dogs are very comfortable.

How old is Phyllis? Maybe if she's a youngster she hasn't built up her undercoat and fat layer yet. I personally think thatif it's an ok temp for you, it's ok for your lab. Some breeds not, but labs yes.

I think dogs acclimate to whatever you provide, though there are advantages to exposing them to warmer/colder temps thru the seasons, esp if they are being competed/worked. Many dogs around here that live in A/C melt if they are asked to do obed or agility in the hot summer months. I see some agility labs that wear coats in the spring/fall months between runs or they are shivering (mine love the colder weather).

Mine sleep in crates in my insulated but not heated garage at night. Lately it's been ~55F, and to me, that is perfect for my Labs, esp since there is the occasional long day (trials, etc) that the ones here at home have to spend out in the kennel run. They do have indoor access, but that building is only kept above freezing typically. I think it allows them to grow/keep a decent coat, and they sure enjoy spending more time outside recently too.

If I do let one sleep w/ me, I am finding they don't sleep as well, maybe because it's a bit warm for them (though my house is only kept at 65-68F). Anne

Thanks for the feedback - as I suspected, I'm just being a jumpy new mom! And she doesn't have a whole lot of hair on her belly yet (plus, having just been spayed last week, she's recently shaved), and she's still fairly lean.