An insulated dog house will be warmer than one not protected from the elements, but how much warmer is unclear. The difference in temperature depends on the dog house’s insulation, the weather outside, how much heat your dog’s body emits, and even how well it is insulated. Even how the shelter’s entrance is positioned matters. The extended, offset doorway of an insulated dog house will help shield your dog from wind, rain, and snow, for example.
A dog house that is insulated should be viewed as a temporary, short-term shelter. Dogs should not be kept warm overnight or for long periods of time with them.