Small spaces, deep insulation, tight entrances, and shelter from the wind are how most animals in the world survive cold winters, from mice and squirrels, to fox, raccoon, possum, and groundhog.
The dog house shown in the first picture, however, is NOT that kind of warm and dry refuge. In fact, it is a complete mess. If a dog is to be housed outside, this is *not* how you do it.
The space underneath this house should be insulated with solid sheet Styrofoam (available from any big box hardware store) and blocked off, the sides and roof should be paneled with thick Styrofoam or else double-walled with insulation in between, and the entryway should be one fourth the size of what we see here -- 8 inches by 9 inches would be more than plenty for a dog this size.
The inside of this dog house should be packed with deep straw.
A chute entrance, or at least a small cloth or rubber flap, would go a long way towards cutting wind and heat loss (see second picture).
And why not bring the dog inside, especially at night?
Modern plastic crates mean almost any dog can be kept safe and comfortable inside a warm house at night, or for hours at a time during the day.
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