I wonder if dogs in hot countries, such as here where we have month after month of hot hot hot summer, cope with the heat better than those in a more temperate country? I had thought that Tikva would be bothered by the winter, which does not last too long, but she refused to wear the lovely pj's or the step-in zip-up-the-back quilted jackets. During the day she zonks most of the time and I have to convince her to go out and pee, and is really only active early in the morning and then again in the evening. She must be comfortable at night as the a/c is on all night in my bedroom. One of the advantages of individual a/c units in each room over central a/c. @6JRT's - Tina, the mats at B&M are larger than Tikki's crate, which is 17" x 14" in the base and yet is large enough for her to stretch out in if she does not fancy curling up at one end, which she usually does. It sounds small but is plenty big enough for her, the outside measurements being 24x18x20. The 600 free pee pads being as above, 17x14. Both Little One and then Pereg slept on my bed and went out when they needed to. I only bought the crate - and a bed - for Baby Ziva. The bed is now used by Tikki as a toy box [and why did I buy her another two toys when we went to the Pension the other day?] and the crate is her night sleep place.