CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Have you ever heard someone say that a chilly night was going to be a “three-dog night“? If you have, you may be wondering about how it came to be.
First, let’s discuss what it means. A “three-dog night” refers to a night so cold that you need three dogs in the bed to keep you warm!
Here’s the history behind the phrase: It comes from an Australian aboriginal custom of keeping dogs close by to use their body heat. In Australia, these were often dingos — wild dogs.
The term is also used in Alaska and Siberia where sled dogs are common.
So, if you think of it as a temperature scale, a one-dog night may mean cold, while a two-dog night means colder. Indicating a three-dog night means the absolute coldest!
And it’s not just a fun saying either; it’s a phrase that can help you gauge what you need to do to keep you and your furry friends safe when temperatures drop!
