For what it is worth. lol. 

Dad always told me, as a boy, that if a dog has a dry place to sleep out of the wind it is good.  So, being a boy that loved my dogs, prob. more than my sisters, I built a dog house for him.  Not to big mind you, should be just large enough for them to turn around in and lay down.  I would then pack in all the dry hay/straw I could as it will compact over time.  Cleaned out the house once or twice during the winter. The dog loved it in there.  Faced the opening of the door to the east and by a tree wind break.  Dad said you don't want to baby that dog to much or else they will not want to come out into the weather.  The shock would not be good for them going from super warm to the cold.  Animals are a whole bunch tougher than we humans are.  I could go out there on the coldest days when the dog was in his house.  Put my hand in there under the or around the dog and he was warm.  Good food, water and a warm place to sleep will meet his physical needs.