How does a dog house heat lamp work?

Dog house heat lamps are incandescent lamps designed to produce more infrared radiation than typical light bulbs. These lamps operate similarly to regular household light bulbs and are selected based on fixture size and wattage.

Heat lamps produce a significant amount of infrared radiation, so great care must be taken to properly select a location and fixture. Installing a heat lamp too close to a combustible material may result in a fire. The light fixture must be specifically designed for heat lamps to reduce the risk of melting and fire. Various alternatives for heating a dog house are available and include electrically heated mats, space heaters and solar heating units.