Best dog houses? for cold and hot days?

Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
193
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Texas
#1
It's getting cold here and well the pups are getting cold. We used to have a nice sized kennel back in the day but the last storm blew it out. I was considering Igloo's for both of the boys. Are they good heat insulators? Does anyone else have one of these? If so, do share... and if you have another opinion share as well. Thanx.
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
5,634
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
35
Location
Ontario, Canada
#2
Here''s a blurb from the article I wrote called "Designing A Kennel For The Outdoor Dog" which you can find in the "Buried Bones" section of this forum.

The doghouse should be insulated for sure. Insulation will keep it warm in winter and cool in summer. It is very important to keep a doghouse raised off the ground so the moisture from the ground doesn''t seep in, cool th house down during winter, and rot the wood. If you attach the doghouse from the outside of the kennel, you won''t take away any of your dog''s floor space. It''s a good idea to put cedar shavings in the house during summer because cedar keeps fleas away, gives a nice smell instead of having that doggy smell, provides something comfy for your dog to lie on, and will absorb any moisture very fast if your dog has an accident or he gets wet. In the winter i use a layer of cedar shavings with a layer of straw n top. Honestly straw is the best insulator and if you put enough in the house, your dog will tunnel into it and make himself a nice nest which keeps him remarkably warm and cozy. Some people like to put dog beds or mats in the doghouse, I don;t recommend this because if it gets wet or dirty it''s very hard to clean and dry properly, or you may not even notice it, and then it could get moldy and mold is poisonous to dogs and humans. Remember to change your shavings and straw every 2-3 months. It;s also a good idea to attach a door to the opening of the doghouse during winter and remove it during summer. The door will help conserve body heat and keep it in the house to keep your dog cozy in the winter, and during the summer, not having it will allow a little bit of windflow to keep the house cooler. The door will also stop snow from getting in the house, melting, and making the inside wet.

For the record, both of my houses are insulated wood doghouses which I find are the best quality. Plastic just doesn''t hold heat well at all.

I also wanted to add that a doghouse with a black roof (shingles) will attract sunlight and act almost like a natural heater if you make sure the house is in direct sunlight during the day. The sun heats the house up. Putting the house in the shade will help keep it cooler in the summer.
 

EliNHunter

New Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
3,836
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
60
Location
Indianapolis
#5
My dogs' best house for cold = MY HOUSE, complete with heat

My dogs' best house for hot = MY HOUSE, complete with air conditioning
:(
 

Julie

I am back again.
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
3,482
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Wild Wonderful WV
#6
I really don't like those plastic type dog houses. whether igloo shaped or not.
My dogs sleep beside my bed and have the comfort of a climate controlled house. (my house). :)

They do have a doghouse that is wooden and it is filled with straw for warmth during anytime they may be out during the day. Or in case it starts raining when they are outside......... I noticed there are cobwebs again over the door. ;) Last week I put in new straw and cleaned the cobwebs off, they are already back.
 

dogstarsleddogs

The dog is never wrong!
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
605
Likes
0
Points
0
#7
Remember people: some of use just cant have inside dogs, so we try to do the best we can with an outside house!!!
I also use wood houses. My new ones have 4" of styrofoam insulation on the bottom, and 1" on the sides/top. Its painted with outdoor paint, all seams are cauked, and it is placed on a palate, so its 4" off the ground. Make sure you place the opening facing a direction where you get the least ammount of wind. (For us, thats east)
Also make sure the house is neither too big or too small. For you're average 50# dog, I go with 2x2x3 feet, with the door being 12x10 inches.
 

smkie

pointer/labrador/terrier
Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
55,184
Likes
35
Points
48
#8
the all weather dog houses we had at the kennel which don't compare to Victor asleep on my blanket on the sofa right now were concrete brick stuffed with straw, and insultion between the bricks and wooden tops. There was also heat coils in the concrete beneath the houses. STill compared it is like night and day. THose dogs would have given anything to be where Vic is right now, it just took a bit more training. In 2020 hindsight, i feel bad for each and every one of them.
 

bubbatd

Moderator
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
64,812
Likes
1
Points
0
Age
90
#9
I did have an outside kennel and run at the old house for females in heat or boarders .. Straw etc and very comfy . But when it was cold , I'd move any dogs to the garage area off our family room . ( no cars ) with heat . I was ( am ) a pussy !
 

bubbatd

Moderator
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
64,812
Likes
1
Points
0
Age
90
#10
PS ... of interest to me . Indianapolis is working on dog control problems after the severe maiming of a 2 year old girl last spring . They don't want to ban breeds, but one of the things they are considering is that no dog is to be tied out at night . Personally I think this is great !! Will show the true dog lovers don't chain 24/7 ... sorry , this has nothing to do with kennels in a fenced in area , free from chains.
 
Last edited:
B

Bobsk8

Guest
#11
I had a dog years ago that I kept in a dog house outside in upper New York State. When I think about that today, it makes me feel so guilty, and I wish that I had never done that... It will probably bother me for the rest of my life. There is no way that I would ever do that to a dog again. :(
 
Joined
Mar 26, 2006
Messages
1,544
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
london, Ontario
#12
Remember people: some of use just cant have inside dogs, so we try to do the best we can with an outside house!!!
I also use wood houses. My new ones have 4" of styrofoam insulation on the bottom, and 1" on the sides/top. Its painted with outdoor paint, all seams are cauked, and it is placed on a palate, so its 4" off the ground. Make sure you place the opening facing a direction where you get the least ammount of wind. (For us, thats east)
Also make sure the house is neither too big or too small. For you're average 50# dog, I go with 2x2x3 feet, with the door being 12x10 inches.

Can you tell me why please?
 

dogstarsleddogs

The dog is never wrong!
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
605
Likes
0
Points
0
#13
Why? Well, first of all, I'm mildly allergic to dogs. It doesnt bother me too much, but every now and then I'll get little itchy bumps all over my face/hands/arms after being with the dogs.
Also, my dogs kill cats. We have 6 inside cats. I do not want another massacre to happen again!!!! It was bad enough the first time Aurora killed 6 cats. Even if they didnt eat the cats, they would still eat the poop.
My mom would go absoluty nuts if we had that much dog hair hanging around. She thinks its bad enough with the little bit of cat hair.
My dogs do NOT like it inside. I've brought them inside to the basement on extremly hot days, to help them. They just sit at the door, panting, being extremly uncomfortable. When we got Dakota nuetered, he spent that day/night inside. Once he was feeling better, he wanted back outside pronto. It was kinda unfortunate he was feeling better at 4 am. I had to lay there and listen to him scratch at the crate, move around, and whine for 3 more hours.
You may not agree with this at all, but I can assure you one thing, my dogs recieve just as good care, attention, as everyone elses. Just because one keeps thier dogs outside doesnt immediatly make them a bad owner. You got to look at more then that.
 
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
193
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Texas
#14
Remember people: some of use just cant have inside dogs, so we try to do the best we can with an outside house!!!
I also use wood houses. My new ones have 4" of styrofoam insulation on the bottom, and 1" on the sides/top. Its painted with outdoor paint, all seams are cauked, and it is placed on a palate, so its 4" off the ground. Make sure you place the opening facing a direction where you get the least ammount of wind. (For us, thats east)
Also make sure the house is neither too big or too small. For you're average 50# dog, I go with 2x2x3 feet, with the door being 12x10 inches.
Thank you for saying this, so that I did not have to. And thanks for some of the ideas instead of stating MY HOUSE.
 
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
193
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Texas
#15
Can you tell me why please?
By the looks of it you have small dogs, first off. I do put my dogs in the house, but not all day, they were born outside and are outside dogs. I know that some people have big dogs in the house and that is great, but we do not have the room for that. The people who keep their dogs outside love them just as much as you all who can afford to keep them in. I did not ask this question for you all to criticize me for not keeping them in the house 24/7. Some people just can't due to medical reasons of family members and other things.
 
Joined
Oct 16, 2006
Messages
262
Likes
0
Points
0
#16
i use a plastic air kennel for large breeds. My dog is a very small medium breed. I use carpt on the bottom, but might try the cedar and hay deal...

The weather is hardly ever below 50 degrees here and rarely does it get above 100 here (if even close).

will my dog be ok in her air kennel? She's a korean jindo that was raised in big bear (ski resort city in the winter, jet ski resort in the summer).
 

smkie

pointer/labrador/terrier
Joined
Dec 16, 2004
Messages
55,184
Likes
35
Points
48
#17
I am very allergic to dogs after taking care of a kennel for 20 years. Seems that it not uncommon. By washing my dogs often (i use my shampoo and cream rinse) i have no allergy problems at all. They have a bath once a week and i get nothing but compliments on their coats. The added benefit of a dog that smells and feels clean is people pet them more;) It is a win win situation. The dogs can stay in and keep me happy and thus i keep them happy:D Bathing isn't that hard to do and they do get use to the routine. Mary loves a hot soak for her achey old bones and will go in to the tub when she wants a bath and hint hint hint!

cedar is wicked bad...:(
 
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
1,610
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
37
Location
Illinois
#19
My dad built a doghouse for our dog when I was young and this is what it looked like. Excuse the crudeness and hugeness, I did it in a hurry.:)


Side View


Front View


Inside

It was made of wood and up on stilts to be off the ground four inches or so. The inside had a wall in between the entry and the den to help keep the wind from blowing directly at the dog. The sides had insulation in them. The roof was slanted and also hinged in the back so the roof could be lifted up for easy access inside the house. It as shingled with black shingles. We put pine shavings and straw inside and she'd create her own little nest with it.
 
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
193
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
39
Location
Texas
#20
Wow, that was exactly what I was thinking georgygirl. I wanted to do something like that, and then line it with insulation and cover it with hmm what do you call it... an aluminum sheet? If that is what it is. But I saw that somewhere and I know i could build it easy. Thanx alot.
 

Staff online

Members online

Top