Dog houses...
- Thread starter tweetylov
- Start date
Mo doesn't begin to comare, but my old boss had heater coils built into the concrete under the houses. I don't know how he did it, but I do know that they are doing the same to warm floors in the new houses...water heat or a heating pad that is built into the smaller floors as in bathrooms..there was an article in the kc paper about it IF u want I can try to find the article..I read it at my mom's table the other day. He also had a special lightbulb built under the water buckets that kept them from freezing..I wish he was still alive, I could ask him....surely somebody out there knows. A dog has got to have a warm house!!! My dogs like MY house, and my bed! I just crawled out from under the blankets with Vic.
I hope they'll be able to come inside as well, as no matter how much insulating and heating you do, it still gets dang cold in the winter..and what if the heater decides to throw a fit and break down overnight? Your dogs could get seriously cold.
I'm personally a believer of getting a dog for the purpose of sharing your life with it...not just leaving it outdoors. I personally don't see a point. It causes the dog to miss out on alot of vital communication with you, and doesn't create that wonderful relationship that all people should have with their dogs. Also remember that outdoor dogs tend to become much more territorial and this could in turn lead to forms of aggression or behavioral problems. Just some things for you to consider in case I can hopefully change your mind.
Here's one more link. I know the source isn't exactly top notch (we all know about PETA and their tactics *rolls eyes*) but it does have some good information:
http://www.helpinganimals.com/i-chained.html
I'm personally a believer of getting a dog for the purpose of sharing your life with it...not just leaving it outdoors. I personally don't see a point. It causes the dog to miss out on alot of vital communication with you, and doesn't create that wonderful relationship that all people should have with their dogs. Also remember that outdoor dogs tend to become much more territorial and this could in turn lead to forms of aggression or behavioral problems. Just some things for you to consider in case I can hopefully change your mind.
Here's one more link. I know the source isn't exactly top notch (we all know about PETA and their tactics *rolls eyes*) but it does have some good information:
http://www.helpinganimals.com/i-chained.html
I'm sure everyone agrees...when it's too cold, the dogs should be indoors. But, if you find there are times the dog HAS to be outside, or it's something you're going to do anyway......then don't skrimp on construction. It has to be insulated. Build the house big enough that the dog can turn and lay comfortably...but small enough that it is as warm as possible after filling with straw..LOTS of straw. Our houses have double walls, floors, ceiling..with insulation inbetween. The house has to be raised off the ground. Face the door away from the wind. The best idea is to have an entrance...then a turn into the back. (you would want to be able to lift part of the roof to place straw, and clean in interior) If just a door opening...small as possible. We use heavy rubber strips that overlap as a door........blocks wind, but the dog goes in and out with ease. Our houses have an overhang.......keeps rain completely away from the door. Build the house where you will place it......believe me, when completed you will not move it. That's my 2 cents. IF you are building a doghouse....build it well. The 'bought' houses....no good at all except as a quick shelter from rain. You can use untreated lumber (you don't want the dog chewing on anything treated) since the floor is off the ground...if you cover the exterior (we used siding) and shingle the roof.
Just thought I'd mention....a really well-built doghouse is not inexpensive.....you may want to consider that and find it's 'cheaper' to have them indoors after all. Also...and you probably know this....never put any type of heat source (light bulb, etc.) near straw...it is extremely flamable. As a quick thought...if the house will be enclosed in a fenced area...you may also consider placing in a corner of the fence that you can block with wood or cyclone fence filler strips as a windbreak.
My Dad built one for O'Reilly that was elevated about 3 feet off the ground and had a ramp up to a deck big enough for two big dogs in front of the actual dog house. I had him put the roof on hinges in the middle and put props at the edges so that we could raise it in the summer for it to vent hot air. He made the peak at the centerline raised some and overhanging so there would never be any problem with leaking. He ended up also building another platform about 6 inches from the ground underneath the entire thing so O'Reilly could lay in the shade.
O'Reilly spent a large part of the time, including most nights, indoors with us, but he really liked being outdoors rather than in when we were busy, and some nights he was like Debi's Addie and just wanted to stay outside. I don't know if it was because he was an Australian Shepherd and just HAD to know what was going on all the time or because he was blind and liked the space outside. I do know that he just loved to run! That was definitely much easier for a blind dog to do outside . . .
O'Reilly spent a large part of the time, including most nights, indoors with us, but he really liked being outdoors rather than in when we were busy, and some nights he was like Debi's Addie and just wanted to stay outside. I don't know if it was because he was an Australian Shepherd and just HAD to know what was going on all the time or because he was blind and liked the space outside. I do know that he just loved to run! That was definitely much easier for a blind dog to do outside . . .