Our Dog House - Live!

[mmorlino]

So I got some accessories to my camcorder in the mail the other day in preparation for Jersey's delivery (due Dec 16th).

I am now able to run my video camera off of an outlet instead of a 4 hour battery. So, I hooked it up to my laptop out in the Dog House and am running it live via ustream.tv!

Molly Morlino on USTREAM: . Dogs

This is only temporary, of course... I need my laptop back at some point But it's fun to see what the dogs do when I'm not there.

The dogs were all outside enjoying the nice weather... barking at the neighbors dog... So I locked them inside so we can have something to watch

 

[smkie]

THAt's pretty cool!

 

[mmorlino]

In case anyone wants to see what this dog house is...

It's an 8x12 insulated building. Shingled roof, hardi-planked exterior It's literally their house! Heated and cooled, too, of course

The main part. Recently I took out the shelves and built built-ins.

The "puppy cubbies". There is a door between them so we can have more room if necessary.

The doggy door in the human door - goes out into the yard

Looking out the door into the back yard:

 

[bubbatd]

Neat set up !

 

[BullMastiffMama]

Thank goodness! Somebody moved in the back of the pile-up.


They sure do sleep soundly

 

[JennSLK]

What kind of heating/cooling set up do you use?

 

[mmorlino]

What kind of heating/cooling set up do you use?

We have a "window" AC unit (which is installed in the wall, not in a window). That's for the AC Then we have a space heater for the heat.

We live in Texas, so if it's really hot, we have the AC on. If it's really cold, we have the heater on. If it's in between, we have the door open and the breeze coming in, LOL!

I actually just upgraded from a dinky space heater - it heated well but it did not control the temperature at all. If I set it on low heat, it would never turn off and heat the dog house to 90 degrees! Too hot! (and it doubled our electric bill).

So I bought one with a digital thermostat (and it oscillates) and it works very well! I can leave it on all day and night and it controls the temperature (72 degrees) very well!

Here's the new space heater:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TTV2QS/ref=oss_T15_product

 

[vanillasugar]

What a fancy set up!

 

[bubbatd]

I couldn't figure out where the whelping pen is !

 

[mmorlino]

The whelping area is our house Mom and puppies go out into the dog house at about a week old.

 

[bubbatd]

You still need rails ~~~~

 

[mmorlino]

You still need rails ~~~~

 

[bubbatd]

In the whelping pen so that the pups don't get squished .

 

[mmorlino]

In the whelping pen so that the pups don't get squished .

That's what I thought you meant, but wasn't sure.

No, doxies don't need anything like that. I've seen it with labs... but we don't have those problems with doxies.

 

[bubbatd]

Hmmmm

 

[mmorlino]

I took down the live feed a few days ago! But make sure to bookmark our ustream.tv channel and tune in starting December 12th to "monitor" Jersey live (she's due Dec. 16th but I'm guessing the 14th)

Molly Morlino on USTREAM: . Dogs

 

[mmorlino]

I couldn't figure out where the whelping pen is !

While they physically whelp in the house (and stay there for about a week), here's where Mom and puppies go afterwards - I call these the "Puppy Cubbies"

I usually keep them in a half of a crate with a bed like this in it:

You can see the door between the cubbies. So if I have two litters I can separate them (this was a "what if", as only twice have I had two litters at the same time). You can also see the doggy doors so that Mom can go in and out.

I've been breeding for 10 years and have never had a Mom squish the babies. I'm not sure if this is a problem with only larger breeds with larger litters or not? I had never heard of the rails until a lab breeder told me they have to have them because "labs are so high maintenance". I've also never seen a dachshund breeder that implements rails, though admittedly the subject has never come up before. (I've never seen them with the many breeders I've visited, though)

 

[bubbatd]

You've been lucky !!!

 

[mmorlino]

You've been lucky !!!

I've only had experience with dachshunds. Is this common in large breeds as well as small breeds?

I just asked on a dachshund breeder forum if they use rails. I'll let you know what the response is.

 

[Spiritwind]

Very neat set up!!

As far as the rails go, I have never used them with my Collie litters, and I've never had a problem either! I don't personally know many Collie people who use them either (though I'm sure some use them).

For the last 4 yrs I have been working with professional handlers (who are sheltie breeders) and I have yet to see any sheltie people use them as well... with no issues...