Outdoor dogs/keeping them warm question

[vandeman17]

I posted a question about this a few years back and it went with the straw in the kennel trick and it worked well. This was two winters ago and this previous winter, I only had one dog so I just left her in the laundry room during the cold days. I now have two dogs, black labs that are 1 and almost 4. I have a dog run along the side of the house that has an igloo in it. It is covered and has a fence on one side and the house on the other so it is pretty protected. I am hesitant to put down straw again because it is in landscaping rocks and will be a pain to clean up and replace if/when needed. I don't want to put pillows or blankets or anything out because the puppy still chews up things, hence me being without a remote control and needing new glasses and glass case  Any ideas? I have thought about getting a pallet to put out there so they have something other then the igloo to lay in and attaching carpet or something.

[LndShrk]

Kennel crates in the house if you do not want them to run around etc..

[vandeman17]

It might come down to that. I am not worried about the older dog as she would be just fine on her pillow inside the back door. I am just worried that 9 hours is a long time for the 1 year old to be in her crate.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've got DOGLOO's with heaters in them for my Rott.

[LndShrk]

If it is during the day and the kennel is exposed to the sun I would put clear plastic over it. (Greenhouse effect). Leave some holes for circulation.

[AWS]

I lived in northern MN for a long time and we just filled the doghouse with loose straw and stapled a towel or piece of blanket over the door that the dog could push out of the way to get in or out.  The shorthair stayed out in very cold temps, only problem was frost bitten ears while hunting and frost bit testicles from sitting on the cold cement/ice in the kennel.

[ghosthunter]

My 14 month lab is out in her kennel. Half covered by carport.
Igloo house bedded in straw.
I put a board across the door 6-8 inches wide to keep the straw in the house. Every morning I push the straw back away from door. Some gets out not much.

I knew a guy who put a pallet down than a electric heat pad on low, than dog house over that.

[Vulcan]

I allow my dogs inside and don't make then sleep outside so we don't have to worry about it.

[ICEMAN]

Don't forget to up their calories a bit during the cold spells.... 

[Goldeneye]

Until it stays above freezing my pups have the run of the house with animal planet on the TV.  As far as I can tell they spend most of the day in their pet beds.  I'm away at work for about 10 hours a day.  Luckily my pups do not chew or tear anything up and are well house broken.  If they were destructive at all I would not be able to do this.

[vandeman17]

Until it stays above freezing my pups have the run of the house with animal planet on the TV.  As far as I can tell they spend most of the day in their pet beds.  I'm away at work for about 10 hours a day.  Luckily my pups do not chew or tear anything up and are well house broken.  If they were destructive at all I would not be able to do this.

My older dog would be just fine hanging out and having free range of the house. The pup is a whole different story. She was doing better for a while but I think she is going through what is equivalent to the terrible two's. She knows better but just can't help herself.

[Goldeneye]

Until it stays above freezing my pups have the run of the house with animal planet on the TV.  As far as I can tell they spend most of the day in their pet beds.  I'm away at work for about 10 hours a day.  Luckily my pups do not chew or tear anything up and are well house broken.  If they were destructive at all I would not be able to do this.

My older dog would be just fine hanging out and having free range of the house. The pup is a whole different story. She was doing better for a while but I think she is going through what is equivalent to the terrible two's. She knows better but just can't help herself.

  , Lab terrible two's can be exceptional and expensive depending on what they focus their attention on.  My vote would be to kennel the pup in the house during this cold spell.     

[vandeman17]

Tell me about it. She has chewed up a remote, my glasses and glasses case, a hose bib cover and other odds and ends in the past few days. She is on quite the roll!

[BIGINNER]

my male weimaraner shares a dog run with my lab. I fill their dog house with cedar shavings, and put a flap over the door.  they cuddle up together and they pretty warm.  the dog run has wooden floors so the floor isn't as cold as concrete. also I have 2 inch foam as insilation for their dog house.  the female weimaraner comes inside during cold spells.  (my kids love it when she gets to stay inside).

[BIGINNER]

my lab has a terrible chewing problem (he's about 1 year old) so he can't stay in the house, and my male weimaraner has a horrible "I claim your furniture with my piss" problem,  so they can't stay inside for too long. I will probable stick a space heater into their dog house through this cold spell, I just have to figure out a way to do it so the lab doesn't chew it up

[Vulcan]

My last lab had an aweful chewing problem. I was able to stop it very young by playing the item (the last one was a shoe) in her mouth and then putting painters tape around her mouth so she couldn't open it. It sounds horribly abusive but the painters tape didn't stick to her fur and I made sure it wasn't too tight and she could breathe. Also made sure it wouldn't choke her. After a few times she finally realized that the few moments of pleasure from chewing wasn't worth being stuck with it for hours.

[vandeman17]

My last lab had an aweful chewing problem. I was able to stop it very young by playing the item (the last one was a shoe) in her mouth and then putting painters tape around her mouth so she couldn't open it. It sounds horribly abusive but the painters tape didn't stick to her fur and I made sure it wasn't too tight and she could breathe. Also made sure it wouldn't choke her. After a few times she finally realized that the few moments of pleasure from chewing wasn't worth being stuck with it for hours.

That is actually pretty funny. I usually bring her back over to whatever item she chewed on, and tell her no and then bring her somewhere else and pet her so she doesn't associate me as being bad but what she did as bad. You can see how well this tactic has been working for me. haha

[Vulcan]

As for the marking, it could be from a lack of boundaries and excess energy. You may wanna walk him a few times a day, if possible, or do things to reassert your place at the head of your "pack." You can do this by making him earn everything, such as making him sit, stay, lay down etc. for food (eat before you feed him also, alpha dogs eat first). Not letting him on furniture or be at the table are other good things you can try.  These have all worked for me.

If he is not neutered that is normally the #1 reason for marking.

[Vulcan]

My last lab had an aweful chewing problem. I was able to stop it very young by playing the item (the last one was a shoe) in her mouth and then putting painters tape around her mouth so she couldn't open it. It sounds horribly abusive but the painters tape didn't stick to her fur and I made sure it wasn't too tight and she could breathe. Also made sure it wouldn't choke her. After a few times she finally realized that the few moments of pleasure from chewing wasn't worth being stuck with it for hours.

That is actually pretty funny. I usually bring her back over to whatever item she chewed on, and tell her no and then bring her somewhere else and pet her so she doesn't associate me as being bad but what she did as bad. You can see how well this tactic has been working for me. haha

Lol! Yea, it's tricky. Normally they won't associate bad with you unless you beat them, etc. If you don't try my tip maybe just not take her away and praise her, it send her mixed signals. Dogs usually only associate the last action (scold, praise) with the deed. So, you basically praised her for chewing the item.

[Happy Gilmore]

Apple box with a top on it. Put a couple of red poultry lights in it. Screw them down and make sure they can't knock it over or get on top of it and break them.

[KNOPHISH]

That's why they're called dogs. 

[LndShrk]

This is how our boys roll.  They really like it when the fire is going.. 

[jackmaster]

this maybe a little out there, but a friend of ours built his basset hound a dog house from the heavens, its complete with electricity, its hidden of course so it dont get chewed up  it comes with running water on the outside and it also has a heater, its a cadet heater mounted in one of the walls and it also house an air conditioner and a sweet doggy bed. i wish i had some pics of it, he was actually thinking about putting a small flat screen in there with some dog type movies in the dvd player  its nicer than alot of houses i have seen. you could do something like that for all weather conditions and your doggys will love it 

[Heredoggydoggy]

I built the doghouse for my 2 setters out of a plan in a hunting magazine years ago.  I built the outside out of T-111 and the entrance is a narrow foyer with an opening into the sleeping area at the rear of the foyer.  That cancelled out any drafts.  I glued some pink Styrofoam to the floor and put in a piece of carpeting for warmth.  When I got home from work, the carpet was laying outside.  I opened the doghouse up, (it had a hinged roof for cleaning), and put the carpet back.  Next day the carpet was back outside.  It was too hot!  I left the carpet out, and never had a problem after that.  my last Setter died in '02.  Still have the doghouse.  In hot weather I loosened the turnbuckles on the roof and propped the roof open with a couple of 2x4 blocks.  Many 100+ degree days I'd get home from work and see the dog snoozing in the foyer.

[BIGINNER]

this maybe a little out there, but a friend of ours built his basset hound a dog house from the heavens, its complete with electricity, its hidden of course so it dont get chewed up  it comes with running water on the outside and it also has a heater, its a cadet heater mounted in one of the walls and it also house an air conditioner and a sweet doggy bed. i wish i had some pics of it, he was actually thinking about putting a small flat screen in there with some dog type movies in the dvd player  its nicer than alot of houses i have seen. you could do something like that for all weather conditions and your doggys will love it 

ha ha   actually I was thinking about building a house like that for my dogs when I move.  maybe not so crazy though..

[Blacktail Sniper]

My last lab had an aweful chewing problem. I was able to stop it very young by playing the item (the last one was a shoe) in her mouth and then putting painters tape around her mouth so she couldn't open it. It sounds horribly abusive but the painters tape didn't stick to her fur and I made sure it wasn't too tight and she could breathe. Also made sure it wouldn't choke her. After a few times she finally realized that the few moments of pleasure from chewing wasn't worth being stuck with it for hours.

Would be interesting to try that method with the coffee table...couch...the cat... 

[singleshot12]

Don't forget to up their calories a bit during the cold spells.... 

 

[et1702]

My last lab had an aweful chewing problem. I was able to stop it very young by playing the item (the last one was a shoe) in her mouth and then putting painters tape around her mouth so she couldn't open it. It sounds horribly abusive but the painters tape didn't stick to her fur and I made sure it wasn't too tight and she could breathe. Also made sure it wouldn't choke her. After a few times she finally realized that the few moments of pleasure from chewing wasn't worth being stuck with it for hours.

That is actually pretty funny. I usually bring her back over to whatever item she chewed on, and tell her no and then bring her somewhere else and pet her so she doesn't associate me as being bad but what she did as bad. You can see how well this tactic has been working for me. haha

Unless you catch her in the act, you are definitely confusing her.  Need to catch her chewing something she shouldn't and discipline her.  otherwise, it's like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons...BLAH.Blah.Blah.  She doesn't know what you are asking her to do. 

My Viszla was terrible as a youngster.  I told my son not to trust her in the house alone and to leave her in the laundry room until I got home from work.  I came home to find my son stuffing foam back into an easy chair and sewing the cover back on as best he could...LOL. She's fine now.  In house all the time with or without us.

ET

[ghosthunter]

Another idea is to run a short heat tape around the bottom of the dog house. Make sure the dog cannot get to it. It will only come on below freezing.