straw in kennel

[Happy Gilmore]

Don't do it. its going to mold and if your lab is anything like mine its going to play hell with her skin.
I have seen a couple dogs that got UTI's from straw.

Never seen it get moldy in a dry kennel. Heck, they say it was good enough for baby Jesus?

[Stilly bay]

the reason I am thinking straw is I already have a bale in my back yard that I used for when I was shooting my bow.... 

Happy, it doesn't sound like the straw is perfectly dry to begin with...and wasn't Baby Jesus in Hay, not straw?

[bobcat]

If you can get an old wool blanket that would be good, and even if it gets damp your dog will stay warm.

[ghosthunter]

It never makes sense to me that guys will spend $500.00 plus on a lab pup and not spend $100.00 on good dog house.

Sorry

I have used straw my dogs entire life. She has a 12X13 kennel 1/2 under my carport roof. With a wood dog house in the dry side. Full of straw. The dogs likes to make beds. She will make a nest in the straw away fro the door. If it gets low 20s i move her in the garadge at night.

[Ridgeratt]

It never makes sense to me that guys will spend $500.00 plus on a lab pup and not spend $100.00 on good dog house.

Sorry

I have used straw my dogs entire life. She has a 12X13 kennel 1/2 under my carport roof. With a wood dog house in the dry side. Full of straw. The dogs likes to make beds. She will make a nest in the straw away fro the door. If it gets low 20s i move her in the garadge at night.

I used Self regulating heat tape that I installed under the floor of the dog house. Comes on around 32 degrees and is rated at 3 watts per foot cords ran out thru the back of the run and they never got to it but they always had a heated house.
Another alternative is to find an old metal coffee can or a large resturant style can. Mount a 4/0 round box in it with a keyless fixture then you can change the bulb as needed the colder the higher the bulb.

15 watt as it starts to get cold then move up to a 25 watt and if it gets real cold or you have a senior pet. They do enjoy a 25 watt lamp. the can is deep enough they can't get to the lamp and if your worried just bend a hunk of expanded metal and stick some screws in it.

[Happy Gilmore]

It never makes sense to me that guys will spend $500.00 plus on a lab pup and not spend $100.00 on good dog house.

Sorry

I have used straw my dogs entire life. She has a 12X13 kennel 1/2 under my carport roof. With a wood dog house in the dry side. Full of straw. The dogs likes to make beds. She will make a nest in the straw away fro the door. If it gets low 20s i move her in the garadge at night.

I used Self regulating heat tape that I installed under the floor of the dog house. Comes on around 32 degrees and is rated at 3 watts per foot cords ran out thru the back of the run and they never got to it but they always had a heated house.
Another alternative is to find an old metal coffee can or a large resturant style can. Mount a 4/0 round box in it with a keyless fixture then you can change the bulb as needed the colder the higher the bulb.

15 watt as it starts to get cold then move up to a 25 watt and if it gets real cold or you have a senior pet. They do enjoy a 25 watt lamp. the can is deep enough they can't get to the lamp and if your worried just bend a hunk of expanded metal and stick some screws in it.

No joking here, I had a friend who put a heat lamp in his dog house. It somehow came loose, landed on the bedding and started smouldering. Never caught fire but, the dog died of smoke inhalation.

[Ridgeratt]

You screw the can to the floor and then it doesn't tip over and they have something to curl up to. It equals Happy pet's!
This will go sideways but right now I have a insulated & heated cat house on the front porch. When I call her all I get is a cat's paw wave letting me know she is ok!
But "she" is one happy cat!

[akirkland]

My labs sleep on our bed while we are at work

[st8uppointers]

All i use is chopped straw, works great in there houses! wood chips [ cedar or pine ] are too messy and absorb way too much moisture, and stick the dogs like crazy.. All dogs need a DRY, WARM place to sleep and straw in their houses works perfect!

[CAMPMEAT]

My wife has heaters under all of the dog/cat houses. They work very well and you don't have to worry about a frozen sail dog/cat in the morning. Been doing it for years.