Warm Dog Boxes

[Hoytman]

I substitute cedar shavings with styrofoam pellets in dog beds for winter. They dry out nicely and generate heat.

[Ryan]

I have a heated floor mat in a kennel that I built in the garage. It has an opening into the back yard as well where there is a 15x15 fenced in area (with woodchips). The kennel on the inside has an area for the dog to sit and then a "hot box" which is fully insulated (on 6 sides) off the floor. That is where I have the heated floor mat. Also, I built a small window where I have a heated fan that can blow into the kennel during the really cold days (we are from Wisconsin).

[Tx.Chain Gang]

They are made for the dog houses you have, or had.$5.00 per house.

[K.L.LANIER]

Hi gang. K.L.Lanier here.I've been a member here for about almost a year but never posted,here goes! I've made two dog boxes out of 3/4in.plywood,1/4in.pink foam house insulation(doubled up to 1/2in.) 1/4in.Luan panel to seperate the insulation from the ply.The ply.panels are 2'x4' and they have wall to wall thick pile carpeting on all four walls.I cut out an 8"square hole for a door and used 1/4in.plexiglass(drilled some holes in the plexi for vents) as the door(with hinges).I through a big fleece pillow in the back of it and filled the rest of the house with straw.WHEW!(lol!) Those S.O.B.'s gotta weigh in at 135lbs.apiece! I got them up on cinderblocks in my 6 feet wide,18 feet long kennel.The pups look snug-as-a-bug this mornin' before i went to work.Did'nt wanna' come out when i called them!(I have a Bluetick pup and a German Jagdterrier(huntingterier)pup.Six and nine mo.old.The wind in northeast Ohio is REALLY kickin'and howlin' today,last night too,up to 55mph.Did'nt hear a peep out of them allnight.I'm really crazy about my pups and huntin'season has started for rabbit and other small game here.The ole'lady thinks i luv them pups more than her! I told her,"Yea,i luv them pups i aint gonna lie,but i luv you more and longer!(Just to keep her off my back!! LOL!).Hope to post more and some pics of my huntin'pups.Let me hear some thoughts on the dog boxes. Take care. K.L.Lanier

[Paul Curtis]

Question for Bev, have you had any trouble with condensation with your dog houses made out of the aircraft aluminum? I bought seven about a month ago and noticed when I lifted the lid up this morning the walls and roof inside were pretty wet. I was thinking of getting some of those spring loaded doors for them, but with condensation like this with no doors I don't really know what to do at this point. They are off the ground about 5 inches and I don't have any wind blocks to speak of, any suggestions?

[catfish hunter]

Question for Bev, have you had any trouble with condensation with your dog houses made out of the aircraft aluminum? I bought seven about a month ago and noticed when I lifted the lid up this morning the walls and roof inside were pretty wet. I was thinking of getting some of those spring loaded doors for them, but with condensation like this with no doors I don't really know what to do at this point. They are off the ground about 5 inches and I don't have any wind blocks to speak of, any suggestions?

I was getting it in my wood box until I added a hound heater now It is as dry as can be and as warm as my house ,dogs got it good now

[Lance]

Bev, can you post pics of the Crossroads dog houses?

Also, anyone with a Crossroads dog box..please post a pic if you can.

Thanks, Lance

[Bev]

Hey folks, a lot has changed since this thread began. I don't live where I used to and I had to start over on dogs and kennels. I use the Seneca above-grounds now. I have 2 double run kennels (4 runs total) and this is what I've done to combat the cold:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=43879

Since it has dipped into single digits, I am using alfala hay instead of cedar.

[Paul Curtis]

Was there something about the aircraft aluminum that you didn't like? Why did you switch? I have already bought mine so I'll have to make them work? Haven't noticed the condensation before, but wasn't checking either and haven't had it since then, but its turned off cold and staying there. I know they will last a long time, but that doesn't make them good dog houses.

[Bev]

I didn't dislike the boxes. In fact I still have one I keep for a spare house if I have a doggy guest. My lot at the time would occasionally stay wet on one half after a hard rain, so I put above ground kennels in. Eventually, the number of dogs were cut back and we kept them all above-ground. The dogs seemed to stay cleaner and drier above ground.

[ncbeagler]

i have used an electric pvc panel used for pigs that is heated and can be thermostatically controlled.they actually lay on the panel. a buddy rigged up a heat lamp bulb with a thermostat and made a cover with a pot with hole bored through it underneath the plywood floor so it would not get to hot. i saw a post somewhere on a similar set up just can't remember.Steve