Warm Dog Boxes

[Bev]

We are having some new boxes made for the kennels - from wood. Does anyone have any tips for making them warmer in the winter but not roasting hot in the summer? I'm thinking about adding the aluminum spring-hinged doors for the winter to cut the wind off and rigging them up to be removable in the summer. These boxes will be in the ground kennels, so I'm having them put on skids to raise them up 4". Will wooden walls be warm enough by themselves? They are condos of sorts - 30" deep x 60" wide x 24" high with a divider in the middle to for 2 compartments. Holes are offset to the outsides of the front to provide a windbreak, too. Roof will be removable and almost flat so the hounds have a Snoopy seat, but sloped just enough for rain run-off. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Emery]

There is always the option of the electric floor mats to put in there. It might get expensive with a lot of dogs... Just a thought.

Emery

[cooper(TG)]

Bev those dog boxes are going to be heavy hope you don't have to move them around much. I have mine on treated 4x4's and thats works good for me. I have mine on concrete and it make washing under them easy. The skids are not treated lumber and they won't last as long as the boxes. (I know I had one on a skid until this year). I also built a dog house like your planning on with the offset doors and divider in the middle and they all sleep in one side and the other side they have used it in the past just to crap in. I have had up to three dogs in one kennel and they all crowed in one side to sleep. I know they have to be uncomfortable but I guess they like the company! LOL!!!!

[steve w.]

Get foam insulation and sandwich it between plywood for your boxes. Warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. You can cut down on the thickness of plywood too. You can get the stuff at Mernard's or Lowe's etc. Actually it can be glued but if you try this make sure you get a campatible glue. some will eat the foam. Why are you replacing the ones you have?

[steve w.]

I forgot to include extra ventilation, http://www.huntsmart.com has dog box vents that can be used for summer. I just went thru rebuilding a dog box for my truck and thought geez I could make a fine house this way. Fuel for thought if nothing else.

[Bev]

Steve, currently we have the dog houses made by Ruff Haus. They're ok for summer, but the hole is too big for the winter winds and i am absolutely ANAL about the dogs when winter sets in. I'm out there putting boards up and turning boxes away from the wind every time it shifts. Our knotheads also like to jump on top of their boxes and if the roofs aren't snapped down tight on the current ones, they just fall in two pieces. Thanks guys for the ideas.

[TrevorR]

Bev, Call Cross Roads Hobby Shop In Russell Springs Ky. (270-866-5262) This fella makes some dog houses made of 2 sheets of aluminum with a heavy sheet of polyurethene sandwiched in the middle(aircraft aluminum).
He will travel to most of the hunts in Ky. Cost is in the area of $55 which is almost cheaper than building houses out of wood and these will out last a wood house. And they have flip up tops for easy cleaning of bedding.

[Bev]

Trevor, do you have the fellow's name? Thanks again!

[al]

Bev, if you insulate the ceiling it will be alot cooler in the summer.My boxes are off the ground and they are double plywood interior t-1-11 outside with 3 inches of foam between.I build them with a windbreak inside and make sure the ceiling is low to keep in the heat in winter.If you have a dog that scratches try a piece of counter top for the floor,it is also great for welping pens,its easy to keep clean. Al

[ant]

bev: how did you make out?

anthony

[Bev]

ant, I got 8 boxes from Crossroads and they are a dream to maintain. They are flat roofed with just enough pitch for run-off and the hounds love perching on top of them. They are light enough to move around myself, are on 4" skids to keep them off the ground, and the lids are hinged for easy cleaning. I have 2 per kennel and rather than installing doors I'd have to remove in the summer, I've put them two at a time so the doors are facing each other with just enough room for the hounds to get in and out. It makes a perfect windbreak for them and they stay toasty. In the summertime, I'll just move them apart and put them side by side.

[ant]

cross roads have a web address or e-mail?
anthony

[dachswalker]

I like the truck dog boxes made from the same material as the Cross Roads boxes so appreciate the sharing of info as I plan to give them a call. I have had good luck with the white 55 gal. plastic barrels which polyurethane in foam insulation components come in. I cut the door 3 or 4 inches up from the bottom which aids in keeping the straw, cedar chips or other bedding material from being dragged out by the pooch. Be sure and cut the door on the opposite side of the bungs as they may be taken out to aid in cooling for the summer. The white is cool in the summer and real easy to clean and durable enough that the dogs can't chew it up. Usually they can be found for $5.00 or so each.

[Bev]

Thought I'd share a tip that was shared with me by another beagler. It saved our fannies up here in cold old Indy. In December I whelped a litter in the house, but as you know, you're ready to move them out at about 3 weeks old (I am anyway). We moved mom and pups into an above-ground kennel and placed a double shop-light directly underneath the box, pointing up and the guards touching the floor of the box on the outside.

We paid $20 at Sears for the light - it has two 250-watt bulbs mounted on an adjustable tripod. When you put your hand on the inside of the box floor it's nice and toasty to keep their bellies warm, but not so hot they would need to move off of it. The two lights side-by-side distribute the heat evenly on all of the floor.

[joakes]

For my hounds' Igloo I made him a heater. I took a lamp kit that I bought at Lowe's and mounted it inside of a 3lb coffee can. Then put a 1lb can over the bulb to block off most of the light and to retain heat in the cans and as not to project the heat directly on the dogs. I attached it thru the vents in the top of the igloo. The "heater" hangs high enough in the top of the igloo that the dog wouldnt get to it. I tested it over night to make sure it didnt get too hot it was fine. It got down to about 2 degrees here and the dog didnt want to come out of it. It works great and I dont get so worried about him being cold and bringing him in the house. I used a 40 watt bulb. The cord to power it is run thru schedule 40 pvc pipe. Just wanted to share my idea.