My family is getting some dogs - three - and ultimately perhaps five. This is a good thing. I’m wondering though about dog houses. I can certainly use Dogloos. But, is there a better idea? The three or five are larger dogs but they all get along well.
What would you do for dog housing?
Our weather gets cold, windy and snowy.
So, nobody has a good plan for a doghouse for multiple dogs. I saw a plan I liked that has a house on a concrete slab. The house and exterior slab is covered in plexiglass so that the dogs have an inside area that is warm and an enclosed porch. These dogs will then have access to inside through a dog door, but I’m sure they will spend a lot of time outside as well and want something really nice for their outside hours. Another option is a straw bale house like DELTA rescue uses. Previously when I had dogs, the lab mix wanted to be outside more, especially at night, and the aussie wanted to be inside more, especially at night - absolutely opposite. I want these dogs go have the option of either, just as the old ones did. I already know that of the three, two will want to be in more, and one will want to be out more so I have to provide for both preferences.
If you’re looking for plans, why not PM Tom King?
I know you say the dogs all get along well, but maybe consider having at least two dog houses in case one dog decides to make it his personal living quarters.
You are right about the extra house for anyone’s private moments - there will always be a couple of Dogloos around. One dog will come here with her “safe place” house, too. She uses it for her hideout, but even then she shares that special house with the other dogs, so I was hoping that having a bigger house would work better.
Tom King always knows about these kinds of things - he’s a wealth of information on everything from wells to pool tables!
We used SIPS panels to build a dog house for the Great Pyrenees. You could put clear plexiglass on a part of the roof for warmth/light too. Ours just had a wood floor.
Thanks. I will look into the sips panels. That sounds good.
If they have free access to the indoors, why do they need doghouses? they already have a house. Most people only get doghouses for dogs who aren’t allowed in the house.
Sometimes dogs actually spend time outside! LOL Perish the thought…
As I said, my lab mix always wanted to be outside at night. My other dog at the time, wanted to be inside at night. I want them to have a choice. I know these dogs pretty well, even though they aren’t mine yet, and I’m pretty sure that two will want to be outside quite a lot. So, do I make them come in for a comfortable place to be or do I provide them with the option of being outside in a warm place or coming in? just making them choose between being inside or outside without protection seems a poor option to me. It seems a simple concept to me - they can choose. It’s easy enough to provide them both, and kind of fun to make something cool.
So, other people who allow dogs to come inside don’t have dog houses? Funny, I always have a dog house for every dog whether they use it or not.
I’ve never had a dog house, but my dog(s) have typically had a doggy door and could go in/out as they wished. My dogs really are indoor dogs. They love to be outside but they sleep with us. So I really don’t have any suggestions, but I like the idea of a dogloo compound! Post pics!
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