dog house bedding

[trappnman]

on the subject of cold dogs-

I've tried about everything over the years for maximum warmth- and that comes down to maximum bulk or fluffiness or whatever you want to call it-

trouble with straw, hay- it packs down, breaks-down and looses its fluffiness and insulating qualities

same with shredded newspapers (actually not a bad bedding but a pain)

I finally settled on wood chips- smell good, stay fluffy longer than anything, can be messy, but a lip on the house door takes care of most of that-

swinging doors are easily learned to be opened by the dogs-

even one way doors on the outside of the house, they get their noses under the lip and open them in less time than it takes to type this

best hanging "door" I've ever found is old rubber blankets from offset printing presses- almost indestructible-

I'm also a big believer in multiple dogs to a house-

comments?

[musher]

I like straw. I add more as it's needed.

During the warm months I don't have any bedding. Too many bugs and too much moisture. But my dogs are on earth. If they were on cement I might have a different view.

Doors don't last. Flashing on the sides of the houses doesn't last. Edges of roofs don't last. The dogs chew too much.

[ruff]

I use marsh hay not as stubby as straw as it's more grass like. Change it out every two to three weeks or more if it's wet out. Nothing in the summer as most times the dogs are laying on top of the house anyway. My houses are just big enough for the dogs to get in and turn around in to help hold heat.

Here's the plans I use to make my houses and for a insulated house I double up the walls and roof then put some styrofoam between the sheet's of plywood. If you use treated wood make sure it has no arsnic in it if your dog chews. I just use exterior ply and with good paint last for years.

[irnhdmike]

After trying everything I prefer wood shavings. Nothing in summer. Sure a few stick to dogs and end up uotside but you gotta muck them out anyhow. Don't compress and hold water like straw. Used to get cedar shavings at local mill but hard to come by now. Multiple dogs is a plus. Scott one way doors that dogs flip open from outside been on there for 20+ yrs. Replaced springs once.

[Jason Cox]

I use cedar chips like said hard to come by they make the dog smell good for the trip hunting and keep them warm hold up good.But even in the summer I keep some in the house I was told they help keep the tics off I don't know if this is true but thats what I do.

[braveheart]

Use to use straw also went to wood chips.

[jmchitekrednek]

I have been using wood chips or shavings for years. Seems to stay in the box longer than straw and doesn't get matted down. Easy to clean out also.

[KRJ]

I use an old chest type deep freeze for a dog house. They are insulated and have a nice hinged lid on top for easy access to add or remove bedding. You can also put a light in there for the real softies. A simple 60 watt bulb will make steam roll out the opening, when there is a dog in there. Right now I only have a piece of plywood on the floor so my Airedale doesn’t have to sleep on the steel floor. She still prefers to sleep out side unless -20 degree wind chills.

[musher]

I use a 4x8 sheet of plywood, cut in half, as a roof. The dogs are always on them and they provide shade.

I some dog houses by checking out abandoned ones. Often a guy has a dog, it dies, and the house just hangs there. I offer to take it off their hands. Usually I give them $10. I do so even if they offer to give it to me.

When I make a house I do it from rough cut boards. they cost me the price of sawing the log. Sure there are cracks but the goal of the house it to break the wind and to keep the dog dry. The coat of the dog is what keeps the dog warm.

I always seem to have a dog that sleeps outside no matter what. Some of them just curl up regardless of the weather. I had a malamute that would sleep on it's back even in the coldest weather. It looked like it was sunbathing! It only curled up to get away from the flies.

The chest freezer is a neat idea but it must be ugly as sin in the yard.

Plastic barrels are big with some sledders. I find that they are too hot in the summer.

[trappnman]

Don't compress and hold water like straw

agreed-

Scott one way doors that dogs flip open from outside been on there for 20+ yrs

my experience as well

[northof50]

When you can't find shavings the horse tac shops sell big square bales of shavings 1/2 ton bed size. when there is a lot of cedar in them, the horses's turn their noses up and don;t take them. Cedar does have an natural insecticide in it, but, just like humans , dogs can become very allerigic to the smell. It will deture fleas from continuing their life cycle in the bedding of cedar chips.

[clayman]

cottonseed hulls.

[Cal Taylor]

Grass Hay seems to the best I've found. Straw is hard to find here so I just went to using the same hay I feed my horses and nobody's froze to death yet. Just keep adding a little at a time for a month or two, then change it. I use a little in the summer for something softer to lay on. I use it in my pickup dog box too.

[trappnman]

yes, agreed- grass hay far better than alphafa hay.

Cal, give the wood chips a try. any feed store has them- a big bag is under $10, and lasts a long time- never seen anything wick off the moisture (here thats a concern, dogs always going in wet it seems) like they do, leaving the top layers dry.

[redsnow]

You know, one time I tried maple leaves, dogs loved em, but didn't last long. Packed down mess after a couple weeks, but free. Anyone ever try pine needles? I'm out of outside dogs now, but I could always fill 3, maybe 4 dog houses with a square bale of straw. Not sure?, 30pounds or so? At $3 or so, every 6 weeks, that's not bad. I did like to keep something in the box, even in summer, seems big dogs will get scabs on their elbow/rump, a little worse if you don't.

[musher]

I'm not certain about the needles.

Sap could be a problem as could the dog poking itself. I sure would not use spruce needles or balsalm fir!

A bed of needles can be really cozy when you're sitting on them, though.

[sagecreek]

I use wood shavings now and grass hay when I can get it. I used to use straw but hard to find here. I to have house just big enough for dog to get in and turn around. I use old canvas for door in the winter and take them off in the spring. Also have 1'' foam for insulation in the sides ,floor and roof. Mel

[John Porter]

When I had my sled dogs in Maine, I used straw. Now here in the south, I use cedar shavings for my squirrel dogs. Just built a raised kennel for my Mountain Feist to see how it would do. So far, myself and the dog is really happy.