Recommend a good dog kennel.

Coopaloop

Hi everyone,

I need to get a good dog kennel, I have two dogs, a golden retriever and a dalmatian/retriever. They sleep inside at night time and come in when it rains, or when we are away for an hour or so, it's been fine for the summer so they have been out playing most days. However, we have a toddler and a baby, and the toddler loves them too much so it's getting a bit crowded in the kitchen when they are all out there, and I'd love to get them a nice warm, cosy kennel that they could go into when it rains, rather than bringing them in all the time, especially coming into winter when it's more likely to rain.

We will still take them in at night, so it's just a daytime thing really.

So could anyone recommend a kennel supplier, that makes them big enough for two big dogs, and nice and warm, and waterproof.

Thanks in advance.

aonb

Coopaloop, I would put ANY money on with you if you think for one instant that your two dogs are going to go into a kennel in the garden, when they have been used to coming in to the house/kitchen with you all.
They will sit at the door, soaked to the skin, looking in at you, while the "cosy kennel" sits empty and unused in the garden
Have you got a utility room, that you could at the very least put them into, with a child gate at the entrance to keep them contained?
The other option, and much better for both dogs/humans, would be to buy a big dog crate, few blankets in there, and put in the corner of the kitchen - at least they will be contained, and also handy when crawling baby and toddler are underfoot too.

Coopaloop

aonb wrote: »

Coopaloop, I would put ANY money on with you if you think for one instant that your two dogs are going to go into a kennel in the garden, when they have been used to coming in to the house/kitchen with you all.
They will sit at the door, soaked to the skin, looking in at you, while the "cosy kennel" sits empty and unused in the garden
Have you got a utility room, that you could at the very least put them into, with a child gate at the entrance to keep them contained?
The other option, and much better for both dogs/humans, would be to buy a big dog crate, few blankets in there, and put in the corner of the kitchen - at least they will be contained, and also handy when crawling baby and toddler are underfoot too.

Yeah, I know. You're totally right, that will most likely happen.
We do have a utility room, but it's not big enough for them. I hadn't considered the crate option.

See they are happy out the back garden all day playing, and then going for their walk everyday too, atm they have a bed out the back which they happily sleep in (when it's not raining, then it's taken it with them) and then at seven in the evening they are in for the night (obviously with toilet breaks).

They love being out there, it's just when it rains we bring them in as we don't want them getting soaked and then destroying the house when they're wet. In hindsight it's something we should have gotten them used to from when they were pups. Live and learn I guess.

Vizzy

Would you, could you build your own.

I have a Vizsla and a German Pointer.

These are pics of one of my two kennels.
About 3ft X 4ft X 3ft tall.
Built on a wooden frame, covered with cladding and fully insulated(so,cool in summer and warm in winter).
I have since added a plastic flap at the front to stop rain blowing in and a foam bed(covered in tarpaulin) to keep them nice and snug.

aonb

OP, if they are happy being outside all day, sleep outside in their bed, and their routine is to come in for the evenings, it might be worth a try to get a kennel then!
VIZZYs set up looks ideal for two big dogs. Might be a handyman/DIY type available locally? Worth checking out...

I remember when we had very big dogs years ago, we had a Wendy House type thing, that the 3 dogs moved into (they were house dogs but it was USA and in the summer it was HOT) - the local kids used to go into the play house for picnics with the dogs I have a wendy house here that is used as a temporary coop for new incoming hens in a temporary run. So have a think - you'd be surprised what you can upcycle!!