How to keep the poochies warm during winter, when one dog has a habit of chewing things

ThithLord on 15/06/2017 - 09:51

Hi everyone,

Living in land, outer Brisbane. I've got two pooches - a full sized Dachshund and a slightly smaller Terrier of some sort. They sleep outside in a wooden Kennel, with a raised raised floor, that fits them both - the Kennel has a lid for the roof as well, so there's easy access. At the moment I have a thick towel that drapes over the entrance (with a small gap for entering/exiting) to help keep the cold out, and a thickish wool blanket that I throw on the floor of the kennel for the doggies. Sometimes if I'm feeling generous at night, I'll fill a hot water bottle and throw that in the kennel and they love that.

The blanket has holes everywhere cos when the day warms up, the damned Sausage dog loves to drag it out of the kennel and chew it! So sometimes he drags it out, it rains, and then they have nothing else to sleep on when it gets cooler again.

So I'm wondering: how do OzBargainers keep keep their dogs warm during winter? Has anyone had similar issues of a dog that likes to chew their bedding?

Having them indoors is out of the equation because they get restless and sht and pss as they please.

Thanks for your help!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Cheap Charlie on 15/06/2017 - 10:22

    Do as the kiwis do, get all close and cuddly with your dogs. Then when they least expect it, slip a dog coat on them.

    • ThithLord on 15/06/2017 - 10:57

      LOL - if we put a coat on the Terrier, the Sausy loves to latch on and chew her coat. He's a right little sh*t.

  • chrisd262 on 15/06/2017 - 10:25

    My dog is always inside - I use a crate to ensure they are not a problem.
    Greatest invention ever easily found on Ebay

  • try2bhelpful on 15/06/2017 - 10:32
    +2

    I don't have dogs but I was wondering if you got a bit of foam and cut it to the shape of the floor of the kennel and then attached some upholstery material, or old blanket of towels on it, then attached it to the kennel so the dog can't drag it out whether that would make them comfortable.

  • Cheapo333 on 15/06/2017 - 11:06
    -2

    Please don't screw the pooch.
    Thanks.

  • psyren89 on 15/06/2017 - 11:09

    Use a tarp instead of a blanket?

  • djkelly69 on 15/06/2017 - 11:18

    Electric dog bed and extension cord?

  • Randxyz123 on 15/06/2017 - 11:20

    We have slab heating so my dog sleeps inside she has a area outside the powder room where she had abed and a blanket.

    With all due respect, unless they are less than a year old, why do they shit and piss everywhere inside? Are they not trained ? Never had s dog that couldn't make it through the night…?

    • ThithLord on 15/06/2017 - 11:30

      That was an exaggeration - the Terrier takes medication every day that has weakened her bladder greatly, so she will often sneak out of bed and wee somewhere.

    • try2bhelpful on 15/06/2017 - 11:30

      Also they are small dogs so putting in a dog door would give them access out during the night. If you have a laundry, with an external door, you could do it that way and then you can shut the door so they can't get to the rest of the house. Again a couple of mats would probably work OK for them.

      • ThithLord on 15/06/2017 - 12:43

        Double doors - screen door and wooden door, unfortunately. It's a small laundry outside; definitely won't be feasible to have their kennel in there as there's also an outside toilet.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/06/2017 - 14:04

          You could probably prop the screen door open, but it probably still isn't feasible. Not sure about your backyard but just wondering if a small shed might not be feasible - you could put a door into it and you wouldn't need the towel to cover the entrance and then you could give them a couple of dog beds for them to snuggle down into. Just wondering if you have bought a Kong for the chewer. Apparently if you put some sort of meat paste in them they keep the dog amused.

  • ohsotight on 15/06/2017 - 13:32

    Get some coats for them from K mart or the Reject shop. Keeps our little puppy warm. Its about 10 bucks. Its waterproof as well hence great for walks. He doesnt seem to mind it either.

  • 2jzzzz on 15/06/2017 - 14:58
    +1

    Similar problem I have. I'm in Melbourne and we are heading away for 5 weeks in July. We have organised for someone to come to our house to feed our pups in morning, then back for a quick play through the day and back a third time to feed them. At the moment, we've had them inside at night, but the 2 previous winters they've slept in our outside garage in a crate with cushions. My idea is to buy 2 kettles and have the sitter boil both jugs and put water in a hot water bottle each. Is there any other heating source I can give them that can run over night safely? There's a chance they could chew any bedding, but a heater that they can't access behind the crate cage is an option.

  • ms_caz on 15/06/2017 - 19:37
    +2

    We have a high density foam mattress which is slightly larger than the size of the floor of our kennel. It once used to be part of a caravan mattress. It is about 3 or 4 inches thick, and we have covered it in a double layer of shade cloth (wrapped the whole thing up like a parcel and stitched up the seams using baling twine).

    Because it is so thick and tightly wedged in, it is difficult for my two labradors to drag it out and have any significant chewage. The nylon shade cloth is also not satisfying for them to chew into because it doesn't tear (easily). They have had a bit of a go at the corners of the mattress, but it is certainly not anything they can drag out and haul about the backyard, like a blanket or towel. In the past I have tried to carpet the dog house and have nailed the carpet to the floors and up the walls , but this didn't work as they managed to pull it off the nails, and once an edge was loose, it was fun to grab more and more of and eventually remove to the garden.

    Because our kennel has a removable lid, it is easy to take the mattress out completely, turn it over or rotate it, sweep out the kennel, flea treat it etc (and retrieve old chewed bones). In summer time we can hose the mattress off with a bit of dishwashing detergent and air dry it.

    • ThithLord on 16/06/2017 - 07:32

      Thanks for the advice - that sounds very feasible and workable.

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