Kennels - plastic or wooden better?

rok

Any recommendations on Kennels or what websites to buy from?

Our labrador sleeps indoors at night and can come indoors during the day through a dog flap.
We want to get her a kennel so she can stay outdoors during the day and keep the rain off.

Are plastic or wooden kennels better, e.g. which are warmer/less stuffy?

The websites seem to have kennels for 1/2 the price of our local Pet Superstores.
So far we have found ..
www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_houses_flaps/dog_houses
www.petplanet.co.uk/dept.asp?dept_id=619
www.petconnection.ie/acatalog/Kennels.html

Think we will start buying her Royal Canine dog food online also as theres good savings to be made compared to the shops.
Is it possible to buy wormers / Frontline online also?

corkimp

wooden kennels tend to be warmer - just make sure the roof has a cover - maybe something similair to felt (or along those lines) just to ensure water doesn't get in. Also be sure lid/roof isn't loose - heavy winds can lift the roof a bit, frightening the dog if its inside. Although plastic has its good qualties too. if all comes down to what you see as the pros and cons.
My gsd had a habit of nibbling on her box - mind you was when she was a pup lol.
not sure about the frontline online...let me know if u can though!!

Sigma Force

Have both, I don't use either much now converted the shed by just inserting a doggy flap. But I found them to be pretty much the same although the plastic ones are easier to clean, they both tend to let a lot of wind and rain in unless you get a dog igloo or the like with a flap on it. If there's no flap it will let in rain even if you have it facing a sheltered spot.

The igloo is good in a way because the dog can go around the corner of the igloo even if it's windy and so offers more shelter. But I'd buy the biggest one possible I bought I Think it was medium but although the collie fits in it not much room to stretch. For a lab I'd go at least one size larger than recommended.

If going for timber shiplap is warmer.

Have a small Barna one and can't get a flap for it, it lets in a lot of water and unlike the igloo it can't drain out.

Blueprint

I got my dog a kennel for staying outside on nice days - he's literally never used it once! Partly to do with the fact that circumstances changed and he was never left even halfway alone (I was expecting he would use it while I slept as I worked nights), him finding his voice and hence annoying the neighbours if I left him and also him having no desire to be left outside on his own.

However, it did serve admirably as a kitten house (indoors) for the first six weeks of my cat's lives until they discovered that the dog's bed was nicer than theirs!

You can buy Frontline online from a variety of different places, the last one I got it from was these guys: http://www.medicanimal.com - they do free shipping over a certain amount.