Puppy won’t leave bedding in kennel?

NicolaAllOver

Hi all,

I have a 7 month old lab who sleeps outside with my other two dogs - problem is, he won’t leave any blankets or bedding in either his kennel, or the other one. They all sleep together in the one big kenne anyway, but with the cold weather creeping in, I’m getting worried.

One of the other dogs is 12, so he’s quite old, and the other is a 1.5 year old corgi, who’s epileptic.

Our lab has pulled out EVERY blanket, sheet and bed we put into the kennels, even when my dad nailed a blanket in he tore it to shreds and pulled it out. But in the house, he sleeps on blankets and dog beds just fine.

Has anyone got any tips on how to solve this? I feel like he thinks it’s a game when he gets in trouble for pulling the blankets out, but it’s not fair on the other two.

Knine

To be honest a 12 year old dog should not be sleeping outdoors. The dog with epilepsy? How do you monitor him if he is sleeping outside? What happens if he has a fit? He could go into status or bite one of the other dogs.

The easiest solution is for them all to sleep indoors.

NicolaAllOver

Knine wrote: »

To be honest a 12 year old dog should not be sleeping outdoors. The dog with epilepsy? How do you monitor him if he is sleeping outside? What happens if he has a fit? He could go into status or bite one of the other dogs.

The easiest solution is for them all to sleep indoors.

Our 12 year old dog has a thick coat and deemed fit as a fiddle by the vet to be outside, cold weather or not. Until the vet says otherwise, he’ll be outside as he doesn’t stay easy or quiet indoors.

And the corgi, his medication has been regulated and he has a vet check every 2/3 weeks. He’s only been outside the past three months since we were told by the vet there was no reason to keep him indoors. He can be given the same life as the other two, only less exercise. Our eldest dog barks if he thinks there’s anything wrong with him, and someone is always home to check. He’s been fit free with his new medication thank god!

Knine

As someone who has a dog with epilepsy I am sorry but I do not agree. They need to be much more closely monitored then outside on their own at night. Levels of medication have to be constantly adjusted throughout their life and often the first indication you get is seizures.

You have no idea what could happen during a bad seizure. What happens if he bites one of the others or they get a fright and attack him? The old dog deserves a bit of comfort at night.

If my vet gave me that advice I would be changing vets.

Zapperzy

All arguments of sleeping indoors or outdoors aside, our old dog was a blanket humper. He had a kennel outside and given any opportunity he'd pull the blanket/bed/cushion out and hump it. What we did was get one of those round hard plastic beds, put fleecy blankets into that and then place the whole thing into a pillow case. It was a tight enough squeeze that there was no give in it but still comfy for him. He was small though so fitted nicely into it. No matter how much he tried he could never get the blanket out of the pillow case.

Perhaps a single duvet cut in half and stitched half closed might do the same trick? Failing that a bale of hay. You'd probably need to watch for mites with hay.

Is the kennel well insulated for the winter? Is it big enough that you could install a red lamp in one corner that they could lie under if cold?

cocker5

OP - do you have heat lamps installed?

What beeding do they have?

Blankets / duvets aren’t ideal due to getting wet etc.. the kennel should be completely insulated .. and with plenty of vet bed for heat and dryness...

Do you place hot water bottles in with them in the winter?

Is the kennel raised off the ground? If not it should be.

I have to say OP I’m quiet saddened to hear a 12 year old dog outside and in your words.. out in the cold or not

My guy 13.5 and I wouldn’t even dream of having him outside .. he sleeps beside the radiator

And an epilepsic dog outside? Seriously?

bertsmom

One way of getting the bedding left in the kennel is to put it out there and leave it there, then bring your 3 dogs into the house to sleep in comfort! Seriously an elderly dog and a sick dog and you just want to leave them out in the winter. Genuine question but why have 3 dogs if you don't want them in your house?

alroley

You're letting an elderly dog, a puppy, and a dog with epilepsy sleep outside? Sorry but that's not okay. Why even bother getting dogs if they're just kept outside?

For the record, one of my dogs used to not want any blankets in her bed. She'd always pull them out no matter what we tried. But she lived inside so it wasn't much of a worry.

DBB

Folks,
Can we stick to topic please? I understand that there are strong opinions on both "sides", but I think those who disagree with keeping dogs outside have made their point now.
If you can help the op with their enquiry, post away. But no more of the dogs inside vs outside debate please.
Thanks,
DBB

tk123

I think cow mats have been recommended before if you do a search?