EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Over the years I have worked on winter housing for my dogs, and wanted to share this here for anyone it might help to take better care of their dogs in the cold.

I use a standard plastic barrel, built up a pad so they are a little higher than the ground. I drill a couple holes at the back of the barrel and stake them down with re-bar facing south. Then cover with dirt, 3 feet in the back and sides at least a foot on top. Fill with straw or coastal hay. Going to add some type of canvas door flap as soon as I can get some material but worked great as is.

First true test last couple days. Blizzard up here in the panhandle. 24 plus hours of winds 30-60 mph out of the north, ice pellets and snow most of the time. Wind chills zero and below last 24 hrs. Dogs were real quiet all night with gusts to 60 all night. When I checked this morning they were warm to the touch and in great shape.

This did not cost much to do, but you do need a front loader if your doing very many. I have been taking care of hunting dogs for a very long time and this works better than anything I have ever tried.

Thanks, Paul T



(http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah155/ocrossranch/Doghouse%201_zpszdqog9r6.jpg) (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/ocrossranch/media/Doghouse%201_zpszdqog9r6.jpg.html)

(http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah155/ocrossranch/doghouse%202_zpsdagsqpyk.jpg) (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/ocrossranch/media/doghouse%202_zpsdagsqpyk.jpg.html)

(http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah155/ocrossranch/doghouse%203_zps0cvzx0no.jpg) (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/ocrossranch/media/doghouse%203_zps0cvzx0no.jpg.html)

That is a man made den. It should work great. Only thing I can think of that might be better is fixed so it had a 90 degree turn from entry into sleep area. Entry tube maybe 3 feet long. Then you wouldn't need flap and the dogs would be a lil deeper in mound. Excellent idea regardless.


Shotgun
Arkansas

that looks like it is warm...I was just looking at the weather report and Lubbuck is a cold place right now...thanks for posting...

we had record highs and it just started cooling down Yesterday evening...

I done a few the same way im liking it
(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag33/cwscott18/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12/20151208_173940_zpskfwyes4j.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/cwscott18/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-12/20151208_173940_zpskfwyes4j.jpg.html)

I cut my doors differently than yours, I cut a 7 or 8 inch wide door about 13 inches tall, the edges of the vertical cut goes all the way to the edge or radius of the barrel, this leaves a trap for a good deep layer of bedding in the bottom- then cut a lick tub in half vertically and lap the open end about 6 or 7 inches over the doorway in the barrel and screw it down, this makes a good porch that keeps water from blowing in on them and would help keep snow from blowing in as well. I cut some 2" X 2" pieces of the doorway I cut out for washers or reinforcement and put one over the lapped part of the lick tub and one inside the barrel at every screw point "usually about 5 screws" then grind the protruding screw off so as not to stick a dog. Have not buried them but that would be a great insulation and stabilizer.

Can you post a picture?


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(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/Lisa-34/hogs/image1.jpg) (http://s111.photobucket.com/user/Lisa-34/media/hogs/image1.jpg.html)


(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/Lisa-34/hogs/image1%201.jpg) (http://s111.photobucket.com/user/Lisa-34/media/hogs/image1%201.jpg.html)


(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/Lisa-34/hogs/image1%202.jpg) (http://s111.photobucket.com/user/Lisa-34/media/hogs/image1%202.jpg.html)

There are also a couple of 4 x 4 blocks screwed to the bottom of barrel to keep it upright but they would not be necessary if you were covering it with dirt.

Gotta be livin in fairly dry country or they would be a bugger to clean wet bedding out. Not hatin just lookin at it from wet country. 

Why is bigfoot standing next to your plott hound sir?

 ;D :)...is that a plott or mt cur? he is a good looking dog...

It has rained 9 inches in the last couple of days with some high winds and inside that barrel was absolutely bone dry-but if hadn't been you could turn it over with the blocks up and the top of the door down whack it and stand it on end to get the wet bedding out.

It is a Plott

Old round bale of hay, Bigfoot won't get near those dogs. 

I cut my barrels in a very similar fashion to the Old Man.  I think this keeps a lot of moisture out, bedding in and probably keeps dogs warmer.  In the original picture posted, I believe the little bit of snow that made it's way into the barrel would have stayed out if the square opening was cut like the Old Man showed.  I also used 4 x 4s at one point, now I take a 2 x 4 (about 6 FT) and screw it to the back of the barrel near the ground, this keeps the barrel from rolling.

Old Man, I didn't mean yours but the buried ones.

Ya'lls dogs are smarter n mine, if i put that porch out front for em, they'd chew it up in a week.. Guess i need a better quality pack!

That's a great idea thanks for posting it.

Wonderful idea and thanks for posting!  If i can add 1 thing I think it would make what you have done even better is if you faced the door of the dog house east because after the northern comes in and cools things off eventually the south winds come to warm things up but there is still that 12 to 48 hours where its very cold outside with a south wind ... thats why IMO facing the dog house East is better than South

Great job though

I've seen used chest freezers used as whelping dog houses. Stick a light bulb in it and the puppies stay warm.
I'm getting ready to build some houses out of walkin freezer panels. 4" thick foam with aluminum sheeting on the outside.

Buddy, that is an awesome idea. I have a big old deep freeze that quit working, hadn't figured out just what I was going to do with the thing.

I used to use an old freezer for dog house, I turned it on its side, only problem was keeping hay or shavings inside, would have to build some sort of wall or such to be able to keep the bedding in.

Drill screws through wood