Keeping a dog inside?

Dog breeds all differ, just as people differ. Housing your dog depends on many factors, such as your lifestyle, your dog breed and the amount of room you have to spare.

For those who dont know me, my name is Sue Walton, and I am a professionaly accredited Dog trainer and coach. This article shares with you some of my top dog housing tips, but for my best secrets and heaps more info, you need to visit my site on dog training tips, which has a huge section on choosing and siting a great kennel/dog house. 

We can start by looking at which dog you have. Housing your dog largely depends on its requirements to stay safe warm and dry.

Toy varities, by the virtue of their petite size, make brilliant house pets. Many owners of pet breeds such as terriers, shitzu or maltese are happy all the time provided they are trained well!

These little breeds respond well to the home environment, providing they know their place! You’ll probly find that a matt or a doggy bed aroun the size of a cat bed will suffice for these small breeds.

Keeping them in garage or washhouse could be ideal, given that the dog feels safe and it has a little area of its own. Dogs after all, are very territorial by habit.

As for larger dogs, such as medum sized terriers, boxers and terriers, you will find that having them inside gets tedious or irritating. Not just for you, but for your dog too.

They need spacious areas that the outdoors gives them.

In addition, you need to think about the size and space you have for housing your dog.

If your garage is dry, cosy and there is not to much junk, it may be a great place for your dog to be, if however its full of stuff and your pet has to live in a corner where it cant make its own space, it will become irritated.

For those who live in small residential apartments or similar, you have to be very aware of how your dog will react with neighbours or strangers. Many dogs dont take to kindly to being housed where other people can annoy them and irritate them.

Youve also got to think what sort of breed requires what sort of housing type.

The breeder will have sussed you out before selling a dog, to see if your home suits that breed, however some people often come across dogs in other circumstances. Do plenty of research into your chosen breeds living requirements. A lazy bulldog will surely be happy with a corner of the yard and little space, but you try and keep a livly species like a retreiver in a small back yard, and you will drive the poor dog crazy. Active dogs like the working breeds, need room and shouldnt be kept in small areas.

If your in this situation, and have a yard space for your dog to be housed and run around in, at all costs ensure that the fence you put up or have, is in good order and is very secure. Consider that your pet must not get out, but also consider if anything else can get in the yeard. Cats, other peoples dogs and children are good at getting into places where they are not supposed to be, and this can lead to problems!

Housing a dog also has situational requirements. Think about the climate you live in and where you will site your kennel. Will it be cold? Windy? Directly sunny? Consider all these factors when siting a dog house in your yard or chosen space. Insulated kennels might be required if the place you live is frosty or snow prone.

Obviously, in this scenario a wolfhound will be happier than a pointer, so apply common sense about the breed your dealing with. Pay attention to hot climates also, because this can affect them very rapidly.

Dark paint on that kennel might suit your house, but will it cook your dog….? As far as getting a kennel goes, now days there are greatitems that suit many lifestyles and designs. Moulded plastic ones are popular but be warned if your dog is a chewer!

Avoid fibreglass kennels like the plague, as the glass can lead to pain and discomfort for your pet. Wooden ones look awesome and have lots of style and practicality. If you can afford a nice wooden kennel, go for one!
My best dog housing tips, and some great examples of kennels and enclosure designs can be found at my dog resource page on housing your dog. Check it out, and the rest of my site www.dog-hobbyist.com