What does everybody think of kennels?

[Romanarama]

When the weather warms up, I thought it might be nice for our golden retriever to be in the garden with a kennel when we're out, rather than in a crate inside. It would presumably be a bit less boring and he would be able to pee and poo at will. The previous tenants have left a fenced area about 3x3m where they had a kennel, though there's no real reason for him not to have the run of the garden, which is completely fenced, except that he eats the plants.

What do you think of kennels and dogs being outside? It wouldn't be that difficult for a thief to get in up the bank at the back of the garden and over the fence, but it would have to be a well-planned dog theft as hardly anyone could actually see him in the garden. I think it's a very small risk.

The biggest problem I can forsee is overheating in the summer, but this can also happen inside, and there are plenty of ways to prevent it. Is the enclosed area slabs or dirt? Slabs can get very hot in the summer (burnt paws), and dogs like to dig in the dirt to cool off. But even if it is slabs, it should be fine as long as you provide plenty of shade. You could even extend the fenced area to include some grass, or get some of that artificial stuff they use in kennels. Our two labs have a doggy door from the kitchen so they can go out into the garden whenever they please (there's no access to our house through the back so no risk of theft - would have to be a pretty brave theif anyway!). The only problem with this is the mud all over the kitchen floor every day . They spend 90% of the day outside, even if it's raining.

Another thing to consider is the mess he might make of your garden - we've had to give up on our swamp grass now, and have decided to get the garden half slabbed / half pea gravel to cut down on the mess. They get two good walks a day on grass and/or the beach, so I'm over my initial guilt at leaving them grassless! They actually hate the mud anyway, and walk round the garden using the path most of the time, so I think they'll prefer it. They only seem to like the mud to roll in!

These kennels are great, as they stay cool in summer and warm in winter, and are pretty tough. You can also get beds to fit them. Do you have an outside tap? If so you can get a contraption which attaches to the tap and gives them access to fresh clean water all day (almost like a rabbit water bottle), which would stop him going waterless if he tips his bowl up.

Here is said contraption

I personally would not use a kennel.

The garden has to be extremely secure - a bored dog can get through anything.

Also many dogs are stolen from gardens.

Temperature is a concern to me too hot too cold.

You would have to check all is safe for the dogs eg remove poisonous plants etc there are 100s.

Also when I leave my dogs it is their time to rest so I prefer them to be slightly restricted (eg one room) so they can rest and chill.

We are seriously contemplating a kennel for our new pup. DH's parents live in french alps and most dogs seem to live outside there. My feeling is that if they can cope in those kinds of weather extremes (snow for much of winter and hot & sunny most of summer), then they should be okay in the UK too

I am very new to all this dog related debates but my gut feeling is that surely a dog would prefer to be outside during mild spring/autumn days and warmer summer days ?

I think there's a big difference between a dog that lives outside, in a properly constructed dog run and kennel, and putting your dog in the garden with a kennel while you go out.

I wouldn't leave my dogs in the garden - I don't think it's any less boring being outside than inside: if a dog gets bored it's because it lacks company and/or toys, not because it is indoors.

Dogs do get stolen from gardens - frequently. They also get hypothermia and sunstroke, even in the UK.

Thanks for the links MrsL but despite knowing next to nothing about Bella and Minimu, I wouldn't even consider leaving my dog outside in a kennel if they think it's a bad idea, so that's the end of that plan

Oh but bella, it's much more fun to dig up mud than lino

Seriously though, I think it depends on the dog - mine would go stir crazy locked in the house, and given the choice they prefer to spend most of their time outside. They don't even come back inside when it's raining, they like to sit out under the trees so if they were given a kennel, they would probably rather use that to snooze in than come in the house. But I still wouldn't be happy locking them out for a long period of time, as I like to know they can come inside if they want to. I'm also lucky that I can be 100% sure nobody will ever take the dogs, as there's no access to our garden at all from the back - we're in the middle of a terraced row with houses backing directly onto our garden, so there's no access at all unless someone climbs several fences and runs the gauntlet past about 15 big barking dogs and numerous nosy neighbours! I'm not sure they'd still have the doggy door arrangement if we were less secure.

Do you spend a lot of time out of the house, or is he only left for short periods? Could he not be let out of the crate (i.e. given the run of a whole room) when you're out, before trying the kennel? The problem will come when the weather turns bad again, there's no way he'll want to go back to his crate after a summer of freedom, and you don't want to be locking him outside in the snow and ice.

Sorry x post, forgot to refresh my screen before replying!