Purchasing dog kennel - recommendations?

[ifitsnotanarse]

Ddog needs to stay outdoors on the days I work and so needs a kennel as cannot afford a doggy walker/visitor on top of childcare costs.

Despite looking online I am none the wiser on best choice - wood, plastic, hinged lid, door flap, proper door. And how would I insulate a kennel as those that come ready insulated are out of my price bracket?

I would much appreciate any advice offered.

Leaving a dog outdoors all day ,all year is not a very sensible option not only is the dog likely to get cold / wet ,it will be at risk of being stolen ( even from the most secure garden) and is likely to disturb neighbours by barking . why can't the dog stay indoors ?

I think you need to look at other solutions as leaving a dog outside in a kennel all day is really not appropriate for all the reasons Floral gives.

How long will he be alone each day and how many days a week?

Not meaning to be rude, but not really the help I was looking for. My situation requires a kennel for 1-2 days a week.

Even with a good and expensive insulated and waterproof kennel, with winter approaching you will need some sort of safe heat source/lamp for the dog to keep warm in possible freezing temperatures. This will not resolve the other real issues of security and causing a nuisance to your neighbours.

I would be very surprised if you will find advice here in the form of a kennel to leave your dog outdoors all day as very few posters will support that, but you might find alternative advice for your situation if you are open to it.

For leaving outside all day...you need a proper insulated secure kennel with an attached run.

They start at about a thousand pounds.

Sorted, thanks.

BTW question for those that leave their dog indoors all day while they work - where does the dog wee & poo? We can only leave the dog indoors for a short time (4 hours max) without her wanting to use the garden, and obviously it is not good for a dog to be holding on all day as that can lead to cystitis etc.

I don't leave my dog home alone all day whilst I work and if I'm out I make provision for a family member to come in at lunch time to see the dog . How does your dog manage to hold on overnight or do you only sleep for 4 hours ?

If you have to be out all day you send your dog to doggy day care. You don't leave it all by itself for the whole day. And a dog that's used to being indoors will probably howl all day if left outside. Not only will it irritate your neighbours but it will alert any passing chancer that your dog has been left unattended. I really wouldn't do it. Either pay for doggy day care or have a dog walker at least pop in and walk it.

I don't leave for longer than 4 hours without arranging alternative care for the dog - it's not even about toiletting, my dog will happily go for much longer than that when I'm in without asking to go out, it's about meeting their social needs.

Our lab is home alone 3 days a week 10am till 2:30pm at the latest. Walked for at least 40 mins off lead before, usually with other dogs who are getting a run in our local field after school drop off. If we are out the house any longer we get a dog walker.

Never had a problem with wee/poo and he's never particularly anxious to get out when we return. When I'm in the house during these hours he just sleeps anyway after his run.

Hope your "sorted" isn't a kennel but an alternative more dog friendly solution.