Cold weather kennel bedding - Page 1

I have recently moved from FL to NC and am wondering what the best choices for dog house bedding are. Hay, pine/cedar chips or something else? Dogs are working dogs and will rip apart dog beds, towels and destroy heating lamps etc...

Thank you all
Melissa

The warmest place would be in the house with you if they can possbily stay in your house that is.

I have 2 female and 1 male shepherds in the house. These 2 females get along but do not with any other females. I also have a female mali, another female shepherd a male mali and a washed out labrador I'm trying to find a home for.

Down in FL I did not have to worry about cold weather. I had an air conditioned dog building for the hot that the dogs were brought in during the summer. I don't have my dog building up here yet and it's getting chilly.

The dogs that I have are young dogs and are in training for K9. It is a very small training operation with 6 kennels, only 4 in use right now.

I'm just asking what everyone else uses in outdoor kennel facilities. Have not had to even think about this until recently.

Thank You
Melissa

Hi Melissa, do not use hay this molds, good clean straw is good insulation, there are many well constructed dog houses on the market.
Always,
Cee

Ok, at the risk of feeling utterly lost and a complete idiot, what exactly is the difference between hay and straw??

Melissa

Hay is what animals eat (dried grass). Straw is what they lie on (dried grain stalks).

Hay or straw -  either will mold if it gets wet.  It will get wet (either hay or straw) so you need to change it out fairly regularly.  I use hay simply because I have it for my livestock (to eat) so it's avaialble.  Straw is fine too.  Bed it down, then the next day or two bed it down again - the dog will move it to the sides and squish it down, keep it thick and make sure it's dry.  I also put a layer of pine wood chips underneath (or on top, it will sift down to the bottom) to help keep everything dry and provide a layer over the hard bottom.  More important than bedding is no leaks and the door facing a wall or otherwise preventing drafts.

molly

molly

Straw doesn't do a bad job as an insulator, but if you feed raw (esp. chicken) you might not want to feed in the kennel, because the straw or woodshavings will stick to the food and be consumed.

I use straw as well with good success but my dogs come inside below 40 degrees.  Also in NC...

Unfortunately I don't have the option of bringing them all inside. I should be getting my dog building set up fairly soon, but until then I'll have to make do.

Thank you for the suggestions!

Melissa