dog bedding

[johnny]

my new lab keeps eating his bed so I want to put him on straw or hay whats the best way ie is it best to raise the bed or have it on the kennel floor. its sounds a daft question but is there a right and wrong way

 

cheers

 

john

[new to the flock]

Johnny

 

I find it best to raise the bed off the floor. I personally use plastic 50gallon barrels with a whole cut out of one end, leaving a 4 inch lip all the way around the barrel. This keeps the straw from being kicked out as they get in and out of the unit. I raise the barrel at least 4 inches off the floor on stands that the barrel fits into, I cut mine out of 1 inch plastic board but 2x6 or 2x10 works well. Lag the barrel to the stand and drill a couple of drain holes in bottom, and you are done. These beds last for years, do not rot, or break down, clean easy, and are very cheap to build. They are also very warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If you are worried about winter, you can also add a pet door to them.

[squarnog]

i dont recomend straw mate,it will give you loads of problems like mites etc etc,plus staw will tend to sweat after so long,beleive me i've tried it.loads of hassle.theres a company up in scotland making dog bedding called the tuffie . have a look friend and let us know what u think. www.tuffie.com.

[new to the flock]

Straw is really not my favourite either. The bedding that I like using the best is cedar shavings., not the dusty kind out of a bag, but the great big ones that you get when you plane down a board, you know the kind that are 2 to 3 feet long. I find that these have a good insulating value, keep the dog dry and warm, keep the dog smelling great and help to eliminate ticks and fleas.

[mossy835]

mine just sleeps on a wooden floor in the kennel iv put beds in for him he just eats them up so i gave up been like for over a year now seems happy enough

[Hardy]

What about using the shavings that go into stables as horse bedding? Not tried it for dog bedding but our little terriers like playing in them whenever they get the chance!

 

Big sackful costs about £3 from any horsey supplies place (countrywide sell them too - or at least they do in Oxfordshire)

[HAMMY]

NTTFlock,

Do you put any kind of door on the barrel, is the barrel in a shed or external on it's own?

 

 

Hammy

[new to the flock]

Hammy sorr for not posting earlier.

 

If the dog barrel is for a lighter coated dog, such as a pointer then yes put a door on it if it is to be outdoors. If for a heavier coated dog, such as a Siberian Husky no door required, or if inside a shed out of the wind no door is really required.

 

Dan

[HAMMY]

Thanks, I use them for my terriers and put a plastic flap on them, out doors I think it helps to harden them up. Whilst I don't want to be cruel, I don't like to Mamby Pamby my working dogs.

 

 

 

Hammy