MagiKelly Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Sam my Rotty is a year and a half now and the original plastic outdoor house / kennel I got her is getting past its best. A bit chewed and just not up to the job. Sam is in the garden during the day when I am at work so I don't need a run as such, just a place for her to shelter from the rain and cold. I looked at a lot of solutions and was really taken with the K9 Kondo idea http://www.k-9kondo.com/ of a barrel converted into a kennel. Now since I am in Scotland my mind did not take long to turn to the idea of a whiskey barrel. A few minutes on google and a couple of phone calls got me in touch with a cooperage less than a mile from my work in Glasgow. Used barrels are £25 for a normal and £40 for a large. I went for a large one. Getting it home needed the help of a friend with a van. Converting to a kennel was easy. I used a chainsaw to cut the opening. I drilled holes at the back to allow some through ventilation. I used some zinc roof ridge to make a porch overhang and I had foam kennel flooring just the right size for the inside. The wood of the barrel itself is at least and inch and a half thick so well insulated on its own. I have the barrel up on some stumps and have painted the front. So all in it cost me just the £40 and it will last a lifetime. Sam loves it although I have left her old house out for the moment as the new one still smells pretty strongly of whiskey. Not sure I want to come home to a drunk Rotty . In the winter I may add a swing door to help hold the heat a little but it really is not needed and I want to let it air as much as possible at the moment. Some pictures. From the front showing the inside and insulation. The string in the middle is tied through the bung hole to hold the floor insulation in place. From a slight angle. The barrel is about 4 foot long and three foot diameter at the middle. and with Sam inside. Note she could be quite a bit further back into it if she wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besty57 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 looks the dogs ********. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETO Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) I know of a farmer up in Scotland that keeps his working collies in these types of houses, quite fancied a few for the garden myself Looks fab! Bet it's loads better than the dog igloo I see you have. I've got one, but it's only used when Louie eats as he takes his food in there to keep away from the dogs. Absolutely useless otherwise. Edited October 18, 2012 by ETO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 looks spot on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagiKelly Posted October 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Bet it's loads better than the dog igloo I see you have. I've got one, but it's only used when Louie eats as he takes his food in there to keep away from the dogs. Absolutely useless otherwise. Sam has used the igloo since she was a puppy. I had it in the house when she was a puppy and her bed was in it. So by the time it went in the garden she was used to it as a place to sleep. She uses it any time the weather is poor but she is getting a bit big for it. And she has had a chew at it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettguise Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 A cracking idea that mate looks the muts nuts. Lovely looking rotty as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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