Cave/igloo beds

[Hackback]

I was thinking about beds for keeping our two outdoor GSD pups (now 6 and 9 months) warm in winter. They were both born and bred outdoors and they sleep at night together in a small shed that we converted into a kennel. Currently they have a self heating bed, a waterproof mattress and lots of vetbed, but I was thinking that an enclosed bed would give them extra warmth, especially if they snuggle up together. Turns out they are a thing but there don't seem to be many for large dogs. Can anyone recommend one? The base doesn't have to be too thick - I'd rather layer up and be able to wash than have a huge thick thing that won't fit in the washing machine.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Never seen a big one, I’d love it, dogs might not, they all seem to run hot. Will you have a heat lamp for them?

 

[Sandstone1]

Surely they will need some kind of heater/lamp ?

 

[Red-1]

Our GSD used to sleep in an outbuilding. We bought him a lovely wooden kennel (which would have been suitable for outside) for inside the outbuilding, then we double lined it with insulation and a material flap over the door. He had another bed outside the kennel, still in the outbuilding, so if he felt too hot he had choices. He seemed very comfortable in there, but then he was mostly only in there overnight and it was a brick outbuilding.

As he got older, he migrated into the house anyway!

 

[Clodagh]

We have dogs that live out. A well insulated kennel and a duvet and blankets work. (You can get waterproof duvet covers). We have heaters in them but have never turned them on yet.

 

[Clodagh]

I have bought cave beds for 2 different dogs and neither would go in them, just on them!

 

[dogatemysalad]

Our dogs used to sleep in the indoor yard when they were younger. I put their bedding inside a cut out large cardboard box to stop any drafts. They didn't like it until I cut the roof off and lowered the sides.
All dogs are different, by maybe try an improvised homemade version before you invest.

 

[Hackback]

Thanks everyone. No, no heat lamp planned - I've never had outside dogs before, but our (separate) friends who bred the pups don't have them for their dogs, so I hadn't even considered it as an option.

Brilliant idea to use a cardboard box dogatemysalad. I could put all their bedding inside and I bet it would be just as warm as an igloo bed. I'm loving that idea.

 

[fetlock]

If anyone is in the North East,I have the daddy of all cardboard boxes which I think would be perfect for a large dog indoor den.

a pre assembled office chair was delivered in it. I only still have it because I think only a saw would get through the cardboard.

only reservation I have at its suitability for a dog is it has large staple things in it.

 

[Moobli]

Our sheepdogs all live in purpose built kennels. One block has insulated dog cabins within the covered run and we fill them with straw in winter. An extra large cabin filled with straw inside your outbuilding might work well.

 

[Moobli]

Boxes are like this.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Following this!!

Just got a pup (dachsie) and the only igloo-bed I could get to keep the little guy warm was a cat one - made of fabric which I rather suspect will get ripped to ribbons at some point.

Am like OP; looking for solutions for when little man gets older and he'll be down in the yard a lot.

 

[Marnie]

Bunny lives out during the day, she has a large-ish run (approx 3x6m) that is attached to my big stone walled coalshed (about the size of a garage). It has coal and wood on one side. She has a wooden insulated kennel sitting out in the run, an open basket with a fleece bed and a dog crate covered with carpet with a cave bed inside it that are inside the shed - she therefore has a choice of beds depending on how cold it is. At the moment, she seems to spend most of her time in the wooden kennel - or sitting on top of it!

I bought this 'cave' bed https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000VBPEMW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I did find some larger ones, but Bunny is only little so I didn't need them - for example https://www.amazon.co.uk/XWanitd-Me...st+washable+92+68+72cm+a+,pets,80&sr=1-1&th=1.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Following this!!

Just got a pup (dachsie) and the only igloo-bed I could get to keep the little guy warm was a cat one - made of fabric which I rather suspect will get ripped to ribbons at some point.

Am like OP; looking for solutions for when little man gets older and he'll be down in the yard a lot.

P dog has a domed cat bed at the yard in the hay store. I also have a crate in there too with a std soft bed in it.
The crate is on top of pallet on the floor of the hay barn and when it gets v chilly, I swap in the domed bed into the crate, often accompanied (if a v cold day) by a towel wrapped, 2 litre hot water bottle (milk container). She's quite elderly now, so am not worried about possible chewing. Crate is always open as I can close the bottom door on the hay barn to keep the worst of draughts out - means she can potter about if she needs/wants to.

 

[L&M]

I have bought cave beds for 2 different dogs and neither would go in them, just on them!

We had the same experience, a rather expensive mistake! We eventually adapted it by cutting the roof off and just let them have it as a large round bed.......