Cold pup??..

[Charlie007]

Our black lab pup is now 14 weeks old, and as she is going to be a gun dog my OH insists she stays in her kennel at night! She has a raised bed, lots of quilts and blankets , no draughts. She has a heat lamp but we are reluctant to use it yet, but will if we have too. She comes out of her kennel in the morning stretching and yawning, so we don't think she is getting cold? Is there anything else we can do to ensure she is warm enough?

We don't have this prob with JRT as she sleeps in our bed!!

 

[Foxyfilly]

Poor baby, I'd soon tell him where to go and have her in the house.

 

[millimoo]

Poor baby, I'd soon tell him where to go and have her in the house.

I'd second that...... she's only a baby.
My mums neighbours have a gun dog, and he lives in the house no probs.

Seriously though, if she has to be kennelled can't you wait till she's bigger.
If you have to have her outside, I had a heat pad for my Labrador pup when she was tiny (and she lived in the house).
It's a round disc that you put in the microwave, and fits into a slot on the 'My first bed' made by Danish Design - Robinson sell them.
I used to come down in the morning and it would still have heat in it.

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/search.asp?keyword=heat+pad

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/product...ed&utm_term={keyword}&utm_campaign={campaign}

 

[Booboos]

Why does a gun dog have to live in kennels? (this is not a criticism, just a genuine question). Personally I would feel a bit bad 'favouring' one dog with a cosy place in my bed and leaving the other one alone in kennels. Any chance you can get another gun dog to keep her company?

 

[jsr]

Does she have enough blankets and duvets that she can snuggle in? If so I'd guess she's fine. If she starts dropping weight or showing signs of real relucance to go in the kennel of an evening I'd reassess but for now I'd say she's fine. Bringing her in is of course what we'd all really want but she needs to get used to the routine at a young age if that's what you'll be doing with her in future. Obviously when it starts getting proper winter then I'd pop on the lamp but unless you want to invest in expensive fleece coats (that she'll soon grow out of) I'd ensure you have duvets she can get under and see what she tells you.

 

[Vizslak]

Theres nothing wrong with dogs living out in kennels and I doubt she is getting cold, they soon get used to it from a young age and a lot of dogs prefer to live out. Although I have to say I'm a little confused as to why your OH feels because she is a gundog she needs to live out?! There is no reason why a working gundog cant be a house dog and family pet as well...there is no benefit to keeping her out if this is the only reasoning behind it.

 

[NicoleS_007]

Id say she'll be fine with a comfy warm bed, which sounds like she already has. I got my Irish terrier pup at 9 weeks on halloween and she lived in a kennel with a huge cushion and blankets and she was super warm.

 

[mollichop]

I'd be putting the heat lamp on by now. Also, I couldn't sleep at night with one dog knowing a pup was out (i'd be smuggling her into the bed) but i'm soft on my gundogs and they do sleep on my bed.

14 weeks is very young and labs are not a particularly 'coated' breed.

 

[k9h]

If the kennel is draught free & she has blankets then she will be fine. Honest!

I wouldn't want to put a coat on her as that will stop her from growing an outside dog coat, rather than a soft inside coat.
We do pamper them too much & put human effection on to them.

Ok yes my gundog does in live the house, purely because I have no outside with this house. If I did she would still be in! But that is just me! As I only have one at the moment. If I had a team of them (which is my which & long term plan) When I win lotto to buy house with land they will have kennels.

Though saying that when I got her I was else where) & she was 8 weeks old & lived in an outside kennel at night. Came in house when we were in but out a bedtime.

Crickey we expect them to work all day in freezing cold rain, snow & frost. As long as they go to bed dry, that is the most important thing.

Start as you mean to go on, do not confuse the poor mite!

Oh & have fun with her!

 

[Charlie007]

Thank you for all your comments!! My OH has been listening to all of his mates that have gun dogs and they all live out etc etc!! If it was my choice she would be in bed with us aswell!! If the weather does take a turn for the worse she will definately be in!! To be honest she loves her kennel, is happy in there and we have decked it out so no draughts etc. Our JRT is quite jealous of her so by putting lab in kennel at bedtime the JRT gets her house back and her routine is not interupted. Just trying to keep dogs HAPPY!!