Outdoor kennels

[Fools Motto]

Does anyone keep their pets (non working dogs) in kennels outside?
I've lost the will to live regarding constantly cleaning up dog mess (both dogs take it in turns to randomly mess at the moment), and am thinking of options.
They sleep locked in the kitchen and I will have to leave the door open at night while we're at home despite it getting colder. A dog door isn't an option as it's patio sliding doors, and OH doesn't think house insurance will cover if someone comes in through a dog door?
I just want house trained dogs!! I'm not sure what the problem is of late, but I'm into month 3 now of messing, having previously been not too horrendous for the past 18 months. Dogs are spaniel (who usually has slightly dodgy tummy at the best of times) aged 6, and whippet x bedlington rescue aged 3 having previously been brilliant in the house. Something happened the day we visited my brother in August, and neither have been right since. Both have seen the vet, the spaniel was put onto some antibiotics which helped for the duration of the course. The whippet thing got a clean bill of health.

 

[laura_nash]

Lots of my neighbours keep their pet dogs outside, not allowed in the house. I don't think I'd like it, but the dogs seem happy enough. They spend a lot of time with their owners during the day.

 

[neddy man]

Loads of farm dogs and working dogs live out in kennels and runs quite happily

 

[Umbongo]

I don't see any huge problems with it. You may need to introduce it gradually so they can get used to it? You may need to consider ways of heating the kennels in the winter? I imagine the whippet would get pretty cold. Otherwise have you thought about enlisting the help of a behaviourist?

 

[Fools Motto]

I really don't think it's behaviour, its their diet. I'm doing something wrong but I simply don't know what it is. I keep thinking they're picking up things out on walks, or someone is giving them something I don't know about. I've often thought they're producing more poo than the food they are having, the spaniel is getting fatter! Their poo is often loose - I envy owners with who clean up hard dog poo!! I've got fruit trees in the garden, I blame the fallen fruit too - although no evidence of much eating it.

 

[Clodagh]

We are getting kennels put up for future dogs, although the existing ones will stay in.
Even if you only use them at night and when you are out, they’d be a blessing. The dogs can still be in with you when you are at home.
I know you’ve had ongoing problems with the spaniel, I wonder if stress started it and now it smells and seems right? Someone on here took up their carpet in the end, and it worked!
But yes I think kennels are a good idea, if you can install good security.

 

[Clodagh]

I really don't think it's behaviour, its their diet. I'm doing something wrong but I simply don't know what it is. I keep thinking they're picking up things out on walks, or someone is giving them something I don't know about. I've often thought they're producing more poo than the food they are having, the spaniel is getting fatter! Their poo is often loose - I envy owners with who clean up hard dog poo!! I've got fruit trees in the garden, I blame the fallen fruit too - although no evidence of much eating it.

Have you tried feeding very little?

 

[Fools Motto]

They only have access to carpeted area when we're here - in theory to help keep it clean - it didn't work yesterday - poo while we were in the same room! (arhhh).
I'm certainty stressed!! lol

 

[twiggy2]

Do the dogs have upset stomachs when they poo in the house? I would want to find out why it was happening. Also if antibiotics helped then I would consider campylobactor and giardia. The spaniel with the dodgy stomach may have food allergies also so it might be worth trying a 3 month trial of something like purina HA, my lurcher has allergies to most things but the HA means a clean house and has been amazing for her.
I would consider crating at night for a while to see if they are then clean, I have found that sometimes recreating the habit of being clean is all that is needed but its rare for clean/healthy dogs to then start messing in the house.
I know of dogs who are out and about with their owners all day and in the house with them in the evening but are in kennels when unsupervised, the digs are fine but do need winter heating, not all dogs settle to them though and my lurcher doesnt like the kennels, she will go in for a day quite happily but if you try to out her in again on frequent occasions then forget it.

 

[TGM]

As above, I do wonder whether giardia has been ruled out - can give them loose poo.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We used to keep ours in an 'outdoor room', insulated and plastered walls with window, previous owner had kept his radios in there and presumably spent a lot of time in there himself .. Dogs had a big straw bed. There were 7 of them, though so plenty of them to keep each other warm. They were always in the house when we were, except at night. When the dogs were elderly , they stayed in the house all the time, When we got the Rottweilers, we decided not to use the kennel but to keep them in the house, they were crated overnight.
I would be very concerned that the behaviour has changed, OP, and want to get to the bottom of the cause rather than just mitigating the effects. I would, however, try crating them as a temporary measure to save all the cleaning up.

 

[Boulty]

If they are still loose with it then would discuss sending faecal samples to lab with your vet for both dogs. If that comes back clear of nasties maybe long term pre/probiotics or I know they're not generally well thought of but Hills do a veterinary food called biome that is specifically designed to help clear up diahorrea. Think Purina may do something vaguely similar (or if not they do a product called fortiflora that is quite good). The other road to go down if you think there's something in current food they're allergic to would be to see if you could try a hydrolysed protein diet eg Purina HA (others are available) & if that improves things you could try switching to a hypoallergenic single source protein diet & see if improvement maintained.

If you're not keen to get vets involved at this stage then you could just try either a hypoallergenic diet / one aimed at sensitive tummies & see if that helps plus probiotics (pets at home sell a range but most you have to order online I think)

If you do manage to improve their poo & it's still happening then maybe a behaviourist to see if they can help break the cycle?

 

[Squeak]

I would consider crating at night for a while to see if they are then clean, I have found that sometimes recreating the habit of being clean is all that is needed but its rare for clean/healthy dogs to then start messing in the house.

I would try crating as well, we've got one dog who was a rescue and was so used to just going anytime that she was very very hard to house train and the crate really did help.

Otherwise you are able to put a dog flap into a glass door as my friend did it and you could check with your insurance company if they would still cover you for theft.

 

[SusieT]

If both dogs then it is probably lifestyle and behavioural - so things like walking them on a lead so you know they aren't eating anything else , a behaviourist input as it sounds like you are possibly missing cues they need out and feed timing may be worth looking at.
If you do build runs you will need to heat them and consider how to make them dry all year round (condensation is an issue with shed type buildings) - go and see a few ' in action' .

 

[Errin Paddywack]

One of mine had an ongoing dodgy tummy and when it was bad she did sometimes mess overnight. She would periodically get a grumbly tummy and be off food for a day. I started her on a supplement called Canine Prime and have been totally amazed at the improvement. I stopped it for a while as finding it expensive and problem started to come back. Have just restarted both dogs on it since the young one's episode this weekend and it is making a difference again. Need to buy some more.

 

[planete]

I would strongly suspect giardia especially as you say a course of antibiotics helped. I had a foster pup with it and prompt treatment with strict disinfection of anything in contact with the dogs with a specialist disinfectant solved the problem in a couple of weeks. She was put on a course of antibiotics plus probiotics. if not handled properly reinfection will keep happening. Once better a bland diet with slow reintroduction of normal food will help.

 

[Antw23uk]

Two dogs previously house trained and now not is a big red flag! What are you feeding them?

I know i bang on about it, probably too much, but feeding a RAW/ BARF diet really is a step in the right direction. In this case i would want both fully vet checked, but if all clear, then a behaviourist to support you breaking the 'habit'

We've always said, if a pet dog needs to live outside in a kennel then its not worth having one. I guess that's a rather naive way of thinking, especially if they are just in them whilst you arent at home but it just doesnt sit right with me, never has.

 

[SusieT]

Feeding a raw diet just increases the risk of more parasites. If you must recommend a non commercial food at least cook it. There is no reason not to cook it.

 

[deb_l222]

I've no idea about the kennels but just wanted to recommend Royal Canin sensitive. It was recommended to me by my vet for Chester who was perpetually loose from day one. No other health issues at all, just a sensitive tummy.

He's now Mr Perfect Poo 99% of the time but any slight deviation onto other foods sets him off again. I have however found out he can tolerate apples, bananas and carrots

 

[Goldenstar]

Feeding a raw diet just increases the risk of more parasites. If you must recommend a non commercial food at least cook it. There is no reason not to cook it.

Not to mention salmonella.
I had know some who bought a raw fed puppy who never thrived it had chronic salmonella .
Change of diet load of treatment and a very severe clean of the house cars etc and all was well .
It certainly put me off the raw thing .

 

[Goldenstar]

Dram was a picky sensitive pup food wise .I tried a few foods but he’s best on Canagan .
I think you should try changing the diet .
I think you could look at adjusting feeding times and exercise times .

 

[PurBee]

Are your dogs getting access to a compost heap with food kitchen scraps included? Mine was travelling daily secretly slinking off to my neighbours to rummage through the compost heap which is just a loose uncovered heap in their garden.
One day i caught her! sloppy poops in house started. gurgling stomach etc.

Despite being 100m away my dog can smell the gone-off human food additions to their compost pile. ? luckily i cant!

Sounds like someone is giving food too - for one to be putting on weight noticeably. I dont know your home/garden set-up but try to restrict their freedom if they can currently roam. My dogs would eat poop from wild animals…all sorts…many ways for them to get dodgy digestion and cause indoor pooping. Restrict their access to be only within sight of you at all times for a few days and see if the pooping indoors stops.

 

[Antw23uk]

Not to mention salmonella.
I had know some who bought a raw fed puppy who never thrived it had chronic salmonella .
Change of diet load of treatment and a very severe clean of the house cars etc and all was well .
It certainly put me off the raw thing .

Feeding a raw diet just increases the risk of more parasites. If you must recommend a non commercial food at least cook it. There is no reason not to cook it.

Im sorry to hear you have both had negative experiences of a RAW/ BARF diet. I think for every negative story told there will be a lot more successfully feeding their animals a natural and healthy diet away from the commercial 'junk' food convenience foods available.

 

[Goldenstar]

There are quality commercial dog foods available..

 

[skinnydipper]

Feeding a raw diet just increases the risk of more parasites.

Explain, please.

If you must recommend a non commercial food at least cook it. There is no reason not to cook it.

Definitely do not cook raw dog food containing bone.

 

[Moobli]

If both dogs were previously housetrained and clean in the house I’d definitely recommend trying to find out the cause of the regression before housing them in kennels. First step would be an MOT at the vets for both dogs and testing for campylobacter, giardia and coccidiosis if appropriate. Then exercising them on leads for a while to make sure they aren’t scavenging. What food are they on? If the spaniel is putting on weight you may be over feeding so drop their intake by a little and go on the condition of the dog (not by the feeding guideline on the food). Crating them at night may also improve the situation. Obviously make sure they’ve both had a chance to empty themselves before bed (some dogs prefer a walk and won’t just go in the garden).
Our working sheepdogs are all kennelled but they’re acclimatised to it and grow thicker coats. I wouldn’t want to kennel two older dogs who are used to home comforts, especially with one being a lurcher type who tend to really feel the cold.

 

[Goldenstar]

Can you fit one of those dog pens into the kitchen for night time the smaller the space the nastier it is to make a mess .

 

[Clodagh]

Where you say the spaniel is getting fat, is it a bloated tummy or overweight all over?

 

[On the Hoof]

Just to note that if you are testing for giardia, you really need three negative tests over a period of about 6 -10 weeks to be sure its negative because shedding is intermittent, with two dogs they could just be reinfecting each other. My vet was shocked when my dog proved positive on the second test two weeks after a negative test as she was convinced that my dog did not have giardia. I do hope you can get to the bottom of this behaviour change , it sounds like a real nightmare to deal with.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Im sorry to hear you have both had negative experiences of a RAW/ BARF diet. I think for every negative story told there will be a lot more successfully feeding their animals a natural and healthy diet away from the commercial 'junk' food convenience foods available.

My aunt took on a former breeding poodle bitch from a breeder that she had a long association with. The breeder always fed raw food, aunt continued the practice until the bitch was taken ill. The vet's first instruction was to stop the raw feeding. I can't remember the actual diagnosis but I d oknow that the bitch had a couple of courses of anti-biotics before she was cured.