Overthinking kennels

[Clodagh]

So I finally have kennels and Pep and Scout slept out last night, all was quiet.
During the day they go in separate ones as they have kongs. At night I put them in together. It’s a big kennel and the platform bed is big enough for two, but I also put another basket in so there there was more than enough space.
I’d like them to share, it’s warmer and friendlier for them. OH would prefer them to be separate as it’s easier.
What would you do?

 

[FestiveG]

If they get on well, then I'd have them together. I see it as pack animals need to be able to interact.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would separate TBH. Especially if you don't know if you're hanging onto her or not.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

While I understand CC's point, I would want them in together. Scout is still a baby, he will need the security of being with an older dog in a new situation.
I don't understand why OH thinks separation is easier.

 

[Clodagh]

Well separation it is, it turns out spanner had peed on the ground level bed and as we can’t see if she’s letting him on the raised bed they will be apart tonight. She comes from a set up where she had to fight her corner, she’s not aggressive but very assertive and he’s a big goofy baby.
It is a shame and we might revisit coming into winter (or if he is sad on his own).
It’s easier as you often only take one out for training or exercise and you don’t want them too hooked on each other.

 

[twiggy2]

Its a bit late but I prefer all ours in separate kennels, other half used to have them in pairs and feed ab lib but some never got to eat a relaxed meal, in separate kennels they can eat straight away or leave some for later (we have one that does this) also not all the dogs are clean and I like those that are clean to benefit from it rather than having someone else's mess about,

 

[Moobli]

The only ones who share a kennel here are litter sisters who are just pups. Once they’re mature they will probably be separated (but all our kennels have runs where the dogs can see each other). I know some kennelled dogs share without issue but there’s the possibility of fighting, resource guarding etc and, when you aren’t there to observe it all the time, separating is the safer option.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

We'd get no peace if the youngsters were in together. They have had separate crates for ages. They don't seek each other out to sleep together except when we're all bundled on the recliner at night.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We'd get no peace if the youngsters were in together. They have had separate crates for ages. They don't seek each other out to sleep together except when we're all bundled on the recliner at night.

Whereas our litter sisters have been in the same crate since day one, as were the Rotters (double sized crate for them). They have really noticed it while yellow has been recovering from her spay op, because we separated them to protect the wound/stitches, even though there were crated next to each other. When we kenneled, up to 5 dogs shared one space, with no issue but they were always fed in the house. Hounds are kenneled in multiples.

 

[Clodagh]

Whereas our litter sisters have been in the same crate since day one, as were the Rotters (double sized crate for them). They have really noticed it while yellow has been recovering from her spay op, because we separated them to protect the wound/stitches, even though there were crated next to each other. When we kenneled, up to 5 dogs shared one space, with no issue but they were always fed in the house. Hounds are kenneled in multiples.

It wouldn’t suit me to have dogs so fixated on each other. I like that mine want to be with me more than with each other. They are only kennelled part time, so get lots of interacting with us and each other. I know the kennelling for these is new but they were in separate cages until now.
Hounds are a bit different as they work as a group.
And ETA they have plenty of arguments in their lodges as well.

 

[druid]

Mine are seperate. I have an older neutered male who is "nanny" to new pups but at about 5 months they're solo. They can see dogs either side of them but have their own space. I will ocassionally double up if I have a lot of visitors/training dogs in and need the space but try avoid it.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Whereas our litter sisters have been in the same crate since day one, as were the Rotters (double sized crate for them). They have really noticed it while yellow has been recovering from her spay op, because we separated them to protect the wound/stitches, even though there were crated next to each other. When we kenneled, up to 5 dogs shared one space, with no issue but they were always fed in the house. Hounds are kenneled in multiples.

Mitch winds up Goose. He’s a morning dog, Goose is very much not. I think there would be serious noise/destruction if they were together. He’s past the solo destructive stage, hopefully.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Mitch winds up Goose. He’s a morning dog, Goose is very much not. I think there would be serious noise/destruction if they were together. He’s past the solo destructive stage, hopefully.

Not a problem we have ever had, fortunately. Several years ago, we did have an older Lab and a younger Lab cross, both spayed bitches, who didn't get on well. Se we let the older one sleep in the house with the other older ones and left the younger one in the kennel with 3 oo 4 others.
The current ones are not fixated on each other but do like someone to cuddle overnight.

 

[Clodagh]

Well it’s Scout that is peeing. He was alone last night and his bed is awash. Do you remember when we first got him he peed in his bed all the time? It must be anxiety related.
As he was the same with or without Pep he can stay on his own and have very washable beds and hopefully it will wear off.
I will also put an old towel in the run to provide a soft surface.
Poor little man!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Poor Scout!

 

[Clodagh]

Poor Scout!

He’s one of life’s worriers!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Did Scout come from the same place as Pepper?

 

[Clodagh]

Did Scout come from the same place as Pepper?

No. I bought him at 5 months.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Not a problem we have ever had, fortunately. Several years ago, we did have an older Lab and a younger Lab cross, both spayed bitches, who didn't get on well. Se we let the older one sleep in the house with the other older ones and left the younger one in the kennel with 3 oo 4 others.
The current ones are not fixated on each other but do like someone to cuddle overnight.

We had one very destructive dog, Brig’s brother, Jake. He ended up with a bit of carpet nailed to mdf as a bed, everything else was pushed/pulled out of the dog flap and thoroughly destroyed.

Well it’s Scout that is peeing. He was alone last night and his bed is awash. Do you remember when we first got him he peed in his bed all the time? It must be anxiety related.
As he was the same with or without Pep he can stay on his own and have very washable beds and hopefully it will wear off.
I will also put an old towel in the run to provide a soft surface.
Poor little man!

Do you think he’ll get used to being in kennels? If I tried it with mine, I think there’d be howling. They’re used to the back door being open: we shut them out because they were too hyper yesterday after ‘only‘ seeing the dog Walker-twice-all day. You’d think we’d made them homeless, the looks on their faces!

 

[Moobli]

Was Scout raised in kennels before you bought him Clodagh? I’m sure he’ll settle. Can he see Pepper when they’re both kennelled?
My two would likely be confused if they were kennelled, at first anyway, as they haven’t been in kennels since I collected them from the breeder. Despite me thinking it would be a good and sensible idea to get them used to being in one for short periods of time for use in emergencies I never have ?
I was seriously contemplating taking on a Labrador that I was offered and keeping him in kennels but I know I’d just fret so I’d end up with another big dog in the house so decided against. Could Scout live inside permanently if he doesn’t take to it?

 

[Clodagh]

He doesn’t howl, he bounces in there quite happily (well there are food bribes involved!). He can see Pep when they are in the run but not when he’s in bed. He couldn’t see the girls in the house when he was in his cage.
He was dry last night anyway, so hopefully he has adjusted to the change. Come winter I will probably put them back together ( so I only have to run one heater ?).
Yes he was raised in kennels and no he isn’t coming g back to live in the house. ?

 

[Moobli]

He doesn’t howl, he bounces in there quite happily (well there are food bribes involved!). He can see Pep when they are in the run but not when he’s in bed. He couldn’t see the girls in the house when he was in his cage.
He was dry last night anyway, so hopefully he has adjusted to the change. Come winter I will probably put them back together ( so I only have to run one heater ?).
Yes he was raised in kennels and no he isn’t coming g back to live in the house. ?

Sounds like he’ll be absolutely fine then. And of course with Pep being spayed they can happily stay together without any oops! Springador pups ?