We're in the process of building better houses and exercise areas for our lab ladies.
We're Building sturdy insulated houses for each of them, with removeable roofs so I can do a thorough cleaning as needed. They'll be 4' x4' square and 30" tall inside so they'll be able to move around easily but still keep warm. We want to fence in an area connected to their houses where they can run a bit and be together (since they've always BEEN together) and still have their own space. The houses will be a duplex so if they seem to prefer it, we can pull out the dividing wall and let them room together. The houses will each have a bit of a "front porch" so they can lay out on it under a roof if they choose to and will help keep rain/snow from getting in. The houses will face south with our own house as a windbreak to their north side to protect them from the north wind, and deciduous trees to the south to give them shade in summer.
The plan right now is to give them each an 8' x 16' run with a dividing fence between the 2 so that when we want to put the pups out to play and exercise, we can keep them separated. Once the pups are gone, if the dams seem to want to be together we can remove the dividing fence or simply create an opening in it for them. Does this sound like it will be big enough?
Sadly, At 5 yrs of age, neither is housebroke or has any house manners at all, so they're destined to be outdoor dogs I'm afraid. They both enjoy coming in to visit, but are eager to get outside again once they've had their fill. I'm used to having my dogs live indoors and go out only to exercise and go potty, so this is against my grain, but given their history, it's what they know and seem to prefer. If they are to be out, we want them to be out in as much comfort as possible.
They will be in a small building that used to be a laundry when welping and nursing. It's got more room for me to be there with them and has water, elect and natural gas going to it, so can be heated and such. The work we're doing now is for the dams themselves, and an exercise area for the pups when they're old enough.
We're Building sturdy insulated houses for each of them, with removeable roofs so I can do a thorough cleaning as needed. They'll be 4' x4' square and 30" tall inside so they'll be able to move around easily but still keep warm. We want to fence in an area connected to their houses where they can run a bit and be together (since they've always BEEN together) and still have their own space. The houses will be a duplex so if they seem to prefer it, we can pull out the dividing wall and let them room together. The houses will each have a bit of a "front porch" so they can lay out on it under a roof if they choose to and will help keep rain/snow from getting in. The houses will face south with our own house as a windbreak to their north side to protect them from the north wind, and deciduous trees to the south to give them shade in summer.
The plan right now is to give them each an 8' x 16' run with a dividing fence between the 2 so that when we want to put the pups out to play and exercise, we can keep them separated. Once the pups are gone, if the dams seem to want to be together we can remove the dividing fence or simply create an opening in it for them. Does this sound like it will be big enough?
Sadly, At 5 yrs of age, neither is housebroke or has any house manners at all, so they're destined to be outdoor dogs I'm afraid. They both enjoy coming in to visit, but are eager to get outside again once they've had their fill. I'm used to having my dogs live indoors and go out only to exercise and go potty, so this is against my grain, but given their history, it's what they know and seem to prefer. If they are to be out, we want them to be out in as much comfort as possible.
They will be in a small building that used to be a laundry when welping and nursing. It's got more room for me to be there with them and has water, elect and natural gas going to it, so can be heated and such. The work we're doing now is for the dams themselves, and an exercise area for the pups when they're old enough.