Color of the Barrel?

[Melanie Hampton]

When making your barrel doghouses, does the color of the barrel matter?

I have access to white ones, but cannot find blue ones.. Unless I want to buy them at Big R for $30 a piece

I'm planning on buying the K9-condo set up, so it will have the platform on top and my kennels sit under a 10x20 metal carport..

I'm afraid the white one's will be too hot in the summer, though mine should have plenty of shade.. Not sure if the color will make a difference in holding heat either..

Any insight?

[pegleg]

white is generally accepted as being cooler as it is reflective. I don't hold this as true with barrels as the white ones are semi transparent and allow the sun to heat the inside up. my hounds have a choice of both blue and white barrels in all their pens and they all prefer the blue in the summer hands down oddly in the wnter they pack into the white ones. the white barrels and water tanks are a poor choice for water storage as the algae grows rampantly . black water storage tanks are the preferred choice here.

[Benny G]

Melanie, I agree with Pegleg. With barrels, the white ones are too transparent to avoid being hot with the sun beating down on them. Since you are going to keep them under a shade, they should be all right. I would hate to think that you had to give $30.00 each for the barrels. I get mine free most of the time. The most I have ever had to give was $2.00 apiece when I was in a jam. Good luck. By the way, how's that pup that Richard brought you several months ago?

[Melanie Hampton]

I know all my water buckets are black as I have moved away from the lighter colored ones because of the algea growth..

That pretty much sums up what I was worried about with the white ones.. I'm going to stop by a tire store today and see if they have any blue ones.. I would hate to build them all with the white barrels and for some reason lose my carport.. and be stuck with hot doghouses...

Benny.. the pup is doing good other then our slight noise issue She's getting that figured out.. She's gone out with the big dogs a couple times and treed a couple coons.. Poor thing now leaps into water when she see me coming, to avoid getting "help" from me LOL.. She's not doing too bad for a coondog show bred dog

[Benny G]

Melanie, Sounds like she's a smart one! You made me laugh with the visual of her not wanting any more "help". Good luck.

[Melanie Hampton]

I did find a place to get some barrels at $5 a piece.. and they are the blue ones..

Benny.. Some times I think she is the dumbest dog in the world... Then she does something that makes me say.."Huh.. You aren't as dumb as you act" LOL.. she's got the biggest bawl mouth I have heard yet on a female Walker..

Here is a recent picture of her.. She is starting to look like a dog and not a Weagle

[Benny G]

Dadgum, that miracle grow you've been slipping in her feed is sure enough working! She doesn't look anything like the pup I saw a while back. Good looking dog.

[kickemall]

Melanie, have you used the barrel houses before? I have a couple and don't care for them. They tend to get condensation in them pretty easily and get the straw wet so it has to be changed often. I have mine vented in the top of the back and keep the front door open. They are also under a roof. I live on the coast so maybe the moisture is just an issue here. By the way, you just keep getting better looking as you get older.

[Melanie Hampton]

Thanks...

I get older?

Yes and No on the barrels... I have not used them in the winter.. My friend uses them in the winter in the Northwest.. so it is pretty wet.. but the dogs are in the barn...

I've been useing the Igloo's, but they are all about 9 years old now and held together with screws.. I want something off the ground because they (the igloos) seem to draw moisture also.. I've built a few wooden houses... and they are ok.. but there has to be something better then that out there...

I've looked at the K9-Condo's and they seem pretty slick.. And it comes with a Satifaction Guarantee.. So that is a big plus in their department...

http://www.k-9kondo.com/product_K-9-Kondo_19_0.html

I really want the DogDens... but.. It would be years before I could afford the 4 of them I need.. Unless I win the lottery

[grouse]

Melanie , i don't know how cold it get's but the barrels don't have no insulating value's at all . I personaly would recomend that you would build them out of wood . Maybe a little more expensive but worth it in the end . BY the way are you married ?

[culverz]

I like the idea of the K9 condo kits you should just go ahead and try them out for all of us and let us know how they work. Especially let me know after winter. It is kinda cold and snowy over here in Eastern Or. not so sure how warm the mutts would stay in one. A review would be appreciated. I'm Just using wood right now, seems to work.

Didn't know we were starting a dating service on here.

Good looking dog though.

[grouse]

I just thought maybe her husband could help her build them out of wood , thats all .

[Melanie Hampton]

I've built the wooden ones.. They are ok.. But.. there has got to be something better...

I really don't see how the igloo's stay warm either, because they are just plastic... I put flaps on them and it seems to work better..

I really want some aluminum one's built that I can insulate.. But I have yet to date a guy who can weld aluminum That is my goal tho LMAO. That way I can get some stuff built...

I'm thinking I'm going to try one of the Kondo's this winter.. I doubt I'll buy all 4 at once.. Heck.. maybe I'll just buy one of the Dog Dens.. and keep adding when I can...

[grouse]

I don't think aluminum would be to good either . I've noticed in cold weather on there feed pans there would be blood from there lips sticking on the pans .Do dogs have lips? But anyway i think treated lumber on the bottom and good grade lumber on the rest is the way to go . By the way i'm a decent welder

[kickemall]

Dammit, I can't weld aluminum! One thing about the Kondos, they take a little time to put together. You have to cut the barrel and lots of screws to bolt everything together and you provide the plywood to go on top. I would strongly recommend what you said of trying one first. I bought four and gave two away because I didn't like them. I saw some houses awhile back that I thought would be great. They ran about $180.00 a piece with high shipping so that priced me out. Of course now I can't find them or the web site. They were aluminum skin with insulation and a flat, hinged roof. One of the features I really liked, that I build into my houses, is a divider. Dog comes in then turns and goes to the bedding area through a smaller hole. Keeps the wind and any blowing rain out. I think F&L hunting supply made or sold them.