BigGameHoundsmen.com

I was thinking aluminum with foam insulation and then lauan sides with maybe a plywood floor...

I didn't realize you had tried the Condos.. I thought you were just talking barrel..

Yeah the Dog Dens are pretty much $200 and then shipping.. But then I think.. If they are what they say they are... they should last for a long long time.. You would get your money's worth out of it...

The wooden one I have now (I didn't build) is actually too big.. But it fits two of my dogs in there and I happen to have two dogs that will share.. It has an offset door.. Those two love that house...

Never thought about a divider..

heres a thought for you cold weather people get two barrels one fifty five and a thirty cut the whole top out of the fifty put small amount of insulating material in bottom then wrap smaller barell in insulation and slide in. or put barrel in first then pack insulation down arround barrel. cut plywood lid withdoor and screw to top of fifty five gallon barrel. it's a good idea to leave plywood straight on bootm to help with the rolling dog house sydrome. if you plan on putting a plywood platform on top leave top of door plywood flat to.

Melanie Hampton wrote: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...

I bought a peice of plastic pipe, 36 inch x 30 ft. corugated out side, smooth inside. I cut it into ten pieces.i cut in doors and cut plywood tops and bottoms. Works great, hounds seem to really like them. Its natural for hounds to circle before laying down,and there is less area to keep warm. Should last forever, no moisture with ply wood tops and easy to clean. cost me about 50.00 to build 5 years ago, probly 80.00 now

Just a note about the dog dens, they ship for free from gundogsupply,
http://www.gundogsupply.com/dog-house.html

I am considering ordering one, I might start a thread to get opinions before I spend the money.

WOW
Now that I've picked myself up off the floor after seeing the $$ for those dog dens, I can get back to typing!

Melanie, my wife says I can't date you, but I can weld up some dog houses if you're still looking. I just can't picture a nice aluminum design. Insulation would be a must as aluminum would get damb hot, I think.

I think Digger has the best idea going, unless you can get free barrels.

But really.. We, as houndsmen, will spend lots of money on our tracking equipment, dog food, dogboxes etc.. Why not our housing for our dogs? I mean.. If the dog dens are hands down the best.. Why not spend it? And just to add.. I haven't yet.. I'm hoping someone else will try it out first

I'm no fabricator so I'm not sure on the design.. but I was thinking 2in styrofoam and then a wood veneer on the inside...Floor.. top.. sides.. everything...

4 dogs shoot. 2 4x4 pallets that you can find behind the lumber store. grab a cuple 2x4,cuple sheets of plywood . Put one full sheet down on the pallets tack it altogether so that there one piece.Walls roof, cut the door out at each end.Cut the doors so that there is about an 8" to 10" lip so the bedding of your choice dosn't blow out or come out every time the dog does.I chose ceddar chips cuz I like the smell plus I heard it fleas don't like it In the winter time they dig them selves nice deep beds.I don't know whats up with a divider cuz they huddle tight together to keep warm plus it keeps unity and order,watching them clean one another using eachother for comfort, just like when there in the dog box JMO

Melanie Hampton wrote:But really.. We, as houndsmen, will spend lots of money on our tracking equipment, dog food, dogboxes etc.. Why not our housing for our dogs? I mean..

A., I didn't spend that much for my truck.
B., I can weld up whatever you want.
C., this is where my hound sleeps:


OMG, don't tell my wife this pic's on the internet!

I live here in Colorado and have a buddy that has some barrels for houses and the snow gets pretty deep here. It also gets very cold. The dogs don't seem to be bothered by the cold or the heat. He has blue barrels.