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OK, i,m single again & got no real ties to town so the plan is to spend a whole lotta time out huntin. Now I know it,s real tough on dogs even in bear camp when they're hunted hard.
Don't want to have to haul 10 barrels or made dog houses around in the woods so give me some IDEAS or let me know what works for you if you stay in the woods.
USFS doesn't allow us to stay long periods of time in one spot so they need to be light weight easy movers, (but warm). Thanks Jeff

Jeff, if you cut the bbls in half lengthwise and had some type of flooring, you could sleeve them possibly. Might have to make a cut in the front and back..

Jeff,

I've never tried this but I saw this from some guys up in MI one fall. It looked liked it worked pretty slick. They took a full 4X8 sheet of 1/8" lauan and then cut it 4 2X4 pieces, then simply drilled a couple holes on top and zip tyed or hinged the top together. You fold it open with the point at the top like an A-frame and then drill a hole in opposite corners and stake it down. For bedding you just bring up some straw and lay it out on the ground underneath the enclosure.

I don't think it would work all that great for a permanent base camp, but for short stays it might be OK. They would fold up pretty decent and not take up nearly as much space as 8- 10 barrels. Just keep the spot for the dogs out of a bowl where water won't run off and have one of the sides block the prevailing winds.

Hagerman, you thinkin that the two halves should stack inside each other to haul & put together when your using them?
Nolte, I kinda was thinkin along these lines; Take a wire type stock pannal cut in the size pieces for A-frame wire the top so they'll fold (up or out) and just get some carpet to throw over them. All I know is the dogs weaken fast without a good warm spot.
Thanks guys! Anybody else?

I saw a guy use some little dome tents one time cut the front zipper part off so the dogs could go in and out on their chains. He said he would get them from yard sales for next to nothing then just fill them up with straw.

Not cheap but what about the igloo dog houses? Take them apart and they stack tops to tops and bottoms to bottoms.

I haven't really thought along these lines before Jeff, but that's what I was thiinking and like was suggested, throw some straw from a compressed bale in there, That should fill about 8 to 10 of the houses.
I haven't tried it but if the top was cut off and a split made up the back, they should be able to stack better and not take u so much room, plus they would have a rear wall. Just off the top of my head, and I haven't tried it.

Jeff, I just got off the phone with David and he suggested the houses that they use at dairies for the calves might work.

Jeff,

I have an old tent that fits about ten people, easy to set up, and take down. Just throw all those trash runners in there together. Thats what ive done in the past.
Call me if you want it, ill give it to you.

mike.

Latley, I have been putting the mutts to bed in the horse trailer with some hay for bedding. It works well and they have a water bucket in there. Its dry and out of the wind. When its colder, they sleep in the dog box at night.

i have individual boxes in my horse trailer and a individual trailer with separate dog boxes on it. this works well and all are secure enough that i can lock them up leave the mountain get supplies and make phone calls etc. with out the fear of dog thieves or accidents. these are all custom boxes but not very difficult to build. the priorities where safety portability and comfort . wooden boxes are ok if your temps aren't extreme or theft a possibility. on the other hand my hounds have spent many nights sleeping loose in camp. i do carry slip chains for the first nights in camp and young dogs.

Hey pegleg could you post some photos of your set up?

OK, was walkin thru Walmart thinkin about how pricey the dog houses are and it hits me... What about the large plastic totes? Turn em upside down & tent stake em to the ground. Stackable, wind & waterproof and bigger than a barrel. What do you guys think? Later, Jeff

livetohunt wrote:Hey pegleg could you post some photos of your set up?

which one are you interested in? pm me to make sure i get your response i don't always check back on every post i make. rude i know but i have a short memory and have been in the throes of enjoying life but would be glad to post which ever your interested in.
1. living quarter gooseneck with living quarters, dog boxes and feed water etc storage,horses in back. or quad etc.
2. big gooseneck living quarters and a more open toy hauler design in rear. don't use as often as its huge but can load quads horses dogs and every thing else for six hunters easily.
3. small flat bed trailer with large 8' w X 3' t X 3'6" deep four divider dog box with storage/rig deck on top. room for two quads on back use this mostly when i am short on time and need to road the dogs in the evenings or work pups. but would probably be closer to a secure campsite kennel fairly inexpensive.
4. lifted bumper pull stock trailer with extended tongue designed to accept above dog box when hunting in the real rough rocks. draw back is getting horses used to jumping in and out.
I like expanded metal mesh for dog boxes as it is extremely strong in the right gauge and ventilation is never a problem with a little welding or bolting/screws a guy can have exactly what suits him for little more then the cost of some plywood boxes. sheet metal covering the tops and other critical places for shade and transport is as safe as it can be in the heat and no worries about a dog/pup being crippled by horses in transport.

Jeff Shaw NM wrote:OK, was walkin thru Walmart thinkin about how pricey the dog houses are and it hits me... What about the large plastic totes? Turn em upside down & tent stake em to the ground. Stackable, wind & waterproof and bigger than a barrel. What do you guys think? Later, Jeff

Jeff,

That sounds like a great idea. Cut a hole in one end a go from there. You could either lay straw on the ground, or keep the lids and when you stake them down, stake through the lide and the house. A guy could even put some sort of flap on the hole, to keep our rain or wind.

I don't think they would be bigger than a barrel. You'd need a helluva tote to be larger than a 55 plastic barrel, unless you are talking about those smaller sized barrels. But the 55s are even a little large for a dog.