Underground dog house?

[breadtrk]

I've recently goat fenced in a couple acres of my property for my dogs to move into, they have previously been on 100ft runners. On the runners one had a porch and shelter, one had a garage side door to duck into, one had a regular dog house.

Part of this enclosure has a steep hill right out the back door of the house. I want to put the feeding stations and shelters there so they will still have interaction with all the family activities that go on much like they did before. I don't want to fence them up then isolate them.

I'm thinking about the large black plastic culverts to use as the shelters, set into the hill 5 to 6 ft and made to look like actual wild dog dens. Has anyone done or tried this? I've done a Google search and really don't find much.

 

[roadhunter]

Sounds like a pretty cool idea.

 

[boggen]

besides some sort of concrete / concrete block wall between pipe and dirt one the one end. sounds like a awesome idea!!

on second thought, i would most likely mortar in some rocks around the front edge opening. vs setting rocks and like around the one end.

i would most likely add a 2" or 1.5" shower drain. on end up in the dirt. and then run a hose down lower than the culvert. "from urine, to water, to wet dogs, to a leak, to other" heck from using garden hose to wash it out. i might go as far as a slight tilt. so front of it is lower vs portion in the dirt (rear).

a double wall culvert (ribbed outside, smooth inside) most likely easier on you and the dogs. both cleaning and for them laying in it.

 

[dusty3030]

How big are the dogs?
Cut the end out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. You can find those for free.

 

[Jstpssng]

I think it sounds like a great place for them to go on hot summer days. :thumbsup:

How big are the dogs?
Cut the end out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. You can find those for free.

Culverts are made to be buried though, and set properly can withstand substantial loads; would worry about a drum collapsing under the weight. He probably could find some pieces of used plastic culvert from a road contractor.

 

[Jstpssng]

I think it sounds like a great place for them to go on hot summer days. :thumbsup:

How big are the dogs?
Cut the end out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. You can find those for free.

Culverts are made to be buried though, and set properly can withstand substantial loads; I would worry about a drum collapsing under the weight. He probably could find some pieces of used plastic culvert from a road contractor for little or nothing; possibly put hay or a piece of plywood to give them a flat surface to lay on; or maybe even pour a little concretr.

 

[breadtrk]

I have double wall culverts from a road project nearby, after 5 years, I figured they were not going to ever pick them up and since my tax dollars paid for them I put them in storage for the state. If they want them back, after paying a reasonable storage fee, they can have them.

I was thinking of a block wall waterproofed and drained like a house would be and block along the front. this wall is also going to divert runoff away from the house. I planned on sealing the ends on the outside rim of the pipes with Great stuff foam. I won't bury them for a bit to make sure they don't leak. Tilting them was in the plan. I was going to clean them from the front with a pressure washer but I like the hose and sprinkler idea. I'll think on that one for a bit.

I've also contemplated some kind of walkway or roost above the covered pipes for when they want to sun. That will also get them up to see over the house and across the valley.

I'll try to remember pictures as I go but I'm more of a just start and go guy.

 

[breadtrk]

I have some good size pond liner pieces I can drape over the whole mess before covering too.


I'm struggling with the idea of putting all 4 dens in a row on the one wall I have to put in anyway for diverting the water or maybe a couple on the wall and the other 2 spread out farther apart or in total different parts of the yard. They have all grown up within sight of each other and got to play together sometimes but not very often. They all seem to be doing great together so far 3 days in the fence.

 

[charlz]

I would probably put a piece of PVC pipe or something in the rear wall for some ventilation. Moisture from the surrounding ground might make it too damp at certain times of the year, a little airflow would help.

 

[TCJatko]

Dogs are den animals; I bet they'll love it. Makes for a good place to cool off in hot weather, too.

 

[boggen]

if ya build them, ya need to train them. so they know were they are and what they can do for them.

i have some house throw rugs (3 by 5 feet my guess) they kept dragging the rugs back to a certain given spot in yard. i finally gave up and stopped moving them exception for mowing. i know have 2 rectangle spots side by side were the rugs are at. so they can sun bath. and neither dog is happy, or less the rugs are down. at first the rugs were a pain, trying to keep the grass out. but now, the grass is permanently dead. and rugs lay nice and flat without wrinkling / rolling up on me due to wind or grass.

a place that is acting like a wind block. but still in the sun. = winter spots were my pups like to lay outside. if the area gets partially shaded during day. = no wind = hotter and or colder pending on time of year.

 

[breadtrk]

I'm a country boy and these are country dogs, they will train themselves, or get wet and cold. I'll build the palace, they have to use it or not.

 

[breadtrk]

Got one of them in yesterday, need to fine tune the dirt but I'll post up pictures later. It didn't go as well as I had planned and is pretty ugly but should do. One of the dog has already staked claim to it. I'm going to have to rethink doing any more and come up with a better plan. The pictures will illustrate better.

 

[Jstpssng]

Got one of them in yesterday, need to fine tune the dirt but I'll post up pictures later. It didn't go as well as I had planned and is pretty ugly but should do. One of the dog has already staked claim to it. I'm going to have to rethink doing any more and come up with a better plan. The pictures will illustrate better.

Trial and error always works best for me. By the time you get the last one in, you'll want to redo the first; but it sounds like the dogs don't care.

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[breadtrk]

No laughing, it's only the third time I've used the hoe. I have 10 lbs of Pennyroyal to plant back there, it is supposed to repel fleas and ticks. Just waiting for some rain in the forcast. If I put a sprinkler back there 3 of those hounds will play in it, there will be more seed on them than the ground.

 

[breadtrk]

BTW, these are all strays that have been dropped off out here. I have 3 rules, be friendly, no food aggression, and no chasing the barn cats. These 4 have survived the cut. There is a dog door into the garage they can use if they choose, 99% of the time, they don't. The pit will lay in his self dug depression in the sleet.

 

[mark02tj]

I have 10 lbs of Pennyroyal to plant back there, it is supposed to repel fleas and ticks. Just waiting for some rain in the forcast.

I googled Pennyroyal and found this on wikipedia... It looks like it's used to repel pests but the oil can also be toxic. I just skimmed over this but you might want to give it a careful read. I'd hate to see anything happen to your pups!!

Nice job on burying that tube though! I like it!

 

[Jstpssng]

BTW, these are all strays that have been dropped off out here. I have 3 rules, be friendly, no food aggression, and no chasing the barn cats. These 4 have survived the cut. There is a dog door into the garage they can use if they choose, 99% of the time, they don't. The pit will lay in his self dug depression in the sleet.

I like your attitude... and kudos for taking in strays. (Including the barn cats)
That's probably the biggest reason that I get along with my dog better than with most people.

Whether it's dogs, cats, or alpacas; an animal is a commitment for life. If situations change than find the animal a suitable home; or put it down humanely and give it a decent burial.

OK I'll get off my soapbox now. ;-)

 

[breadtrk]

I like your attitude... and kudos for taking in strays. (Including the barn cats)
That's probably the biggest reason that I get along with my dog better than with most people.

Whether it's dogs, cats, or alpacas; an animal is a commitment for life. If situations change than find the animal a suitable home; or put it down humanely and give it a decent burial.

OK I'll get off my soapbox now. ;-)

Yep, some don't make the cut.