Dog Kennel

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

Hi all,
I've decided to get my dog a kennel for use in the day when we are at home and to keep her separate from the kids. Does anyone recommend one? She isn't a big dog, small springer size.

many thanks

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

And you can guarantee the kids won't try and follow her in there? I'd back it up with a tent for them, just in case!

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

"And you can guarantee the kids won't try and follow her in there? I'd back it up with a tent for them, just in case!"
lol! We have portable baby gates, as her and kids combined are not a good mix, she's got a fair size run which is along the side of the house (another gate between that and the garden), she just needs some shelter.

Raksha

How is she going to learn how to behave around children if she's kept separate from them?

Xaviera

Does the dog live outside?

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

"How is she going to learn how to behave around children if she's kept separate from them?"

"Does the dog live outside? "

Gosh I don't think I've explained myself very well. She's 10months old and predominately a springer with a little bit of cocker spaniel also. My twin boys are 3 and a half, so together it's like Tigger on a sugar rush. :eek: She loves the kids and has a brilliant temperament, but because of their age and hers, their toys are vunerable and they can be a bit rough with her.

We try and walk her together in the afternoon, and she gets morning and evening walks with me. When I'm cooking it's easier for her to be outside where I can talk to her and she's away from the kids as I can't supervise them. The back door leads from the kitchen and she has an area along the side of the house, I only like to use her cage during the night. She can run about outside, have me for company but in the event of rain needs shelter, She's got a big cushion outside but again in the rain it's not ideal and creates lots of extra washing.

I hope this answers some questions, I just don't want to spend a fortune.

lostinrates

Seems a sensible solution to me, better than leaving small children and a (bouncy) dog together unsupervised.

What I would say is that the springers I've know really do spring, and are not fey: ''real'' kennel fencing is not cheap, but its robust and takes some leaping on, of you want her to have a fenced area to give your children garden access. If you can site the kennel near the house you can have a cord for a pig lamp for colder days if she is an indoor dog at night (otherwise she'll find nights hot in the house and days cold outside). I personally prefer ''sheds'' to traditional kennals, with room for a raised platform off the ground level to lie on.

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

Thankyou lostinrates, we do have a dog gate for her that sepatates her from the main garden area, I'm a keen gardener so she's not allowed unsupervised as she loves to dig and she's banned when the kids are playing with balls, or the rabbits are out.

It sounds like a lot of fuss but I did research the breed and effect on our household before we commited to getting her. We all love her to bits but she is very bouncy and because of this does need more managing than a calmer breed would. She is also only a puppy so we do hope she will calm down a bit as she gets older.

Raksha

Do you have room inside for a dog crate rather than exclude her in the garden?

mrcol1000

Can you not just have a room to put her in on her own with some toys? She may feel she is being punished if she is put in a crate while the kids are playing.

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

"Do you have room inside for a dog crate rather than exclude her in the garden?"

We have one that she uses at night time. TBH I feel mean putting her in that rather than outside as she can run about outside, she has me chatting to her and has all the sensory experiences. She would only have her toys in the crate and would be further away from me.

She is with me in the living room as soon as the kids are in bed and has lots of chew stuff and gets lots of excersise/input. There is also the whiff factor, every time she has a walk, in true springer style she stinks as she is constantly exploring undergrowth and is wet. She has a good rub down and then can go chill out and chew her bone outside. She noticebly stinks of that lovely doggy smell inside, untill she is completely dry. A kennel would make it a lot nicer for her.

Just to add she is never left outside if it is raining, she is then in the kitchen with a gate across the doorway. I don't like shutting the door as then she would not be able to see or hear us.

I have gone into detail as I don't want it to be interpreted that this is a banashed ignored dog. It is just a management thing due to her breed, age and the age of my children.