Kennelling Pet Dogs

I know some people are going to come and lynch me for this...if you are on of them then, please dont read!

My beloved little boy yesterday morning was in hospital due to Croup. A horrible experience for all concerned..Poor little lamb couldn't breathe properly, fever and had the horrible cough. Right now, we are trying to keep him warm and quiet (!) in the hope that it goes as quick as it came

But a chat with the doctors, they have advised that because of his eczema, he is going to be prone to these conditions, plus he is at huge risk of developing asthma (OH has it)

Que long chat with the OH. We have decided that we are going to do all we can to ensure that his lungs/body stay as healthy as possible. I dont want my boy to be needing inhalers and drugs just to be a normal little boy.

So, we need to keep his home as dander/hair/saliva free as possible. As a result, we are going to get a kennel/s for the mutts, and probably a chalet for the cats. The dogs and cats will be allowed in the dining room in the day (hard wood, easy to bleach wash/sweep a few times a day) and then out at night/when Alex is up and about

I am not going to do it till the spring, as I feel it would be unfair to expect them to deal with the winter when they haven't had the chance to get used to it. So in the mean time, im going to be furminatoring/bleach/hoovering/sweeping/flea/dust mite spraying/diatoming like a woman possessed. Plus they are going to be restricted to downstairs

So..What I would like from you lovely people is
1. How do I train them to sleep outside in a kennel?
2. Wheres the best place to go (for a reasonably priced kennel)
3. Security..whats bothering me, is the thought of them being pinched/harmed...do I use alarms/padlocks??
4. with multi dogs, is a single kennel better than 3? they all get one really well atm

Please dont tell me to rehome my dogs, or that I should just make my son live with it...I cant and wont do that. He comes before anything...putting my dogs in a kennel does not mean that I love them less, and they will not suffer as a result

I have no advice, I'm just sorry it's come to this. I know it's not what you'd prefer but as you say, your sons health has to come first. As long as dogs get the attention and exercise they need, have a warm shelter etc I don't see the problem with them being kept outdoors. It's not as though you're going to stick them out there and ignore them!

If any of them are really not adjusting to it though you may have to look at rehoming unfortunately I hope it doesn't come to that.

....padlocks a defo!!..although i would use a combination one rather than a key,incase u needed to get quick access but cant find it.

are your dogs crate trained? if not that is where i would start.

If you're dogs get on well, then they could do with one big area with space for themselves..

No one should disagree with your solution to the problem, it is sensible and both the dogs and your child are going to be more comfortable (when the dogs are used to it) I think if I was in the same position I'd have come up with the same solution too. The dogs are as much a part of the family as any future child would be.

Can't really help on either of the questions, but I would have a look at Reeves Kennels (google) They do some nice kennels - like shed types.. depends what you're looking for, they have security kennels; if your dogs'll have the run of the garden all day but not at night, do you want one with a run on or just one for them to sleep in?

....also,get them used to less contact with u now

I actually admire you for trying to find a solution other than rehoming. I think if they all get on well enough then just one huge kennel with space for them all.
You'll probably need to look at heating & electric for it too.

Good luck, I hope it all works for you x

Totally agree with the above, there are MANY ways to keep a dog(s), to suit all.

Good luck.

I have nothing to add but I just want to wish you luck with the whole process

SmokeyBear has pretty much said what I would - ours have outside kennels, when we got the pups they stayed inside the house for the first few months, then we started feeding them in the kennels, then leaving them after training sessions etc so they would be tired and it would feel natural to them to sleep in there.

Now, at 9 months old, they automatically go into their kennel at bedtime themselves with no effort from us to "make" them go. We have padlocks on the gate into the kennel and CCTV for security.

Ours do not have seperate runs but I think it's a good idea to have the option

I totally agree with everything SB has said.Regards kennels I can tell you one company to steer clear of and thats Tolvi.Iv'e just had a right game with them.