Underground Doghouse

I know a lot of people here have probably read The Complete Gamedog by Ed & Chris Faron. In it they show a picture of a barrel dog house that was buried into the ground. I've been thinking about doing this. Standing it straight up and putting it about a foot into the ground, cutting a hole out in the side, and then just dumping straw in it for bedding. Is it just that easy to dig a hole, put the barrel in it, cover it back up, and call it done?

 

fine picture...lol I've been pondering on this myself.But never read that book.wasn't thinking about a barrel though.





,Zac

 

Not sure about the idea, but I would do your research on the type of straw put in, i've heard certain ones can cause kennel cough. I always use cedar chips.

 

jdb - Aubrey's got straw, but I'm thinking of switching to cedar or pine chips.

ww2 - i like the idea, as long as they're on high ground

I think it'd help the dog regulate it's temp in the house being underground in the winter and summer. talk about shade, they can go under ground.

I think if the dog's less than 55-60 lbs, then they should have no prblem squeezing in there to sleep. Even a bigger dog could be comfy. and they'd be less likely to track straw (or whatever bedding) in and out of the house.

Let us know how it works, and take some pics!

 

If you have access to a backhoe (or a strong back) I read (maybe in the complete gamedog) about a guy that burried his barrels under a big mound of dirt instead of underground.

 

i read that too, chapter about housing.

"...who has concrete poured over his barrels or bulldozes piles over them so that they resemble anthills (except with the opening on one side instead of the top, of course). If you do this, make sure the doorway cut in the barrel is a little alrger than you would normally cut, to allow sufficient air exchange (this will be a wamr, cozy setup) and facilitate easy cleaning and changing of bedding, since you won't be able to move the barrel at all."

(great book, btw, that everyone should read if you haven't yet)

 

dirt is an excellent insulator so i see how this method could be really good, but i would worry about rain water getting in the houses

 

Flaps for the doors

It'll be a couple weeks before I can get to this project. I'll probably try it out on one of my dogs and see if it works out. So I'm guessing I just grab a shovel and start digging huh...Any idea about how far down I should go?

 

Here in Louisiana we would be burying our dogs in water wells.

 

I've seen houses burried under mounds, but not barried. You have to be able to clean the straw out and make it easy to clean in general.
Either way you have to be set on the location of the house, you can't move it that easy once you do that.

 

Ya, it sounds like a good idea, but seems awfully complicated, as far as cleaning and changing.

Now, I would however, use the dog houses like we build and burry them, ONLY, because the roof is detachable, and makes for EASY cleaning and access.

 

kind of like a storm cellar?

 

or bomb shelter!

 

LOL.......